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ANCIENT 


OF  IKELAND 


TH0M7\S   JOHNSON  WESTROPP,  M.A. 


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7 


THE 


ANCIENT  FORTS  OF  lEELAND: 

BEING  A  CONTRIBUTION  TOWARDS  OUR  KNOWLEDGE 

OF  THEIR  TYPES,  AFFINITIES,  AND 

STRUCTURAL  FEATURES. 


BY 


THOMAS  JOHNSON  WESTROPP,  M.A., 

MEMBEE    OF    THE    EOYAL    IRISH    ACADEMY  ; 
FELLOW     OF     THE     ROYAL     SOCIETY     OF     ANTIdUARIES      OF     IRELAND. 


REPRINTED,  BY  PERMISSION   OF  THE   COUNCIL  OF  THE  ROYAL  IRISH  ACADEMY, 
FROM  "  TRANSACTIONS,"    VOLUME  XXXL 


DUBLIN: 
PRINTED  AT  THE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS,  BY  PONSONBY  AND  WELDRICK. 

1903. 


THE 

ANCIENT    FORTS    OF    IRELAND: 

BEING 

A  CONTRIBUTION  TOWARDS  OUR  KNOWLEDGE  OF 
THEIR   TYPES,  AFFINITIES,  AND  STRUCTURAL  FEATURES. 


CONTENTS. 
Divisions.  Pages. 

I.  Introductory  :  Types  and  Plans — Number — Names,  general  and  individual,  .  .  1 
II.  Forts  of  the  Irish  Types  in  other  Countries :  Greece — Dalinatia — Bosnia-Herzegovina 
—  Roumania  —  Italy — Austria-Hungary  —  Bohemia —  Esthoiiia  —  Prussia — 
— Kugen  —  Baden  —  Alsace-LoiTaine  —  Denmark  —  Holland  and  Belgium  — 
Switzerland — France — Brittany — Scotland — England — Wales,  .  .  .15 
III.  Age  of  the  Forts  :  Doubtful  Criteria — The  older  Legends — The  Historic  Period — 
The  Forts  familiar  to  early  Literary  Men — Gradual  Desertion — The  Age  of 
the  Forts  fi'om  other  Sources — "  Finds" — Theories  regarding  the  Fort-builders 
— The  Sons  of  Huamore — Sea-rovers — Danes — Other  Views,  .         .         .46 

IV.  Use  of  the  Forts  :   Fortresses  and  Residences,  secular  and  ecclesiastical — Cattle- 
pens — Sepulchi-al — For  "Worship  and  Ceremonial,  .         .         .         .         .59 
V.  Structural  Features  in  the  Forts  :    Ramparts,  Masonry,  Terraces,   and    Steps — 
Gateways — Abattis — Greens    and    Streets — Outworks    and    Sunken   Ways — 
Souterrains  and  Cells — Warden's  Huts — Holed  Stones — Ballauns — Oghams — 
Carvings — Excluded  Water  Supply — Remains  of  Dwellings — Other  Featiu-es,       68 
VI.  Distribution  of  Types:  Groups — Ring  Forts,  Royal  Residences,  largest  Ring  Forts, 
lesser  Ring  Forts,   Walled  Islands,  Straight-sided  Forts — Promontory  Forts 
— Simple  Motes — Complex  Motes-^Long  Entrenchments,        .         .  .102 
VII.  Bibliography  of  some  of  the  fuller  descriptions  of  Iiish  Forts,.       .          .          .  .140 

VIII.   Conclusion, 147 

Index.     (The  references  being  to  sections),      .         .         .         .  .         .         .         .149 

Plates  I.  to  IX. 

I.  — Intkoductory  . 

It  was  with  the  greatest  diffidence  that  I  ventured  to  lay  before  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy  an  attempt  to  deal  with  so  large  and  complex  a 
subject  as  is  offered  to  antiquaries  by  the  ancient  forts  of  Ireland.  To 
deal  with  it  minutely  could  only  be  possible  after  many  careful  workers 
had  described  the  chief  forts  of  their  respective  districts ;  to  deal  with  it 

From   KI,.   IK.  ACAD.  THAN.*.,   VOL.  XXXI. PAUT  XIV.  B 


2061276 


2  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

exhaustively  would  imply  an  amount  of  systematic  exploration  and  exca- 
vation all  over  Ireland  which  has  only  been  attempted  imperfectly,  and,  as 
a  rule,  unscientifically,  in  a  few  districts.  It  was  therefore  in  no  spirit  of 
confidence  that  I  approached  this  task. 

A  study  of  many  forts  of  our  principal  types  in  various  parts  of  Ireland 
for  over  twenty  years,  and  a  careful  examination  of  rich  districts  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  (while  showing  lu)w  vast  is  the  subject,  and  how  little 
qualified  I  am  to  deal  with  it  in  its  broadest  aspects),  shows  how  necessary 
it  is  that  a  definite  beginning  and  some  generalisation  should  be  attempted 
in  the  hope  that  a  new  century  may  raise  a  school  of  students  willing  to 
devote  themselves  to  a  heavy  but  important  task — a  task  not  yielding 
popular  applause,  but  invaluable  for  the  right  understanding  of  our  records. 
Readers  will,  I  hope,  forgive  the  so  far  personal  nature  of  this  preface. 

We  will  endeavour  to  set  out  the  results  accumulated,  hoping  that 
others  may  start  from  our  goal  with  wider  experience,  and,  above  all, 
wider  knowledge  of  the  remains  of  "Celtic"  forts  on  the  continent  of 
Europe,  which  form  the  preface  to  the  story  of  the  Irish  forts,  which 
preface  nearly  all  our  antiquaries  have  left  unread.  Meanwhile  we  may 
hope  that  the  little  band  of  workers  in  this  harvest  may  be  encouraged  to 
continue  (with  additional  volunteers)  the  unthanked  labour  of  publishing 
detailed  descriptions  with  plans  and  illustrations,  and  still  more  the 
systematic  excavation  and  exploration  of  the  forts,  the  only  sound  bases 
for  fuller  treatment  of  the  subject.  Two  more  points  we  may  note,  first, 
that  this  Paper  does  not  pretend  to  describe  or  to  utilise  all  even  of  the 
more  interesting  forts  in  Ireland  \  secondly,  that  it  avoids  ethnological 
speculation  as  much  as  possible,  and  uses  the  term  '  Celtic '  as  a  mere 
symbol  for  the  types  prevailing  in  Ireland.  Many  forts  of  these  types 
were  most  probably  constructed  by  tribes  to  which  even  the  loosest  users 
of  the  term  would  never  think  of  aj}plying  the  word  '  Celtic'  It  is 
impossible  to  divest  one's  self  or  one's  Paper  of  all  theory,  but  this  Paper 
is  intended  to  collect  results,  and  not  to  advocate  any  theory  of  our  own.* 

*  We  also  use  the  term  'fort'  for  a  defensive  (not  necessarily  a  military)  enclosm-e,  and 
'  prehistoric'  simply  for  an  unrecorded  eai-ly  time,  even  if  technically  within  the  historic  period 
of  Ireland.  For  the  convenience  of  brief  citation,  we  may  note  here  that  E.I. A.  refers  to  the  Eoyal 
Irish  Academy  ;  R. S.A.I,  to  the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland,  under  its  various  names, 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  3 

The  forts  of  earth  cannot  be  separated  in  this  inquiry  from  those  of 
stone;  their  plans  are  identical,  and  their  periods  are  usually  contempora- 
neous; the  favourite  view  that  the  earthen  forts  are  the  earliest  is  contra- 
dicted by  our  records  which  mention,  for  example,  the  making  of  an  ordinary 
rath  in  the  reign  of  Donough  Cairbreach  O'Brien  who  died  in  a.d.  1242. 
We  cannot  dare  to  fix,  even  provisionally,  periods  for  the  various  styles 
of  masonry.  We  have  heard  it  alleged  that  the  rude  stonework  preceded 
the  "Cyclopean,"  but  have  seen  it  resting  on  top  of  the  latter  at  more 
than  one  fort;  finer  "Cyclopean"  work  than  any  in  our  forts  occurs  in 
our  early  churches.  Haramer-work  occurs  on  dolmens  as  well  as  on  forts, 
and  "finds"  are  most  equivocal;  therefore  we  cannot  but  feel  that  the 
time  has  not  even  dawned  for  advancing  our  "  certainty"  to  this  degree. 

The  stonework  depends  altogether  on  the  nature  of  the  rock  in  the 
district  and  the  facilities  for  removing  the  same  ;  similarly  the  occurrence 
of  earth  and  stone  forts  depends  largely  on  the  nature  of  the  country. 
Where  stone  and  earth  are  abundant,  we  find  forts  of  both  materials ; 
occasionally  a  rampai't  of  stone  had  been  built  upon  or  among  earthworks, 
or  a  stone  revetment  built  to  form  a  face  to  the  earthen  mound,  or  a  fosse 
and  earthwork  made  outside  the  actual  defence  of  a  wall.  In  shale 
districts,  stone  forts  are  rare,  but  rock-cut  fosses  and  stone-faced  ramparts 
are  not  uncommon.  In  rocky  districts,  even  where  earth  abounds,  the 
earth-fort  is  exceptional ;  and  who  would  have  used  anything  but  stone  at 
any  period  in  the  uplands  of  Burren  or  the  Isles  of  Aran  ?  Everywhere 
we  see  the  mark  of  the  geological  division,  and  nowhere  the  mark  of  the 
tribal  or  racial  district  in  the  treatment  of  material.  The  motes  of  Louth 
and  Hungary,  or  the  cahers  of  Burren  and  Bosnia,  are  closer  akin  than 
are  the  stone  fort  of  Cahercalla  and  the  mote  of  Magh  Adhair  lying  close 
to  and  in  sight  of  each  other. 

1.  Types  and  Plans. — The  types  of  the  forts  are  best  based  on  the 
plans,  for  (as  we  have  pointed  out)  the  construction  depended  on  jDhysical 

"The  Kilkenny  Society,"  "The  Iloyal  Hietorieal  and  ArchaBological  Association  of  Ireland,"  &c.  ; 
Dimraven,  "Notes  on  Irish  Architectm'e,"  by  Lord  Dimraven.  The  absence  of  consecutive 
numbers  in  the  earlier  volumes  of  the  above  Societies  leads  us  to  give  the  year  in  brackets. 
0.  S.  is  the  Ordnance  Survey. 

B2 


4  ■  Westkopp — ?'//<;  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

considerations,  while  the  plans  of  forts,  whether  of  earth  or  stone,  whether 
with  or  without  timber,  are  strikingly  similar  in  most  parts  of  central  Eui'ope 
and  our  Islands. 

