Chapter 7: Cunga Fheichín (Cong)
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Cong and its environs still claim our attention. The great monumental carns and stone circles of upwards of two thousand years ago that abound in this neighbourhood seem to have impressed the people--as they appear to have done in the Aran Isles--with a special desire to honour the memory of the dead; and so on all sides we meet with wayside monuments, crosses, pillar-stones, and tumuli erected by those who composed the passing funerals, as they rested at any of these spots on their way to the hallowed precincts of St. Mary's Abbey. And afterwards each relative of the deceased, or the passing friend, or the "good Christian" put up a stone, or cast a pebble upon one of the little heaps, several of which can still be identified as belonging to particular families.Upon the eastern road there is the Croisíní, a collection of small wooden crosses placed on a wall under an ash tree.And on the west,as we pass into the county Galwayover Tóchar na h-Aithe, by Poll Tuathail, and Poll Liabáin, and by Poll a' chuartail, and proceeding westwards towards Creig a' Rí, or "Royal Rock," we pass a great collection of these monuments, some of the principal of which, from Hall's Ireland, are figured on page 103.
Along this road we pass several pools, where the waters of Loch Measca appear in their transit to Cong and Loch Coirib; and among the limestone rocks that stretch across the isthmus stands the tall tower of Aughalard Castle, with its adjoining group of ruins shown above.It is exceedingly well built, and presents several details of considerable beauty and great architectural interest, especially in the loop-holes at the angles and in the top mouldings of its light, graceful windows.
