. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. e expressed regret at seeing the historic place inteiferedwith, and said that such work ought not to be undertaken except supervision of competent archaeologists, and subject to their John Moran, ,, seconded the Eesolution, which was put to themeeting and passed. The Society then adjourned. PROCEEDINGS. 353 THE EXCURSIONS. lUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1899. After lunch the members started in carriages from the ImperialHotel, Donegall-place, for the Giants Eing and Drumbo HoundTower. The Giants Ring. This structure is one
. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. e expressed regret at seeing the historic place inteiferedwith, and said that such work ought not to be undertaken except supervision of competent archaeologists, and subject to their John Moran, ,, seconded the Eesolution, which was put to themeeting and passed. The Society then adjourned. PROCEEDINGS. 353 THE EXCURSIONS. lUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1899. After lunch the members started in carriages from the ImperialHotel, Donegall-place, for the Giants Eing and Drumbo HoundTower. The Giants Ring. This structure is one of the earthen forts which abound in thiscountry, and though not so large as the rath of Downpatrick, or sohigh as the Eort of Dromore, it is of very considerable extent, andmeasures about 580 feet in diameter. On plan it is circular, and thesurrounding earthwork is about 80 feet in breadth at base ; the fosseis almost entirely filled up, and an enclosing wall has been built atthe base of the earthwork, by a former proprietor, to preserve Cromlech—Giants Ring. The Giants Ring is about four miles from Belfast, and the driveis along a pleasant road skirting the valley of the river Lagan. Thereis a large cromlech in the centre of the Ring, and this is one of thefew instances where sepulchral monuments are found inside the enclo-sure of a fort presumably used as a fortified residential structure, and 354 ROYAL SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF IRELAND. possibly for religious or ceremonial uses. A question, however, may-arise, as to whether the cromlech existed before the fort was are authentic records of the dates of erection of forts, many ofwhich belong to a period prior to the beginning of the present era, butthere are no historical statements as to the time at which the cromlechswere erected,—the presumed date of that at Ballina, county Mayo, isbased on unreliable evidence.
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