(«}  The  simplest  type  is  the  enclosure,  circular  or  oval,  of  the  ring- 
mound  or  ring-wall  ;  variants  of  this  type  have  two  or  more  walls,  or 
earthworks  and  fosses,  up  to  five,  and  possibly  uj)  to  seven  rings.*  The 
triple  enclosure  has  been  alleged  in  Ireland  to  be  the  mark  of  a  royal  fort, 
but,  if  so,  why  have  tlie  undoubtedly  "roj'al"  forts  of  Caher  Crofinn, 
and  Rath  Laoghaire  at  Tara,  Emania,  Rathcroghan,  and  Bealboruma 
not  got  this  distinctive  mark  ?  In  a  few  cases  the  fort  is  protected  by  an 
abattis  or  chevaux-de-frise  of  standing  stones,  a  ring  of  large  blocks,  or  an 
obstacle  of  loose  stones.  The  first-named  ver}^  interesting  feature  is  rare ; 
it  occurs  at  Dun  Aenghus,  Dubh  Cathair,  and  Ballykinvarga  in  Aran  and 
Clare,  Dunnanioe  in  Mayo,  Pen  Caer  Helen  in  Wales,  Cademuir  and  Dreva 
in  Scotland ;  it  is  found  as  lines  of  pillars  at  Castel  Coz  in  Brittany,  at 
Laufen  in  Switzerland,  and  at  tlie  Bauerberge  on  Mohne  in  the  Baltic. 
Apart  from  these  jjeculiarities,  the  tj'pe  of  fort  is  very  widespread, 
occurring  in  Thessaly,  Bosnia-Herzegovina,  Austria,  Germany,  Holland, 
and  Belgium,  Sweden,  the  Islands  of  the  Baltic,  Switzerland,  France,  and 
the  British  Isles.  Two  forts  are  frequently  conjoined ;  a  good  example 
occurs  at  Tara  in  the  Forradh  and  Teach  Cormaic.  Others  occur  in  at 
least  fourteen  counties.  In  Carlow,  Longfield,  Tipperary,  and  MuUa- 
creevagli,  Westmeath,  we  find  examples  of  three  conjoined  raths. 

*  "Demon  chai-iot  of  Cuchullin"  (Joium.  E.S.A.I.,  ser.  iv.,  vol.  i.,  p.  385  ?) : — "Dun  .Sciath 
.  .  .  seven  walls  about  that  Cathair,  hateful  was  the  fort."  Dindsenchas  of  Grrianan  Aileach, 
"  Dun  to  which  led  horse-roads  through  five  ramparts,"  Book  of  Lecan,  p.  255.  The  principal 
triple-walled  forts  ai-e  Dun  Aenghus,  Cahercommaun,  Cahercalla  (Quin),  and  Moghane  ;  The 
Treduma  Nasi  of  Tara  has  vanished.  Grianan  Aileach  and  Dunbeg  have  a  wall  and  four  (?  five) 
earthworks.  Cahercrofinn  (Tara),  Emania ;  Baltinglass,  Eathgal,  and  Eathangan  ( Wicklow) ; 
a  rath  near  Pucks  Castle  (Dublin),  Cashel  (Cork);  Dun  Oghil  (Aran),  and  a  caher  near  Tuam 
(Galway) ;  Glenquin,  Cahergurraun,  Caheragaleagh,  and  Cahershaughnessy,  in  Clare,  have  two 
distinct  ring  enclosures.  Dun  Conor  and  Langough  have  only  side  annexes.  "  Cormac's  Glossaiy  " 
mentions  the  triple  fort  of  Crimthan  more  mac  Fidach  (Dun  Treduc),  near  "Glastonbury  of 
the  Irish,"  and  other  three  ringed  forts  are  named  in  the  "  Book  of  Rights,"  and  poems 
of  Scanchan. 


Wkstropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  5 

{h)  The  walled  island  or  stone  crannoge  is  rare  but  widespread ;  it  in 
no  way  difFers  from  the  ordinary  stone  forts,  except  in  being  as  a  rule  less 
massive.  It  is  found  in  the  lakes  of  Skannive  and  Bola,  near  Carna 
in  Connemara ;  in  the  turlough  or  temporary  lake  of  Castletown,  Clare 
(Cahersavane) ;  in  Lough  Corrib,  at  Illauncarbery,  Galway;  in  Lough 
na  Crannagh,  on  Fair  Head,  Antrim  ;  in  Kerry,  and  elsewhere.  The 
earthen  fort  on  piling  is  well  represented  by  Dungorkin  in  Londonderry. 
The  subject  of  wooden  crannoges  lies  outside  the  scope  of  this  paper. 

(c)  The  rock-fort  is  also  closely  akin  to  the  ring-forts.  Fine 
examples  are  found  at  the  Giant's  Sconce,  in  Londonderry,  Dunbought 
in  Antrim,  and  Cahercashlaun  and  Cashlauu  Gar  in  Clare :  the  latter 
must  have  been  reached  by  a  ladder. 

(d)  The  rectangular  or  straight-walled  type  is,  save  in  plan,  identical 
with  the  ring-fort  in  every  respect.  There  is  not  even  the  certainty 
(though  there  is  probability)  that  it  is  later,  for  Bronze-Age  antiquities 
have  been  found  in  Continental  examples.  These  forts  occur  in  nearly 
every  county  of  Ireland,  but  are  by  far  the  most  abundant  in  the 
southern  counties  of  Leinster,  Kilkenny  having  at  least  twenty-eight  such 
forts,  and  Wexford  fifty-five,  while  we  seldom  find  more  than  six  or  eight 
in  other  counties.  Some  have  double  fosses  and  earthworks.  One  of  the 
finest  examples  of  a  dry-stone  straight-walled  fort,  is  Caherwalsh,  near 
Noughaval  in  Clare,  where  three  similar  enclosures  also  remain.  Lai'ge 
ones  remain  at  Ballybritt  in  King's  County,  and  also  in  Cork,  Galway, 
Louth,  Roscommon,  and  Kildare.  They  occur  along  with  dolmens  and 
pillar-stones  in  Cork  and  Clare,  and  enclose  early  slab-enclosures  for  houses 
in  the  latter  county. 

(e)  A  second  type,  for  want  of  a  better  name,  we  may  call  a  pro- 
montory fort,*  using  this  term,  not  only  for  sea-surrounded  headlands,  but 
for  spurs  on  hillsides.     This  fortification  may  consist  of  a  wall,  with  or 

*  "We  omit  the  "  Mediterranean"  examples,  as  the  general  force  of  evidence  seems  to  point 
rather  to  northern  Em-ope  as  the  main  route  by  which  fort-plans  and  ornament  reached  Ireland. 
The  formation  of  a  promontory  fort  is  too  obvious  to  require  any  tradition  or  knowledge  of  older 
buildings  in  its  makers.  To  call  our  Irish  promontory  forts  "Mediterranean"  would  bo  perhaps 
a  snggestio fahi  like  the  popular  term  "Danish  forts"  in  Ireland,  or  "Huns  forts"  in  central 
Europe. 


6  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

without  a  fosse  or  fosses,  or  simply  of  one  or  more  earthworks  and  fosses. 
The  defence  usually  presents  a  convex  curve  to  the  land  side ;  it  is  some- 
times straight,  but  probabl3Miever  externally  concave.  This  type  occurs  in 
Greece  and  elsewhere  round  the  Mediterranean ;  and  is  found  in  Dalmatia,  at 
Rugen  in  the  Baltic,  in  Switzerland,  France,  and  the  British  Isles.  Among 
the  finest  examples,  we  may  note  Castel  Coz(wall,  earthworks,  and  abattis) 
in  Finisterre ;  Rathbury  Castle  (three  fosses  and  a  rampart),  Scotland; 
St.  David's  Head  (three  walls),  Wales  ;  St.  Mary  (stone  walls  and  two  mounds 
and  fosses),  Scilly  Isles  ;  and  the  Worle  Hill  (seven  fosses  and  a  protection 
of  loose  stones)  near  Weston-super-mare.  In  Ireland,  perhaps  the  most 
interesting  groups  are  those  of  some  seven  forts  along  the  more  eastern 
coast  of  Waterford  ;  the  great  forts  of  Dunmore  and  Dunbeg,  besides 
three  others  at  the  south-western  angle  of  Corcaguiny  in  Kerry ;  the  group 
of  forts  from  Dun  Fiachra  to  Dunnamoe,  at  the  N.W.  angle  of  Mayo  ;  the 
Black  Fort  on  Aran,  and  Dundoillroe  in  Clare,  are  also  worthy  of  men- 
tion, but  the  former  has  been  extensively  rebuilt.  These  sites  have 
frequently  been  refortified  in  late  mediaeval  times  ;  it  must  suffice  to 
mention  the  Old  Head  of  Kinsale,  Ferriter's  Castle  in  Kerry,  and  Dun- 
lecky  Castle  in  Clare.  The  most  interesting  example  of  a  fort  on  an 
inland  spur  is  Caherconree  (wall  and  slight  earthwork)  in  Kerry.  A  very 
accessible  though  defaced  example  of  a  headland  fort  remains  in  the  so- 
called  Dun  Criff  an  at  Howth.  Nennius  mentions  "  promontoria  "  among 
the  forts  of  Britain  ;  and  the  Irish  version*  translates  the  word  '  cathair  ' ; 
they  were  possibly  forts  of  the  Dunbeg  type,  but  the  term  may,  perhaps, 
include  ringed  hill-forts  as  well. 

(/)  Another  most  widespread  tyj^e  is  the  mote,  a  simple  flat-topped 
mound,  sometimes  with  a  fosse  and  earth-ring  round  the  base.  Very 
few  examples  occur  to  the  west  of  the  Shannon  and  Lough  Neagh,  while 
they  are  especially  plentiful  in  the  centre  and  north  of  Leinster.  They  are 
occasionally  sepulchral,  and  in  some  cases  have  been  used  both  for  defence 
and  burial.  They  occur  (leaving  out  sepulchral  tumuli)  in  France,  Den- 
mark, Germany,  and  Austria,    and  are  extremely  common  in  England. f 

*  "  The  Irisli  Nennius,"  p.  29. 

f  Many  English  motes  are  undoubtedly  of  Saxon  and  some  oven  of  Norman  times.     Perhaps 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  7 

Some  out  of  the  many  fine  Irish  examples  may  be  named,  as  Clane  in  Kil- 
dare,  Slane  in  Meath,  and  Rahue  in  King's  County.  The  mound  of  Magh 
Adhair  in  Clare  is  more  notable  for  its  use  and  history,  and  its  exceptional 
position  in  a  moteless  district,  than  for  its  size.  It  and  several  motes  in 
Meath  have  the  fosse,  earthwork,  and  sloping  "  gangway,"  which,  as  Dr. 
Christison  points  out,  are  vividly  depicted  in  the  representation  of  an  attack 
on  the  palisaded  "Dun"  of  Dinan  shown  in  the  Bayeux  tapestry.  Some 
of  the  larger  motes  have  platforms  and  even  slight  terraces,  such  as  those 
of  Granard  in  Longford,  and  Clones  in  Monaghan.  A  fine  example  (per- 
haps of  Scandinavian  origin)  stood  close  to  Trinity  College,  in  Dublin,  and 
was  long  known  as  tlie  Thing  Mote. 


Fio.  1. — Forts  (Motes)  shown  in  Bayeux  Tapestry,  Eennes;  Dol :  and  the  attack  on  Dinan. 

((/)  A  very  interesting  variant  of  the  last  type  is  the  mote  with  an 
annexe  or  platform  separated  from,  and  lower  than,  the  mound;  this  may 
be  irregularly  square,  fan-shaped,  round,  or   crescent-shaped  ;  such  occur 

some  Irish  motes  may  be  as  late,  but  apart  from  other  questions  the  mention  in  our  Annals  of 
Downpatrick,  a.d.  495,  Donaghpatrick,  a.d.  745,  and  of  Knockgraifan,  and  probably  Kilfinnane, 
as  residences  of  the  King  of  Cashel,  by  the  Book  of  Eights  (at  latest  ninth  century,  possibly 
fifth)  shows  that  some  motes  were  of  early  and  possibly  prehistoric  date. 


