Nine churches, built respectively by the individuals whose names they bear, namely: (1) that of Macarthy More; (2) that of Melaghlin; (3) that of MacDermott; (4) that of Hiorphan; (5) that of Kieran; (6) that of Gawney; (7) that of O’Kelly; and (8) that of O’Connor;--independently of the _cathedral_,--here moulder, in kindred mortality, with the ashes of nobles, of princes, and of kings, entombed beneath their walls; and who, at feud, mayhap, in life, are now content to sleep beside each other, “their warfare o’er,” in the levelling indistinction of death. Your curiosity is, no doubt, excited to know how so circumscribed a little spot could have been chosen as the nucleus of such ecclesiastical ambition? The answer is found in the circumstance of this having been one of the strongholds of _Budhism_, in the days of its corruscations, which made it now be singled out, in common with other places memorable for that creed, as the appropriate locality for Christian superincumbency. Two Round Towers, _the chief object of emulation_, are, as you may have supposed, here to be encountered: and _these are the very ones, which the reader may recollect have been alluded to at_ p. 38, as ridiculously claimed by Montmorency for _Christian_--because, forsooth, in the vagueness of popular titles, they are _recently_ distinguished by the names of _MacCarthy_ and _O’Rourke_! The _Eastern columns_, denominated after _Pompey_[411] and _Cleopatra_,[412] have been equally productive of historical mistakes; until, at last, it has appeared that those celebrated lovers have had no more to do with such erections, than have had the _O’Rourkes_ or _MacCarthys_ with our _Round Towers_! Here also are _three crosses_ belonging to the same religion, to _one_ of which only shall I now direct your observation. It is fifteen feet high, composed of a single stone, and sculptured with imagery of the most elegant execution. The devices upon this sculpture are such as you would have expected from the _authors of the Allegory of the Paradisiacal Fall_: and here, accordingly, it presents itself, just as in _language_ they had clothed it, in all the mysteriousness of the figurative _tree_. [Illustration] Immediately over the equestrian and chariot sports, which decorate the pedestal, you see Adam and Eve conversing at each side of this _symbol_ of their dearly-bought _knowledge_! Farther up are other emblems of mythological allusion: while, in the centre above, you observe a _Cabir_ priest, alias, a _Freemason_, holding the implements of his craft--a high honour--in his hand;[413] and encompassed by a retinue of several more persons, all in the glow of joy!