Bk. VI. Ch. V. ORATORIES. 231 is on the north side of the nave. On these principal entrances all the resources of art were brought to bear, the windows generally being very small, and apparently never glazed. There is a doorway at Freshford in Kilkenny, and an- other at Aghadoe near Killarney, which for elegance of detail will bear comparison with anything in Enfjland or on the Continent of the same age. One of the peculiarities of these churches is, that they were nearly all designed to have stone roofs, no wood being used in their construction. The annexed section (Woodcut No. 665) of the old church at Killaloe, be- longing probably to the lOtli century, will explain liow this was generally managed. The nave was roofed with a tunnel-vault of the ordinary form ; over this is a chamber formed by a pointed arch, and on the outside of 665. Section of Cliapel, Killaloe. 666. St. Kevin's Kitchen, Gleudalough. these two, the roofing slabs were laid. Sometimes, instead of being continuous, the upper vault was cut into ribs, and the roof built up