8  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

outside  our  islands  in  Hungary  and  Prussia.  Borlase  suggests  that  thej^ 
are  the  structures  alluded  to  by  Tacitus  as  "  castra  ac  spatia,"  wliile 
Virchow  considers  that  they  may  have  been  temples.  The  more  definite 
traditions  in  Ireland  regard  them  as  places  of  assembly,  "  parliament 
houses,"  and  places  for  "duels  or  tournaments,"  but  similar  legends  are 
attached  to  ring  forts.  The  finest  Irish  examples  of  this  type  are  the 
regal  Rathceltchair  at  Downpatrick ;  the  great  motes  of  Newry  (Crown 
Mound)  and  Dromore  in  the  same  county  ;  Derver  and  Donaghpatrick 
in  j\Ieath ;  Greenmount  in  Louth ;  Kilfeakle,  Dunohill,  Knockgraffan, 
and  Tipperary  in  Tipperary ;  Kilfinnane  in  Limerick,  and  Lismore  in 
Waterford.  They  lie  mainly  in  two  groups,  but  scattered  examples  are 
found  in  Londonderry,  Antrim,  Westmeath,  Kildare,  and  the  eastern 
seaboard  of  Leinster. 

{h)  The  long  fosses  and  earthworks  which  occur  in  Down,  Armagh, 
Longford,  and  Cavan,  and  also  in  Kerry,  Limerick,  and  Waterford, 
such  as  the  Danes'  Cast  and  Duncladh  ;  they  resemble  works  of  Roman 
and  other  origin,  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent. 

(^■)  The  terraced  hill,  which  occurs  at  Doou  in  Cork,  and  perhaps  at 
Kilbradran  in  Limerick*  and  Tullaghog  in  Tyrone.  This  type  is  also 
found  in  Etruria  and  Great  Britain. 

{k)  Some  exceptional  types  occur  on  the  Ordnance  Survey  Maps.  Such 
as  the  somewhat  spiral  fort  at  Ashpark,  Tipperary, f  which  has  congeners 
at  Bryn  Derwer  in  Montgomeryshire,  and  the  Dun  of  Loch  Feochan  in 
Scotland.  An  X-shaped  fort  is  marked  at  Mullymeskar  in  Fermanagh,  and 
if  the  plan  is  correctly  given  is  (so  far  as  we  know)  unique. 

2.  Number  of  Forts. — It  is  hard,  if  not  impossible,  to  state  (even  in 
the  merest  approximation)  the  number  of  forts  in  Ireland.  Even  the  forts 
which  are  marked  on  the  maps  are  so  numerous  that  only  by  a  long  though 
intermittent  toil,  spread  over  many  years,  can  we  offer  a  number  which 
claims  to  be  even  approximately  correct.  Meanwhile  it  is  certain  that  in 
some  counties,  knowledge  of  field  antiquities  might  add  several  hundred 
sites  to  those  marked,  even  on  the  maps  of  the  great  Ordnance  Survey  of 

Fig.  No.  23.  f  Fig.  No.  19. 


Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  9 

6  inches  to  the  mile.  Over  and  above  this  field  list  are  numerous  town- 
lands  and  other  places,  with  names  implying  the  former  existence  of  forts 
not  now  mai'ked  on  the  maps.  Then  we  find  in  our  older  records,  many 
forts  named  at  places  now  without  any  trace  of  fort  name  or  remains. 
Taking  into  account  all  these  omissions,  we  may,  with  little  fear  of  ex- 
aggeration, place  the  number  of  forts  in  Ireland  at  about  thirty  thousand, 
for  the  maps  mark  some  28,800  in  all  Ireland,  4283  being  in  Ulster;  4651 
in  Leinster,  7593  in  Connaught,  and  12,232  in  Munster.  So  impei'fect, 
variant,  and  conventional  are  the  methods  adopted  for  marking  these  forts 
on  the  older  survey,  and  so  lost  are  the  forts  in  many  cases  among  the 
modern  enclosures  on  the  maj)s  of  the  more  accurately  detailed  survey 
now  in  progress,  that  without  actually  visiting  every  site,  it  is  impossible 
to  compile  from  the  maps  any  detailed  census,  showing  the  number  of 
ring-walls,  ringed  earthworks,  square  forts,  simple  motes,  or  even  in  many 
cases,  complex  motes,  while  the  slightly  marked  ti'aces  of  fosses  on  head- 
lands, whose  very  names  suggest  the  existence  of  promontory  forts,  are 
too  often  ignored  by  the  practical  surveyor. 

In  this  most  important  object  of  detailed  lists  of  the  various  types 
of  forts,  it  is  too  evident  that  reliance  can  only  be  placed  on  antiquarian 
field-work ;  and  so,  while  we  avoid  statements  as  to  the  approximate 
number  of  the  various  classes  of  forts,  we  may  state  that  we  have  been 
careful  to  verify  our  assertions  as  to  the  existence  of  certain  types,  but  that 
their  predominance  in  a  district  is  only  an  assertion  of  our  mere  opinion. 
We  have  lists  of  over  forty  simple,  and  twenty  complex  motes,  and  of  over 
sixty  promontory  forts.  These  probably  fall  short  of  the  true  numbers. 
Of  the  number  of  the  other  types,  we  dare  offer  no  definite  statements. 

The  numbers  of  forts  approximately  is  as  follows : — The  average  number  of  acres  to  each  fort, 
in  various  counties,  is  given  in  brackets  to  show  the  comparative  number,  the  latter  proportional 
statement  must  be  taken  with  caution,  as  the  forts  lie  much  together  on  the  more  fertile  ground, 
avoiding,  save  in  Kerry  and  Clare,  the  vrilder  mountain  districts  and  boglands  : — 

Ulster.— Antrim,  618  (1261  acres) ;  Down,  664  (921  a.) ;  Armagh,  190  (8726  a.);  Mouaghan 
706  (452  a.);  Cavan,  909  (525  a.);  Fermanagh,  397  (1147a.);  Tyrone,  393  (2051  a);  London- 
derry, 189  (2728  a.);  Donegal,  215  (5550  a.). 

Leinsteb.— Louth,  146  (1390  acres);  Meath,  545  (1061a.);  Westmeath,  1184  (383a.), 
Longford,  653  (412a.);  King's  County,  265  (1870a.);  Queen's  County,  261  (1690a.);  Kildare 

From  KL.  LK.  ACAD.  TUANS.   VOL.  XXXI. PAKl  XIV.  C 


10  Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

185  (2310a.);  Dublin,  58  (3905  a.) ;  Wicklow,  225  (2223  a.)  ;  Carlow,  178(1243a.);  Kilkenny, 
627  (813  a.);  Wexford,  334  (1725  a.). 

CoNNAroHT. — Leitrim,  536  (732  acres)  ;  Sligo,  1472  (327  a.),  Col.  "Wood-Martin,  however, 
gives  1800  Sligo  forts;  Mayo,  2147  (637a.);  Roscommon,  1276  (471  a.);  Galway,  2162  (775a.). 

MjTNSTEK.— Clare,  2419  (343  acres);  KeiTy,  1988  (596  a.);  Limerick,  2147  (317  a.);  Tippe- 
rary,  2244   (427  a.);  Waterford,  510  (923a.);  Cork,  2930  (630  a.). 

Sligo  and  Limerick  head  the  list,  and  the  Munster  and  Conuaught  counties  have  nowhere  less 
than  1  fort  to  1000  acres.  Donegal  is  lowest,  1  fort  to  5550  acres.  Dublin,  the  next  lowest  in 
appearance,  has  evidently  lost  the  greater  number  of  its  forts  through  cultivation  and  the  spread 
of  the  subui'bs,  whose  very  names,  Rathmines,  Rathgar,  Rathfai'uham,  Bagotrath,  Raheny,  &c.,. 
tell  of  the  former  demolition  of  raths.  Col.  Wood-Martin  computes  the  number  of  Irish  forts  as 
40,000,  i.e.  as  about  32  times  the  number  in  Sligo,  but  the  number  in  each  county  is  variant. 

The  richest  proportion  to  the  poorest  (Sligo  to  Donegal)  is  as  1  to  17. 
Most  of  these  forts  are  from  100  to  130  feet  in  diameter;  a  considerable 
number  are  from  300  feet  to  360  feet  across ;  but  very  few  exceed  500  feet 
across.  The  largest  earthen  ring-forts  are  Dorsey,  a  mile  long,  and  Dun 
Ailinn  in  Kildare,  1600  by  1350  feet.  The  largest  stone  forts  are  Moghane 
in  Clare,  1500  by  1100  feet,  and  Dun  Aenghus  in  Aran,  1000  by  650  feet. 

3.  Fort  Names  (General). — It  is  of  no  little  interest  to  note  the 
names  by  which  tliese  structures  are  known  from  the  far  east  of  Europe 
to  the  Atlantic.  Pre-eminent  in  extension  and  interest  is  the  word 
'  Dun,'  probably  meaning  '  strong.'*  It  obtained  the  derivative  meanings 
of  'stronghold'  or  'hill-fort.'  Its  cognate  'ton'  ('town')  lies  outside 
the  scope  of  our  subject.  To  save  our  readers  a  search  in  Ptolemy, 
Csesar,  and  other  ancient  authors,  we  may  note  that  the  place-names 
with  this  comjjound  spread  from  Ireland  to  the  mouth  of  the  Danube. 
The  "  Celts"  of  those  early  ages  round  the  opening  of  our  era  used  it  as 
a  suffix  (as  they  did  Magus,  Magh,  and  Nemetum,  Nemed),  instead  of  as  a 
prefix  as  in  Ireland. 

Among  the  names  of  the  first  century,  b.c.  and  its  two  successors,  we  may  note — in  Ireland: 
Dounon.  Britain:  Axellodunum,  Branadunum,  Cambodunum,  Camulodunum  (Maldon?),  Dunion, 
Londinium  (London),  Margidun,  Maridunum  (Caer-Marthen),  Rigodunum,  Segedunum,  Serduno, 
Sorbiodunum  (Sarum).  Spain  (only  at  north-west  angle):  Caladunum.  France:  such  semi- 
Eoman  names  as  Augustodun\im,  Csesarodunum,  and  Celtic  names   as  Laudunum,    Lugdunum 


*  Zcuss,  p.  30  :  see  "  Irish  Names  of  Places,"  Dr.  V.  W.  Joyce  (1871  ed.),  p.  267. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  11 

(Lyons),  Segodunum,  and  TJxellodunum,  among  tte  Aquitani :  Lugdunnm,  Melodunnm  (Melim), 
No\dodnnum,  and  Virodiuium  (Verdun),  among  the  Belgi.  Noviodunum  among  the  C'elti ;  and 
Eburodimiim  in  Provence.  In  Switzerland  are  found  Eburodunum,  Minnodunum,  Noviodunum 
(Nyon),  and  Salodunum.  In  "  Gfrmant/"  :  CaiTodunum,  Ebm'odimum,  Lugidunum  (and  the 
tribe  of  Lygoduni  near  Bresslau),  Meliodunum,  Segodunum,  and  Taurodunum.  Cambodunum 
was  in  Hhoetia;  Noviodunum  (Isaktcha  near  the  mouth  of  the  Danube,  and  Singidunum  (Belgrade) 
in  Moesia,  and  Viodunum  in  the  present  Eoumania.  It  will  be  noted  that  these  do  not  cover  all 
the  districts  in  which  the  "  Celtic"  forts  occur,  as  the  remains  extend  to  Esthonia  and  Sweden, 
but  this  may  arise  from  the  natural  ignorance  of  the  more  northern  districts  among  the  writers 
of  the  Empire. 

