Of the many brooches of this class discovered, the finest without exception is that known as the _Tara Brooch_. It was found in 1850 on the sea-shore near Bettystown, Co. Louth, and was bought by Waterhouse, who gave it the name of ‘Tara’ on account of the beauty of its workmanship and the associations connected with the celebrated hill. It was purchased from him for the Academy by the Government in 1867. It is made of white bronze, a metal harder than silver and composed of copper and tin. It is gilt and divided into a number of panels, most of which are filled with filigree work in gold, with settings of amber, glass, and enamel. The fastening of the gold filigree is hardly perceptible to the naked eye, and a strong glass is needed to see the full beauty of the ornament of this work. ‘The Tara brooch,’ says Petrie, ‘is superior to any hitherto found in the variety of its ornaments, and in the exquisite delicacy and perfection of its execution.’ Attached to the brooch is a chain of the work known as ‘Trichinopoli,’ which was used to fasten the brooch when worn. The divergent spiral, or trumpet, pattern, which is so characteristic of the decoration of Early Christian Art in Ireland, is carried to great perfection on the reverse side of the brooch. If we are to judge by the general disappearance of this ornament about the beginning of the eleventh century, we get a probable date for this object. We have in this chapter only briefly indicated the nature of the metal art of the Early Christian period, and dealt with but a few of the best-known examples, as indeed a special work would be required to cover so wide a field. CHAPTER XV. ABBEYS AND LATER CHURCHES: FONTS. FOUNDATION OF ABBEYS AND CHURCHES--JERPOINT ABBEY, CO. KILKENNY-- CATHEDRALS OF ST. PATRICK AND CHRISTCHURCH, DUBLIN--ABBEYS OF NEWTOWNTRIM AND BECTIVE, CO. MEATH--CHURCHES OF CANNISTOWN, NEAR NAVAN--ST. DOULOUGH’S--THE ‘ABBEY’ AND ST. FINTAN’S CHURCH, HOWTH--EARLY FONTS--EXAMPLES AT KILLINEY--KILTERNAN--ST. JOHN’S POINT--KILLESHIN--KILCARN, CLONARD, AND DUNSANY, CO. MEATH.