In the above general description of the cathedral, the probable dates of the various parts have been casually referred to. It is now proposed to explain more fully the dates we would assign to the different portions of the structure and the reasons for doing so.
Dr. Skene has the following footnote[37]—
“One of the columns which supports the great tower of the Abbey Church has on the upper portion the inscription, ‘Donaldus O’Brolchan fecit hoc opus,’ and seems to think that that inscription fixes the name of the builder of the church. Messrs. Buckler, in their description of the architecture of the cathedral,[38] give the above inscription as reading, ‘Donaldus ornatum fecit hoc opus.’”
The inscription is not now legible, but even if it were, it could give little clue to the date of the edifice.
Fig. 994.—Iona Cathedral. View from North-West, showing Cloister Garth, Central Tower, &c.
Fig. 995.—Iona Cathedral. General View of Cathedral and St. Oran’s Chapel, from South-West.