"  Duna"  is  found  in  Hungaiy,  but  seems  there  to  be  a  local  form  of 
the  river  name  (Duna  =  Danube),  though  one  name  lies  far  from  the  great 
river,  and  another,  Duna  Foldvar,  is  actually  combined  with  an  accepted 
fort  term.  Similarly,  "Duna"  is  found  as  a  river  and  town  name  in 
Esthonia,  where  "Celtic"  forts  are  also  found.  Its  use  in  Ireland  and 
Scotland  is  too  common  to  call  for  note.  And  in  France,  it  is  probably 
present  in  Dinan  (where  a  large  mote  existed  at  the  time  of  Harold's  ill- 
starred  sojourn  at  the  court  of  his  future  enemy,  William  of  Normandy), 
and  the  names  of  some  other  towns,  such  as  Dun  le  palleteau,  Dun  sur 
Mouse,  Verdun,  and  Dun  le  roi.  Lis,  Les,  and  Leis,  in  the  sense  of 
"court,"  occur  in  place-names  in  Brittany. 

In  Ireland,  however,  "  Dun  "  is  not  of  such  frequent  occurrence  as  Lis 
and  Rath.  It  would  be  a  vast  and  not  very  profitable  task  to  extract  all 
the  fort-names  on  the  O.S.  maps  ;  but  taking  the  townland  names,  we  find 
that  "  Lis"  leads  by  a  vast  majority  as  a  prefix  to  1400  names,  "  Rath  " 
and  "Dun"  come  next  in  order  with  597  and  576,  and  "  Caher"  heads 
315  names.  Tlie  criterion  is  deceptive,  for  there  are  some  140  "  Caher" 
names  in  Clare  alone,  though  only  50  give  names  to  the  townlands,  and 
over  50  lost  "  Caher"  names  are  also  recoverable  from  the  records  of  that 
one  county.  Professor  Sullivan  states  that,  out  of  244  Caher  names  in 
Ireland,  Cork,  Kerry,  Limerick,  Clare,  and  Galway  liave  209  ;  but  this  is 
manifestly  unreliable.  The  name  certainly  is  most  abundant  in  Munster, 
Galway,  and  Southern  Mayo ;  and  it  is  found  in  Queen's  County 
(Cahernacappol's  House,  and  Caher),  Meath  (Caher  Crofinn),  Longford 
(Caherdigue),  and  Antrim  (Caher  Righ).     The  word,  probably  in   early 

C  2 


12  Wkstropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Christian  times,  came  into  use,  for  "doons'"  as  well  as  for  enclosed 
monasteries.  The  change  has  left  its  mark  in  the  double  names,  Caer- 
marthen  (Caher  mari  dun)  and  Caterthun  (Cathair  dun)  in  Great  Britain, 
and  the  names  "  Caherdoon  "  in  Ireland.  The  love  for  a  double  name 
has,  since  1878,  even  begun  to  assert  itself  in  Aran,  where  the  Black 
Fort  or  Dubh  Cathair  is  getting  re-named,  "  Dun  doo  'hair."*  In  our 
literature,  tlie  word  is  frequently  equated  with  "  city." 

North  of  Clew  Bay,  "  caher"  is  replaced  by  "cashel."  This  word  co- 
exists along  with  "  caher"  southward,  even  to  Cork,  and  has  acquired  a 
subsidiaiy  meaning  of  "wall  of  a  monastery."  "  Cashlaun  "  is  a  rarer 
form.  "  Ooan,"  "  Moher,"  and  "Dangan"  sometimes  mean  "caher,"  but 
local  knowledge  is  required  to  distinguish  these  from  natural  caves  or 
late  enclosures  or  castles.  The  Dindsenchas  uses  both  "  cashlaun"  and 
"Moher"  for  the  Grianan  of  Aileach.  "  Boen "  (or  bawn)  occm's  in 
Keny,  Cork,  and  (it  is  alleged)  Clare ;  but  we  believe  in  the  last  case  it 
is  a  misread  "  Goan."  "  Mote,"  and  "  Longfort "  are  loan  words. 
"  Pallis "  is  a  peculiar  term  given  to  over  40  townlands,  but  (so  far 
as  we  can  recall)  onlj'  given  to  two  rectangular  forts  in  Westmeath  and 
Kerry.  "  Durlas"  (or  strong  fort)  occurs,  notably  at  Thurles.  Tonnach 
or  Sonnach  is  also  used  for  a  ring-wall  or  enclosure. 

The  curious  reduplications  like  "  caherdoon  "  are  also  found  in  combi- 
nations of  other  fort-words — Caherlis,  Cahercashlaun,  Lisdoon,  Lisnaraha, 
Lisdangan,  Rathdangan,  Lissatunna,  Lissamota,  Dunalis,  Dunluce  (Dun 
Liss),  and  Lisnioher.  Such  names  as  Cahermore,  Lismore,  Cahereen, 
Lisheen,  and  Cahermoyle  have  almost  ceased  to  be  proper  names. 

The  terms  used  in  other  countries  may  be  briefly  enumerated.  Only 
one  commends  itself  for  our  use  in  this  country,  the  admirable  Germanic 
term  "  ring-wall." 

In  Bosnia-Herzegovina  these  "Celtic"  forts  ai-e  named  "  Hausberg,"  "  Burgwiille,"  "  Wall- 
burg,"  and  "Eingwalle."  In  Bohemia:  "  Hraditsch  "  and  "  Arad  "  (equated  with  "  rath  "  by 
W.  Borlase)  are  found.  In  Hungary  the  forts  are  "  Duna,"  "  Hring,"  "  Poganvyar"  (heathens' 
■walls),  "Foldvyar"  (field  or  earthen- walls),  and  "Devils-ditch."     In  Esthonia :   "Bauerberge" 


*  Perhaps,  however,  this  is  the  name  rendered  "  Uoonaghard,"  as  on  0.  S.  Maps.     We  give 
the  phonetic  form,  as  used  in  1895. 


WESTROPP—T/ie  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  13 

and  the  name  "Daingen"  occurs.  In  Germany:  "RingwaU,"  "WaUburg,"  "Heidenschanze" 
(heathen  fort),  "Spiel  Hugel"  (place  of  games).  In  the  Vosges  :  we  find  "  Heidenmaucr" 
(heathen  walls)  and  "  Altschloss"  (old  fort).  In  Holland:  "Hune  schans"  (Huns'  fort)  In 
Switzerland:  "Ringberg";  and  in  France:  such  names  as  "Cesar's  camp,'  "Roman  camp" 
''Castel,"  "Mm-,"  "Campof  Attila."  and  "Pagan  Castle,"  recalling  the  Irish  term  "Danish  fort  " 
In  the  Bntish  Isles,  we  have  "Dun,"  "Caer,"  "Rath"  (Pembroke,  Northumberland, and  Scotland), 
Birren,'  "Rmgknowe,"  and  "Law."  In  Scotland:  "Liss,"  "Beacon,"  "Ring"  "  DevilC 
hedge,"   "Mote,"   "Dyke,"  and  many  other  terms. 

4.  Fort  Names  (Individual). -If  we  seem  to  some  to  intrude  on 
linguistic  questions  in  this  section,  we  must  only  crave  the  patience  of 
such  readers  to  bear  with  what  we  conceive  as  necessary  (in  the  system 
adopted)  to  the  fuller  treatment  of  our  forts,  and  as  being  an  interesting 
brancli  of  the  folk-lore  concerning  them. 

The  ideas  of  size  and  colour  (as  might  be  expected;  have  supplied 
a  long  list  of  names  to  the  forts.  We  find  many  times  and  in  many 
counties  such  names  as  Cahermore,  Caherbeg,  Cahereen,  and  even  (pro- 
bably)* Cahereenmore;  Lismore,  Lisbeg,  Lisheen  ;  Rathmore,  Rathbe- 
Raheen ;  Doonmore,  Doonbeg,  Dooneen  ;  but  such  names  are  of  little 
interest,  and  virtually  non-descriptive. 

Lime  was  probably  used  as  a  pigment  long  before  it  was  used  for 
mortar;  but,  in  some  cases,  the  white  colour  attributed  to  the  forts  is 
rather  due  to  the  limestone  blocks,  bleached  with  the  rain  and  storm  of 
many  centur.es.  Such  names  occur  as  Cahergel  (borne  by  two  important 
stone  forts  in  Galway  and  Kerry),  Calierbane,  and  Caherlea,  Duno-al 
Lisbaun,  Lisheenbane,  Lisgal,  Lislea,  Rathbaun,  and  Rabane.  "^    ' 

The  dark  stone  or  earth,  or  in  some  cases  a  shady  hillside,  originated 
such  names  as  Caherduff,  Lisdoo,  Lisduff ,  and  Raheenduff .     Red  or  yellow 
earth  (or  the  green-sward  which  forms  so  lovely  a  feature  in  many  earti, 
orts)  gave  names  like  Lisderg,  Lisroe,   Lisbuy  or   Lisglass,  Lisheenroe, 
Lisheenbuy   Dunderg  or  Dunroe,  Rathduff  or  Rathglass,  or  the  fort  was 
speckled     with  various  colours,  and  called  Caherbreac  or  Lisbrack 
For   their   position,    or  other   peculiarities  various    forts  were    called 
Caherard,  Rathard    or   Lissard,    Dundrum  or   Rathdrum,    Lisnaknock  or 
Knockadoon. 

*  Transactions  Royal  Irish  Academy,  vol.  .x.xxi.,  p.  301. 


,14  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Cahernageeha,  Lisnageeha,  and  Ratlinageeha  derived  their  names 
from  their  breezy  station  (like  Ilinm  of  old),  while  Caherrush  and  Cahersaul 
suggest  at  once  the  lonely  headlands  on  which  they  stood,  beside  the 
breakers  of  the  Atlantic.  Caherlough  actually  overlooks  a  reedy  lake ; 
Caherass  and  Doonass  overhung  the  rapids  of  the  Maigue  and  Shannon. 
The  fort  was  cut  out  of  a  gravel  mound,  and  named  Rathescar,  or  lay  in 
marly  bogland,  or  low  ground,  with  water  in  its  trenches,  and  became 
Caherloghan,  Lisaniska,  Raheenaniska  or  Rathdoorus.  It  was  flat-topped, 
or  much  levelled,  and  people  named  it  Cahermoyle,  Lismoyle,  or  Rath- 
moyle.  From  its  shape  a  fort  was  named  Caherleane,  Cahergar  or 
Caherfadda,    Lisgar  or  Lisleane,    Rathgar   or   Rathfad. 

The  fort  finally  got  superseded  by  more  convenient  residences,  and  the 
inhabitants  only  kept  their  domestic  animals  in  it ;  naming  it  Lisnabo, 
Lisboduff,  Lisbofinn,  Liscappul,  Cahernagree,  Lisnagry,  Doonagore,  Rath- 
nagore,  Caherminaun  or  Lisnaminaun,  Lisnamolt,  Lisnamuck  or  Caherna- 
muck.  In  other  cases,  as  at  the  present  day,  its  owners  cultivated  the 
garth,  and  it  got  named  Rathnapish  or  Lissacurkia,  "  jam  seges  est  ubi 
Troja  fuit."  It  was  sometimes  deserted,  and  the  gallows  was  set  on  its 
height,  then  it  got  the  ill-omened  name  of  Lisnacroghera  ;  or  it  was  used 
for  burial,  and  became  Cahercaltragh  or  Lisnagorp.  In  some  cases,  in  its 
utter  loneliness,  people  fancied  that  it  had  become  the  haunt  of  evil  spirits; 
the  "  corpse  candle  "  was  seen  in  its  fosse,  and  it  was  named  Lisnagunniel ; 
the  ghost  and  phuca  cried  in  its  desolate  houses,  and  the  shuddering 
peasantry  called  it  Lisananima,  Lissaphuca,  Caheraj^huca  or  Lisheenvickna- 
heeha,  "  the  little  fort  of  the  son  of  the  night."* 

More  real  were  the  "  doleful  creatures  " — the  wild  cat,  badger,  and 
wolf — that  haunted  it,  and  it  was  called  Cahernamactiere  (now  Caher- 
mackateer,  in  Clare),  RathbrefFy,  Lisnapeasty,  Lisnabrock  or  Cahernagat, 
or  it  was  overgrown,  the  oak,  ash,  or  hollj^  springing  from  its  ruins,  the 
ivy  cloaking  its  walls,  while  the  doves  cooed  (as  in  the  poem  on  O'Roigh's 
fort)  above  the  lonely  site,  and  then  it  got  for  its  name  Caheraderry, 
Cahercullenagh,  Lisnahinshin,  Duneena,  Cahereinagh,  or  CahernagoUum. 

The  personal  names  connected  with  the  forts  are  much  more  difficult  to 

*  "  Macnaliaidehe"  occurs  however  as  a  personal  name,  e.g.  Annals  of  Ulster,  1104-1 150  and  1281. 


Westhopp- The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  1 5 

deal  witi,  and  it  is  impossible  to  know  whether  in  any  case  they  may 
^e  o.d  he  name  o  the  builder.  In  Doon  Innees  (the  traditional  nLe  o'f 
Dun  Aenghus)  and  Dooneer.sh  (the  traditional  name  of  Caherdoonfergus) 

Wends  of  V"T  7'^^  "^'  '^■^'"^'  ^'^'^'^  ^«--  -^  '^^  eldest 
legends   of  the  places ;  but  few  such    names  can  be  traced   behind   the 

Gorman  Invasion,  and  fewer  beyond  the  Danish  wars.     The  numerous  fort 

the     Battle  of  Ventry,"  and  the  forts  in  the  legend  of  Moytura-Cong    are 
now  forgotten  on  the  sites      Such  names  as  Caber  Power,  Caher  Rice   and 
Caher  Sayers  tell  of  late  dates,  and  are  not  found  in  the  Survey  of  iooS 
Le  Rayth,    near  Dublin,  became  "  Moenes-Rath,"  and  eventually  Rath 
m.nes,  after  the  English  Settlement.     The  fort  called  by  ZToyXl^' 
mactn-eao  ,  and  by  Windele,  Cahermartinigh,  is  now  Caherco.fc:  '  and  I 
name    Cahernamairtzneach,   has  been  transferred  to  a  neighbouring  fort 
which  was  called  Caherdonnell  fifty  years  ago.     The  Ordnance  Sur     y 
maps  have  restored  not  a  few  of  the  old  names  to  use.     The  ''  Grenans  " 
o    Aileach  and  Lachtna  had  lost  their  epithets;  the  forts  at  Tara  had  lost 
therr  distinctive  names.     The  son  of  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages  is  said  to 
have  given  his  name  to  Dun  Leary ;  but  the  name  of  Rath  Laoghaire  was 
fox^ot  en  at  Tara.      Names  like  Cahermacclanchy,  Cahershauglmessy,  Tnd 
Caherdermotygreefa,  Rathfarnham,  and  Bagotrath  are  evidently  late    ;ther 
names  have   been  misapplied,   as  Dun  Criffan  at  Howth,   which     if   the 
ancient  account  in  the  Dindsenchas*  be  correct,  was  visible  from  Meath, 
and     herefore  probably  stood  on  the  "  Doon  Hill,"  and  not  on  the  head 
and  hidden     rom  Meath.      It  is,   however,  pleasing  to  find   the   names 
of  Maeve  and   Cuchullin,   Balor  and  Lon  mac  Liomhtha  ;   the  Firbolo-s 

Cuio    mac  Dan-e,    Imn  and  Ossian,    Dermot   and    Grania,  clinging   b^ 
tradition  to  some  of  our  forts,  even  though  the  names  are  but  shadows. 

11.— Forts  of  the  Irish  Types  in  other  Countries. 
Not  long  ago  any  attempt  to  equate  the  forts  of  Ireland  with  those  of 
Greece-to  see  analogies  between  the  citadels  of  -  gold- abounding  Mycen*  " 

*  "  Uindsenchas,  Hovue  Celtijue"  (1894),  p.  290. 


16  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

and  the  well-walled  Tiryns  "  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  forts  of  Aenghus, 
Conor,  or  Irghus,  on  the  other — would  have  been  adversely  judged,  and  the 
bold  writer  covered  with  ridicule.  Now,  despite  the  dislike  of  a  decreasing 
band  of  adherents  to  the  old  views,  the  likeness  is  acknowledged,  and  the  con- 
nexion, or  rather  the  descent,  of  the  Bronze-Age  art  of  Greece  and  Ireland 
seems  fairly  well  established.  Strange  it  is  that  early  legends  (whether  by 
a  happy  guess  or  otherwise)  attributed  the  colonization  of  oiu'  island  to 
tribes  advancing  from  Greece  or  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Euxine ;  and, 
stranger  still,  that  some  warrant  should  be  found  in  the  stern  archaeology 
of  facts  for  this  fairyland  of  far  tradition.  Ever  westward  pressed  swarms 
of  settlers  along  the  lines  of  the  Baltic  and  the  Danube,  and  right  across 
their  track  passed  the  trade  in  jet  and  amber  from  Greece  to  the  Baltic. 
We  can  readily  see  in  those  facts  an  unbroken  chain  of  possible  connexion ; 
and  when  the  chain  of  ruined  forts  (of  the  same  types  as  are  found 
in  Ireland)  extends  without  a  break  from  Thessaly  and  Bosnia  through 
Hungary,  Prussia,  the  Low  Countries,  France,  Switzerland,  and  the 
British  Isles,  we  can  hardly  fail  to  draw  the  only  apparent  conclusion.  In 
our  wish  to  avoid  mere  theory,  we  do  not  intend  to  go  into  the  question  of 
Etruscan  fortresses,  which  probably  (like  the  northern  forts)  go  back  in 
origin  to  the  same  great  centre — the  city  of  the  Lions'  Gate ;  still  less 
dare  we  do  more  than  recall  to  our  readers  the  more  unanswerable  problem 
of  the  far  isolated  group  of  great  and  pre-historic  hill-forts  on  the  hills  of 
Mashonaland,  and  the  earthworks  of  the  Ohio,  which,  on  a  grander  scale, 
show  such  very  striking  analogies  to  the  forts  of  Ireland.  These  call  for 
long  and  careful  investigation ;  for  the  last  words  had  not  been  said  on  the 
former  question  when  the  work  of  Vallancey,  O'Brien,  and  Betham  fell  into 
disrepute,  and  the  exponent  of  a  theory  in  the  great  puzzle  of  Central 
Africa  has  yet  to  arise.* 

One  would  be  disposed  to  turn  to  Galatia  to  see  whether  any  remains 
similar  to  our  forts  are  to  be  found  in  that  early  "  Gaulish  "  settlement; 
but  though  we  find  features  like  the  corbelled  passages  of  Irish  forts  and 

*  "The  Mediterranean  Kace,"  p.  44,  suggests  a  migration  from  inner  Africa  (Somaliland)  to 
the  Mediterranean,  but  the  subject  is  at  present  too  precarious  to  suggest  any  connexion  with  the 
Irish  Forts. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  [  7 

low  trilithic  doorways  in  tlie  fort  of  Pteria,  we  arc  comjJelled  to  equate 
them  more  directly  with  the  Mycenaean  than  with  the  "  Gaulisli "  period* 
Petrie,  and  not  a  few  others  of  our  older  antiquaries,  saw  remarkable 
resemblances  between  Irish  cahersf  and  the  great  fortresses  of  Greece  and 
Etruria.     Some  only  noted  this  without  building  much  theory  upon  it ; 
others  made  it  the  basis  of  elaborate  inverted  pyramids  of  conjecture ;  but 
none  seem  to  have  followed  up  the  subject  step  by  step  to  see  whether 
there  was  any  probable  connexion  traceable.    We  ventured  with  some  doubt 
to  indicate    briefly  and   scantily  liow  identical   examples  occurred  from 
Ireland  to  Austria ;  and  at  the  same  time  another  member  of  the  Academy, 
Mr.  Coffey,  was  publishing  a  series  of  articles  on  early  Irish  ornamentation, 
which  gave  a  clue  to  the  manifestly  Mycenaean  influence  in  this  early  art. 
So  it  can  be  seen  how  easily  suggestions  for  fort-building  might  have  been 
carried  across  eastern  Eurojie  and  up  the  Baltic  on  undoubted  lines  of  inter- 
course between  Mycenae  and  the  north,  along  which  the  trade  in  jet  and 
amber  had  proceeded  for  centuries.  J    There  these  ideas  rooted  and  pro- 
duced forts  of  the  Bronze  Age  in  the  Danube  Valley,  in  Bosnia,  Hungary, 
Bohemia,  Germany,  and  Livonia,  whence  the  westward  movement  of  tribes 
and  nations  carried  the  designs  into   western   Germany,    Gaul,    and    the 
British  Isles.     Dr.  Christison,    Mr.   Borlase,  and  Dr.   Munro  were  at  the 
same  time  publishing  works  which  helped  to  weld  the  chain  of  facts  from 
Ireland  to  the  Euxine  ;  and,  in  this  light,  the  theories  (such  as  that  founded 
on  the  late  legends  of  the  sons  of  Huamore,   which  for  fifty  years  had 
satisfied   Irish   antiquaries)    appeared   too   weak  and   partial    for   future 
acceptance,  sufficient  for  a  county  or  two,  insufficient  for  the  forts  of  a 
continent,   or  even  the  30,000  forts  of  Ireland. 

5.  Greece. — Commencing  at  the  centre  where,  as  we  believe,  lay  the 
source  of  those  traditions  of  art  and  building,  which  over  a  thousand  years 
before  our  era  flowed  northward,  and  put  their  mark  even  on  the  rough 

*■  Revue  Archeologiquo,  N.S.,  xxiii.  (1872),  p.  210. 

t  "Military  Arctitectiu-e  of  Ireland"  (MSS.  R.I. A.),  pp.  116,  175. 

X  Professor  W.  Ridgeway  points  out  ("  Early  Age  of  Greece,"  1901,  p.  359)  that  amber  found 
in  Mycente,  Bosnia,  and  the  Swiss  Lake-dwellings  is  shown  by  analysis  to  be  of  Baltic,  and  not 
Mediterranean,  origin. 

From  HL.  IK.   ACAD.  TEANS.,  VOL.   XXXI. PAKI  XrV.  1) 


18  Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

tribes  to  the  north  of  the  Danube,  we  must  briefly  consider  what  structural 
phenomena  akin  to  those  of  the  Celtic  forts  are  to  be  found  in  the  citadels 
of  Greece.  Apart  from  countless  similarities  in  weapons  and  ornaments, 
the  great  fortresses  of  Proetus  and  Agamemnon  afford  us  features  of  build- 
ing whicli,  like  the  former  objects,  probably  originated  a  school  whose  last 
disciples  worked  in  Ireland  two  thousand  years  after  the  bright  early  dawn 
of  Greek  civilization  had  been  over  clouded.  The  Greek  fortresses,  though 
(with  the  exception  of  the  Thessalian  acropolis  hereafter  noted)  very 
dissimilar  in  plan  to  the  subjects  of  this  essay,  resembled  the  "  Celtic  " 
forts  in  girding  the  summits  of  knolls  of  rock.  In  Mycenae  is  an  "  upright 
joint,"  a  section  of  wall  called  a  "tower,"  but  not  projecting,  and  only 
forming  a  revetment  to  the  debris  of  ruined  houses.  The  masonry  is  of 
very  variant  character  in  portions  of  the  wall,  and  often  resembles,  on  a 
larger  scale,  the  masonry  of  Irish  forts  as  our  older  antiquaries  long  since 
noted,  though  strangely  oblivious  of  the  greater  size  of  the  "  Pelasgian" 
stone-work  which  befitted  the  wealthy  and  luxurious  citizens  of  that 
wonderful  civilization.  The  walls  in  some  cases  had  dry  filling  of  rude 
and  small  stones.  The  great  trilithon  of  the  Lion's  Gate  finds  smaller 
analogies  in  Munster  and  Connaught.  So  do  the  springs  outside  the  walls 
so  contrary  to  the  notions  of  modern  and  even  of  mediaeval  defensive 
work.  The  Greeks,  like  the  Irish,  defended  against  assault  rather  than 
blockade,  for  no  siege  in  a  modern  sense  took  place  (so  far  as  we  know)  till 
long  after  the  crops  had  grown  above  fallen  Ilium.  The  more  honoured 
dead  were  buried  within  a  ring  enclosure,  the  person  who  approached  the 
gate  of  Tiryns  had  his  unshielded  side  next  the  men  on  the  wall ;  the 
great  passage  covered  by  corbelling  in  the  rampart  of  the  same  acropolis 
had  its  shadow  in  Grianan  Aileach  and  the  Kerry  forts ;  but  this  may  be 
a  mere  resemblance,  as  no  very  exact  analogy  can  be  found  in  the  forts  of 
central  Europe.  The  masonry  was  coursed,  "cyclopean,"  or  polygonal, 
and  in  some  cases  had  spawls  or  packing  pieces  fitted  in  the  interstices,  and 
loose  filling  in  the  centre.  Some  Antiquaries  consider  the  "cyclopean" 
work  is  later  than  the  coui'sed,  in  fact  not  much  earlier  than  500  B.C.  A 
circular  building,  which  can  scarcely  be  later  than  the  year  B.C.  700,  has 
been  found   at  Amorgos ;     and  the  great  lake  fortress   of   Gha  or  Arue 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  19 

is  reproduced  in  the  little  walled   islets   iu   the   lakes   of   Scotland  and 
Ireland.* 

6.  Thessaly. — There  is  an  acropolis  near  Volo  which  Dr.  Kirker,  staff 
surgeon  of  H.  M.  S.  Amphion,  described  in  a  letter  published  by  his 
bi'other.f  This  fort  closely  resembles  the  Celtic  type,  as  it  seems  to  have 
consisted  of  two,  if  not  three,  concentric  ring-walls  round  a  limestone 
knoll.  It  lies  three  miles  to  the  south  of  Volo,  and  near  Cape  Angistiri, 
and  was  not  described  in  any  book  or  known  to  any  antiquary  at  Athens 
so  far  as  Dr.  Kirker  could  ascertain.  The  walls  are  built  of  heavy 
"  Cyclopean"  masonry,  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  rock,  closely  re- 
sembles some  of  our  cahers,  but  is  of  larger  blocks  7  to  8  feet  long,  and 
2  feet  by  3  or  4  feet  in  section.  (In  the  Clare  and  Aran  forts  we  have 
seldom  found  blocks  exceeding  7  feet  by  2  feet  by  1  foot).  The  inner- 
most ring  utilised  a  precipitous  crag  as  portion  of  its  rampart ;  it  is 
150  feet  in  diameter;  a  radius  wall,  19  feet  thick  and  180  yards  long, 
runs  to  the  outer  ring  in  a  north-westerly  direction.  Lower  down  the 
slope  is  a  wall,  a  quadrant  of  the  circle  towards  the  west ;  a  gateway 
lies  to  the  south.  The  outer  ring  is  also  19  feet  wide,  and  730  feet 
across  the  inner  side.  An  outwork  like  that  at  Dun  Aenghus  and 
Dun  Conor  in  Aran  lies  to  the  S.W.      There  is  a  double  gate  beside  it. 

7.  Dalmatia. — We  find  one  "  promontory  "  stone  fortress  described  as 
remaining  on  a  peninsula  near  Sebennico ;  there  is  no  trace  of  a  gateway, 
and  a  holed-stone  lies  near  the  wall.  The  other  points  are  not  clearly 
defined,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  a  prehistoric  structure. :]:  Early  hill 
forts,  some  of  large  blocks,  are  also  found. 

*  We  select  these  from  a  vast  number  of  available  works  as  Dr.  Schliemaim's  "Mycense  and 
Tiryns  "  and  Dr.  Tsoimtas  (Ed.  Dr.  Manatt)  "  Mycenasan  Age,"  p.  27  and  p.  261,  &c.  Mr.  George 
Coffey's  valuable  papers  on  tbe  evolution  of  early  Celtic  ornaments  may  be  found  in  the  Journal 
R.S.A.I.,  1894-1897. 

t  Journal  of  the  lloyal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland,  xxiv.,  1894,  p.  271,  S.  K.  Kirker. 
The  plan  is  here-with  reproduced,  figm-e  2. 

J  "Land  of  the  Bora,"  p.  56;  see  also  "Dalmatia  and  Herzegovina,"  (S.  J.  G. 
Wilkinson,  1848). 

D2 


20  Westr(^pp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

8.  Bosnia-Herzegovina. — Wallburgen  and  hill-forts  of  a  kind  closely 
resembling  our  lisses  occur  with  tumuli  and  burials  of  the  Bronze  Age 
near  Glasinac,  an  elevated  upland ;  some  20,000  tumuli  are  found  in  groups 
of  several  hundred  in  twenty  or  thirty  jDlaces ;  in  a  few  instances  cists  occur, 
and  also  about  twenty-three  forts ;  usually  one  wallburg  lies  near  each 
cemetery.  The  skeletons  in  the  tumuli  had,  in  some  instances,  their  feet 
turned  towards  the  fort.  In  Ireland,  save  at  some  motes  in  Wicklow,  the 
cists  in  the  majority  of  cases  seem  to  be  turned  eastward  without  any 
regard  to  the  forts  which  occur  among  them.  In  all  probability  the  Bosnian 
forts  and  tumuli  are  contemporaneous,  and  the  Irish  forts  are  later  than 
the  cairns  and  cists.*  Dr.  Montelius  considered  the  "finds"  as  dating  from 
extremely  early  times  to  the  fifth  century,  B.C.  (1100-500  B.C.).  Amber 
occurred  among  the  ornaments,  and  southern  influence  was  apparent 
in  the  bronze  antiquities.  Near  Mostar  is  a  district  extremely  rich  in 
remains  of  the  class  with  which  we  are  concerned;  among  these  we  may 
note  the  great  stone  fort  of  Mala  Gradina ;  on  the  hill  above  it  is  a  large 
cairn.  The  fort  is  irregular  in  plan,  and  contains  three  tumuli.  The 
Romans  established  a  camp  there  by  running  walls  of  stone  and  lime  upon 
and  over  the  old  defences. 

Pottery  with  patterns  similar  to  specimens  found  in  the  North  German 
"  Burgwalls"  occurs  in  tumuli  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  fort  of  Ogrdch 
(Ogratch)  lies  to  the  S.W.  of  Mostar.  It  is  a  stone  fort  enclosing  a  ridge, 
and  built  of  loose  irregular  blocks,  1290  by  383  feet  in  extent.  In  the 
higher  ground,  at  its  southern  end,  and  within  its  walls,  is  a  long,  large 
cairn  about  20  feet  high  ;  at  the  northern  and  lower  end  is  an  oval  ring- 
wall  170  by  110  feet;  a  long  enclosure  curves  round  the  fort,  and  encloses 
the  ridge  up  to  and  round  the  tumulus,  whence  an  equidistant  wall  forms 
a  long  entrance  passage  to  the  left.  The  total  length  of  wall  is  about  4050 
feet.  On  the  hill  of  Kicin  (Kitshen),  rivsing  400  feet  above  the  plain  over  the 
Bunica  river,  and  north  of  the  last,  is  a  dry  stone  fort  with  two  concentric 
ring-walls  on  the  summit,  and  two  curved  walls  extending  from  a  precipice 
along  the  lower  slope.     The  little  central  enclosure  is  55  feet  diameter,  the 

*Thus,  also,  in  Yorkshire,  the  tumuli  are  of  the  Stoue  Age,  and  many  neighbouring  forts  of 
the  Bronze  Age.     See,  infra,  section  30. 


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22  Wkstropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

outer  ring  237  feet,  the  others  1408  and  975  feet  from  the  upper  fort;  two 
other  curved  walls  defend  a  low  spot  on  the  ridge  beside  the  river ;  and  about 
this  point  numerous  foundations  of  circular  huts  remain,  9  to  12  feet  diameter. 
A  later  stone  and  mortar  breastwork  of  Roman  times  stands  among  these. 
On  an  isolated  hill  to  the  east  of  Mostar  is  another  small  prehistoric  stone 
fort,  also  enclosing  a  cairn  or  "  gomila."  The  enclosure  is  247  by  211  feet, 
and  is  oval ;  on  the  plain  below  are  many  tumuli. 

The  great  "  Wallburg  "  of  Debelobrdo  is  an  oval  dry-stone  fortress, 
360  feet  by  113  feet,  on  a  hill  top.  Immediately  below  are  traces  of  early 
settlement  on  a  plateau  named  Sobunar,  whence  the  inhabitants  could 
quickly  find  shelter  in  the  hill-fort  above  them. 

There  are  other  ring-walls,  circular,  elliptical,  trapezoid,  or  conforming 
to  the  hill,  closely  resembling  tlie  cahers  of  our  western  districts  ;  in  some 
cases,  as  at  the  ring- wall  of  Puhovac,  the  walls  have  proper  facing  of 
dry  stones,  the  forts  vary  from  30  to  300  feet  across,  and  in  some  the 
entrance  of  the  main  fort  is  defended  by  a  lesser  ring.  Finally,  we  may 
note  the  great  "  Hausberg,"  near  Stonegg,  a  flat-topped  mote  with  three 
lofty  concentric  earthworks  girding  it,  and  resembling  the  great  "duns" 
of  Tipperary  and  Limerick.* 

9.  Roumania.  —  There  are  not  a  few  resemblances  between  the 
antiquities  of  this  district  and  those  of  Ireland.  The  place-name  Dounon 
occurred  in  it  in  Roman  times.  At  least  one  undoubted  place  of  Celtic 
settlement,  afterwards  occupied  by  the  Romans,  remains ;  a  huge  earth- 
work, "  Caput  Bovis  "  ;  the  walls  are  now  nearly  removed  ;  it  rested  on  a 
hill  above  the  valley  of  the  Sereth.  Earthen  mounds  are  common  between 
the  Danube  and  the  Carpathians.  From  excavations  it  would  appear  that 
some  of  these  were  motes,  "  outposts  and  places  of  observation,"  and  not 
sepulchral  tumuli.  We  may  incidentally  note  among  later  monuments  in 
the  district  that  the  short-armed  cross  with  expanding  base  like  the  cross 

*  "  L'Antliropologie,"  tome  v.,  1894,  'So.  5,  pp.  563-568.  Eadimski,  "Praehist.  Fundstatten," 
Plate  135.  "Bosnia-Herzegovina  and  Dabnatia,"  Dr.  Robert  Mimro.  "Dolmens  of  Ireland," 
"WiUiam  C.  Borlase,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  1127,  1128.  Plans  of  Ograc,  Kicin,  and  Stonegg  are  given 
herewith.     Figures  3  and  4. 


Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  23 

at  St.  Doulough's,  Dublin,  and  the  cross  with  roof-like  top  and  enclosing 
circle  (beyond  which  the  arms  slightly  project)  are  not  uncommon.  The 
name  Viodunum  was  found  in  this  district  in  Roman  times,  and,  strange  to 
say,  the  very  "  Irish  sounding"  name  Dinogeha  still  survives.* 

10.  Italy. — It  is  hard  to  turn  aside  from  the  promontory  forts,  great 
Etruscan  citadels,  and  terraced  hills  of  the  central  peninsula  of  ancient 
culture.  Comparison  of  Irish  remains  with  Etruria  is  common  with  our 
older  antiquaries,  but  the  undoubted  resemblance  may  arise  from  their 
common  source  in  the  farther  east,  while  the  more  or  less  direct  influence 
of  Etruria  on  our  islands  has  yet  to  be  established.  We  need  only  recall 
a  fine  example  of  a  terraced  hill,  Monte  Musino— the  ancient  Ara  Mutiaj— 
with  four  rings  of  terraces,  and  another,  the  Flavian  Hill,  with  three 
terraces,  for  these  remains  closely  resemble  the  Herefordshire  Beacon,  and 
certain  other  terraced  hills  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  f 

11.  Austria-Hungary.— Still  going  northward  we  find  no  falling  o£F  in 
the  typical  forts;  the  very  name  "  Duna"  appears  in  Hungary,  but  though 
attached  to  certain  forts  it  may  not  be  derived  from  the  Celtic  ''  dun," 
as  it  is  also  the  local  name  for  the  Danube.  We  cannot  be  too  certain 
whether  such  names  even  as  Duna  Foldvar  are  not  derived  from  the  stream 
on  the  banks  of  which  they  usually  are  found.  The  forts  frequently 
occupy  the  summits  of  high  hills  girt  with  precijjices,  or  the  centre  of 
nearly  impassable  boglands.  The  greater  number  are  earthen,  and  they 
are  called  "  Hrings,"  "Foldvar"  (earthen  camp),  or  "Poganvyar"  (Pagan 
camp),  and  "Devil's  ditches." 

Several  types  occur,  all  strikingly  similar  to  the  Irish  ;  for  example,  the 
plain  oval  "  rath  "  of  Maslak,  girth  with  a  fosse,  and  with  a  path  turning 
to  the  left  of  the  entrance,  and  therefore  exposing  the  right  side  of  an 
assailant  to  attack.  The  great  "  Hring  "  of  B^ny  consists  of  three  crescent 
earth- works,  the  ends  abutting  on  a  steep  slope  above  the  river  Garam    the 

*"  Untrodden  paths  in  Eoumania,"     Mi-s.  Walker,   pp.   18,   27.       "  Roumania   in    1900," 
G.  Berger  (Ed.  A.  H.  Keane),  p.  11. 

t  Trans.  Roy.  Soc.  of  Literature,  ser.  2,  vol.  xx.,  part  i.,  p.  6». 


24  Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

diameter  of  the  central  enclosure  is  650  feet;  thence  to  the  second  ring 
320,*  and  to  the  outer  715  feet.  In  all,  this  great  fortress  measures 
about  2100  feet  over  all,  and  contains  two  villages,  Nag  B^ny  and  Kio 
B^ny,  within  its  rings.  It  resembles  Dun  Aenghus  in  plan  being  of  a 
type  occurring  also  at  Cahercommaun  in  Clare,  and  Errickstaue  in  Scotland. 
Cserevics  is  a  lofty  mote  girt  by  three  other  high  and  concentric  rings ; 
it  is  also  earthen  ;  a  small  fort  occupies  a  spur  of  the  hill.  Zanka  is  a  ring- 
wall,  and  has  three  lesser  forts  inside,  like  Emania  and  Caher  Crofinn  at 
Tara.  Regoly  fort  has  ramparts  about  40  feet  high,  and  measures  1312 
by  2165  feet  over  all.  Velikigrad  seems  to  consist  of  a  large  irregularly  oval 
ring  wall,  the  hill  sloping  steeply  to  each  side,  the  more  gradual  approaches 
to  the  north  and  south  being  defended  by  two  and  three  lines  ;  the  entrance 
is  to  the  north,  and  runs  in  a  straight  line  through  the  three  defences. 
St.  Leonard's  Church  stands  in  a  ring-wall,  which  Mr.  Borlase  rightly  con- 
siders nearl}'  identical  in  plan  to  the  cashel  of  Innismurray.  (Figure  23.) 
It  consists  of  a  massive  cashel  (stein  mauer)  irregularly  circular  in  plan, 
following  the  edge  of  steep  slopes.  The  enclosure  is  divided  by  two  ancient 
walls  forming  an  "  S,"  while  the  church  occupies  a  circular  and  (judging 
from  the  plan)  an  entrenched  mound.  Several  promontory  forts  formed 
by  cutting  one  or  more  ditches  across  a  mountain  spur  are  named,  and, 
indeed,  are  the  simplest  of  all  forts,  and  often  the  most  defensible.  Much, 
in  his  Prehistoric  Atlas  of  East  Austria  and  Hungary,  gives  fine  jilans  of 
a  noble  mote,  the  "  Hausberg"  of  St.  Ulrich,  which  closely  resembles  such 
Irish  motes  as  Lismore,  Dundermot,  and  Knockgraffan,  and  has  a  high 
mound,  which  in  this  case  has  a  slight  earthen  rampart,  such  as  occurs 
in  the  mote  of  Slane,  in  Meath,  and  the  lower  platform  enclosed  in  a 
"keyhole-shaped"  fosse.     A  list  of  66  of  these  forts  has  been  pubKshed.f 

12.  Bohemia. — A  local  term  for  these  "  Celtic"  forts  in  Bohemia  seems 
to  be    "  Hradischt,"   pronounced   Hradiste,  and   elsewhere    "Hrad"    or 

*  Stated  to  be  520,  but  shown  as  above  on  the  plan. 

f  Report  of  Congi-es  International  d'Anthropologie  et  d'Archeologie  Prehistoriques,  VIII., 
1876,  pp.  62,  79,  89,  98.  W.  Borlase,  "  Dolmens  of  Ireland,"  vol.  viu.,  p.  1125.  Much,  "  Pre- 
historic Atlas  of  East  Austria  and  Hungary."  Plans  of  Beny,  Zanka,  Cserevics,  Velikigrad,  St. 
Leonai'ds,  and  Stonegg  are  given  herewith. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  25 

"  Arad"  (equated  with  our  "  rath,"  but  used  indiscriminately  for  forts  of 
earth  or  stone).  Dr.  Ferdinand  Keller  describes  several  of  these  ;  one 
consisting  of  an  oval  ring-wall,  with  a  fan-like  enclosure  running  down  the 
slope,  recalls  examples  in  Ireland.  Another  is  called  Knezihora  or  "the 
Height  of  the  Princes";  it  is  near  the  town  of  Katovic,  and  measures  about 
360  feet  by  186  feet  inside.  It  suggests  such  an  Irish  fort  as  Langough, 
a  ring  with  a  long  looped  wall,  and  a  semicircular  enclosure  lying  within 
an  outer  rampart.  The  outer  wall  is  12  feet  to  15  high,  and  the  inner 
15  feet  to  20  feet  high;  it  is  partly  vitrified.  Vitrified  forts,  with 
one  exception,  are  confined  to  the  south-east  of  Bohemia;  they  and 
numerous  stone  forts  are  of  the  Bronze  Age,  and  have  been  attributed 
to  the  Celts.  The  Pleschiwetz,  near  Ginetz,  is  an  unvitrified  stone  fort, 
its  outer  rampart  400  paces  long.  It  has  an  oval  ring-wall  at  the  head 
of  the  plateau  ;  the  lower  ridge  is  defended  by  two  other  walls  with 
several  gates,  while,  lower  still,  a  double  wall  girds  the  whole  hill  top. 
Local  legend  states  that  it  is  a  fairy  garden  with  "giants'  cellars"  under 
it,  filled  with  treasures  and  wine  ;  the  numerous  holes  dug  in  various 
directions  tell  of  constant  attempts  of  treasure-seekers  to  secure  these 
hoards,  and  recall  the  similar  beliefs,  with  like  disastrous  results,  which 
attach  themselves  to  many  Irish  forts. 

The  Vladar  fort,  near  Luditz,  is  of  stone,  with  a  rampart  about  30  feet 
thick  and  24  feet  high.  The  Radelstein,  near  Bilin,  is  a  ring- wall  of  dry 
stones  on  a  rocky  but  wooded  hill ;  the  view  of  this  caher,  by  Much,  might 
easily  pass  for  an  Irish  fort.  It  has  the  further  peculiarity  that  the  wall 
is  built  in  sections,  as  in  the  forts  of  Aran  and  Clare.* 

13.  Russia,  Esthonia. — Before  dealing  with  Germany,  we  may  conve- 
niently note  that  in  Livonia,  and  the  islands  in  the  Baltic  and  near  its  coast, 
typical  "  Celtic  "  forts  remain.  Kruse  gives  a  plan  of  a  fine  Bauerberge  or 
fort  of  earth  and  stones  on  the  island  of  Mohne.  It  consists  of  two  nearly 
circular  rings  ;  the  inner  has    foundations  of    other  enclosures,   and    has 

*  Dr.  Keller,  Proc.  Soc.  Antt.,  Scot.,  1868-70,  p.  158-161.  Borlase,  "Dolmens  of  Ireland," 
vol.  iii.,  p.  1130.  Plans  of  the  Hradiste,  called  Knezihora,  near  Katovic,  and  also  of  the 
Pleschiwetz  are  given  on  next  page. 

From  BL.  IE.  ACAD.  TEANS.,   VOL.  XXXI. — PAKT  XIV.  E 


O. 
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Westkopp— 27i«  AiKieiU  Forts  of  Ireland.  27 

entrances  to  the  north-west  and  south-east,  whence  passages  (the  eastern 
marked  w.th  largo  stones)  lead  to  the  left  as  one  leaves  thf  f„  t,  probab  ^ 
to  expose  the  r,gbt  side  of  any  assailant.  The  outer  ring  is  fenced  w  [ 
very  large  stones;  and  the  whole  recalls  the  caher  of  Ballykinvar.-a  in 
Clare,  though  lacking  the  close-set  abattis  inside  the  ring  of  large  s^oiies. 
The  name  Da.ngen  ,s  applied  to  these  forts  in  Livonia ;  and  we  fiL  a  river 
orLTnoT  h  7,"  f  r-"""''  »'  "-  «""  »'  ^^^^'  -tatever  may  be  the 


origin  of  the  names.* 


T  •  l^J'T'"         ^^""^  *"'*'  '^""^  "  Ri"g-«^ur«/'  and  closely  resembling 
Insh  chff  cahers      One  at  Sodermanland  is  a  crescent  wall  of  great  tl  ck 
ness,  another  called  Ismanstorpsborgen,  in  Oland,  is  a  circnlarLll  of  dt 

tone   and  is  crowded  with  burial  enclosures.     In  West  Gothland  are  many 
boulder  cairns  and  dry-stone  huts  in  which  are  found  stone  implements 

ay  vessels   and  amber.      On  the  Island  of  Moen  are  tumuli   contS 
tombs  of  slabs  with  entrances  to  the  east  and  south.f 

15.  Germany,  Prussia.-To  return  to  Germany,   keeping  alone  the 
nor  hern  section,   we  find  many  Burg-walls    in   which  poteiy  is  ^ound 
.^ar^   hat  found  inlake-dwellings.     Other  ring-walls  have  ^ -lingunde 

S  av  '  •        .^f  "^V^  '"  """'^  "  ^^*"'  ^^*^  *'^^-  *'-  incursions  of  the 
Slavonic  settlers.     Part  of  the  mounds  of  at  least  two  Irish  forts  were  ove 
P  hng-the  great  Dun  of  Dorsey,  and  Dungorkin.     Tumuli  called  ffiine 
betten  occur  in  Northern  Germany.     The  Prussian  Burg-walls  are  of  earth 

rampaZ^^l""  T  T ''^''''  ^'^^'  ^^"^^^^^^^'^  «-^'  ^^^^  "--- 

obZ  .    ^^;""-«-»ding  fosse  communicating  with  the  water,  sometimes 

oblong  with   the  corners  rounded.     In  more  western    Prussia     near  the 
Gei-man  Ocean    are  lake-dwellings  on  piles,  circular  earthen  forts,  with 
double  and  triple  rings,    and   deep    fosses  sometimes    containing   ;ater 
Some  of  the  forts  are  called  ''  Hiinen  ring,"  as,  for  example,  one^ear  te 

is  ^^:^^i    ''■'  '    ""'  -''''  '-  ^--  "  "^-^-"    ^>'^  P^-  of  M...e 

Scaling' s'^-r'''  IWT'  ^^^^^^^--^-^'^ioW-     "The  Pri^tive  Inhabitants   of 
6canclinavia,     S.  Nilsson,  Ed.  Sir  J.  Lubbock,  1868,  p.  126. 


E  2 


28  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

great  statue  of  Arminius.     The  absence   of  entrances  is  noteworthy,  and 
recalls  a  jieculiarity  of  several  Irish  cahers  and  many  raths.* 

16.  Rugen. — In  this  great,  and  to  the  pagan  Slavs  holy,  island  are  the 
remains  of  a  clijff  fort.  This  defends  a  jutting  promontory,  175  feet  high, 
which  was  inaccessible  on  the  east,  south,  and  north-east.  The  approach 
from  the  land  side  was  fenced  with  a  rampart  of  stones,  sods,  and  timber, 
and  a  fortified  pathway  led  to  a  well  outside  the  fort.  Within  stood  the 
great  temple  of  Arcona,  dedicated  to  the  light-god  Suantevit,  the  four- 
headed,  but  of  this  splendid  timber  structure  we  need  only  note  that  it  was 
oval  or  round  in  two  concentric  rings,  and  had  only  one  entrance.  The 
ruin  of  such  a  building  would  closely  resemble  a  nearly  levelled  rath. 
Three  hundred  grooms  and  as  many  sacred  horses  were  kept,  in  order 
that  the  deity  there  reverenced  might  ride  forth  and  aid  his  worshippers. 
Borlase  considers  Arcona  a  Celtic  word,  equating  it  with  such  names  as 
Arcunia,  Orcynia,  Hercynia,  and  such  Irish  names  as  Ard  Macha,  Ard 
Nemidh,  and  Tor  Conaing,  and  fancies  that  the  description  of  the  hall  of 
Cormac  mac  Airt,  at  Tara,  may  be  a  description  of  the  temple  of  that  hero, 
but,  even  if  we  could  accept  his  theories,  the  object  of  this  paper  would 
preclude  us  from  discussing  them.f 

17.  Brandenburg. — A  very  fine  mote,  the  Schlossburg,  may  be  noted 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Benau  Friedersdorf,  near  Sorau.  It  is  more  or 
less  circular,  with  a  slight  rampart,  and  two  lower  enclosures  diminishing  in 
size,  lying  down  a  slope,  and  enclosed  with  high  mounds.  Such  earth- 
works round  Sorau  are  known  as  "  Hiinen  Schlossen,"  or  Huns'  castles,  as  is 
also  the  case  in  Holland ;  and  cairns  or  mounds  are  called  Huns'  graves,  we 
understand,  by  the  Danes,  who  in  their  turn  have  wrongly  been  accredited 
with  similar  remains  in  Ireland.  The  long  appended  enclosures  of  these 
motes  are  called  in  Germany  the  "  hagel"  or  hook. J 

*  Borlase,  "Dolmens  of  Ireland,"  iii.,  1131,  citing  Lissauer  ;  Munro,  "Bosnia-Herzegovina 
and  Dalmatia,"  p.  93,  &c. 

\  Ibid.,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  1087,  lO'JO.  "  Dalmutia  and  Montenegro,"  S.  J.  Wilkinson  (1848), 
vol.  i.,  p.  17. 

X  Ibid.,  iii.,  1125-1127. 


Wehthopp—T/ic  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  29 

18.  Baden  and  Hessen  Nassau.— In  Baden  we  find  fortresses  which  some 
attribute  to  Celtic  tribes  and  others  definitely  to  the  Ubii,  100  B.C.  These 
great  "  Wallburgs  "  and  "  Ring- Walls  "  gird  several  hills.  For  example,  a 
large  fort  of  two  concentric  rings  remains  on  the  Altkonig  Mountain  in  the 
Taunus;  and  a  remarkable  fort  encloses  the  summits  and  ridge  of  the 
beautiful  Heiligenburg  overhanging  Heidelberg.  It  was  known  to  the 
Romans  as  Mons  Pirus,  and  consists  of  a  round  fort  about  650  feet  in 
diameter  on  the  higher  peak ;  thence  a  long  loop  of  wall  surrounds  the 
saddle  and  lower  peak  of  the  mountain,  on  which  stands  a  ruined  church. 
The  fort  wall  consists  of  great  heaps  of  sandstone  blocks,  and  the  enclosure 
is  about  2640  feet  long  and  440  feet  across  the  ridge. 

19.  Switzerland.— ''Ringbergs,"  or  circular  forts  of  earth,  entrenched 
summits  and  promontory  forts  on  spurs  of  mountains,  remain  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Berne  and  Zurich,  and  in  the  Jura.  Deveher  (Jura  Bernois) 
girds  a  hill,  and  consists  of  an  entrenchment  with  the  entrance  to  the 
north.  At  Cheteley  is  a  fort  of  three  enclosures  on  a  projecting  neck  girt 
with  cliffs.  Chateau  Chalon  (Jura)  is  a  promontory  fort  with  a  semi- 
circular rampart  across  the  ridge.  Near  Zurich  are,  for  example,  Birchweil, 
a  "chateau  payen,"  or  "heydenmauer,"  consisting  of  a  circular  rampart 
round  the  top  of  Mount  "  Moulins,"  and  the  fort  of  Bassersdorf,  a  parapet 
and  fosse  across  the  end  of  a  spur  on  the  Horm.  In  one  instance  a 
promontory  fort  at  Laufen,  in  Berne,  is  further  protected  by  a  line  of 
low  pillars,  like  the  abattis  at  Castel  Coz  in  France,  and  a  few  forts  in 
the  British  Isles.* 

20.  Alsace-Lorraine.— The  forts  along  the  basin  of  the  Rhine  are 
of  considerable  interest  to  Irish  archgeologists.  We  may  note  a  few 
typical  examples.  Haspelscheidt  fort  is  of  stone,  with  two  enclosures, 
and  is  locally  called  the  Schlossberg  or  Altschloss.  The  upper  fort  is  an 
elliptical  ring-wall  on  a  plateau  with  steep  slopes,  and  encloses  a  space  986 
by  524  feet.  The  walls  are  of  rudely  quarried  blocks;  and  about  15  feet 
high,  and  40  feet  thick  at  .the  base.     A  second  lower  annexe  occurs,  similar 


4^  11 


'  Diet.  Archeologique  de  la  (iuule,  Epoque  Celtique,"  i.,  pp.  122,  162,  271,  284,  339,  and 
ii.,  p.  93,  &c. 


30  Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

to  those  in  ihe  Aran  and  Clare  forts,  and  has  a  wall  nearly  60  feet  thick 
and  25  feet  high.  The  upper  fort  has  gateways  to  the  east  and  west, 
and  ruined  buildings  in  its  enclosure ;  a  small  spring  wells  up  not  far 
from  the  west  of  the  fort.  The  Hommerthurg  is  a  ring-wall  on  an 
isolated  rock.  These  forts  are  usually  called  "  heydenmauer."  One  of 
them,  not  far  from  the  Rhine,  commands  a  fine  view  of  that  river,  the 
Necker,  and  Mannheim,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  place  where  Attila 
encamped  for  the  winter  before  advancing  against  the  Romans.  It  com- 
mands a  pass,  and  is  on  an  advanced  spur  of  the  mountains,  a  great 
natural  bastion  defended  by  steep,  almost  precipitous  slopes.  The  fort 
consists  of  a  circular  wall  about  2600  feet  in  diameter,  a  confused  mass 
of  stones  heaj)ed  round  the  platform  which  showed  the  foundations  of 
many  ruined  buildings.  It  is  partly  protected  on  the  side  next  the 
mountain  by  a  fosse.  The  crest  above  it  is  named  the  Teufelstein, 
for,  as  has  often  been  noted,  popular  superstition  loves  to  connect  these 
ancient  forts  with  all  sorts  of  spirits,  from  the  fallen  Archangel  to  the 
Banshee  and  the  Phuca.  On  the  crest  of  Tsennichel  is  another  dry-stone 
fort,  a  long  enclosure  like  Ograc,  Katovic,  Heiligenburg  or  Langough.  It 
has  a  wall  of  large  blocks  laid  in  courses,  without  spawls  or  cement,  8  feet 
to  10  feet  high,  and  6  feet  to  8  feet  thick.  Finally,  M.  Schweighauser 
describes  another  fort  not  of  Roman  origin,  crescent-shaped  in  plan,  with 
two  transverse  walls  dividing  the  garth  into  thi'ee.  The  walls  are  5  feet 
thick,  of  large,  rough  quarry  blocks,  sometimes  bonding  through  the  wall.* 

21.  Denmark. — Motes  with  the  lower  enclosure  and  fosse  of  the  Lismore 
and  Dromore  type  occur  in  Denmark.  Olaus  Wormius,  in  164:l,t  states 
that,  in  Denmark,  the  sepulchral  mounds  were  encompassed  in  some  cases, 
though  rarely,  by  circles  of  stones ;  others  were  simple  mounds  of  earth  con- 
taining one  burial,  or,  in  other  cases,  a  number  of  bodies.  He  describes  the 
"Danewirck"  made  by  Queen  Thyra  from  sea  to  sea  in  a.  d.   808.     In 

*  Memoirs  of  the  Eoyal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  France,  vol.  v.,  p.  106,  1823.  M.  PMlippe 
de  Golberg,  on  "  Fortifications  in  tlie  Yosges  Mountains."  ' '  Monuments  Celtiques  du  bas  Rhin,'' 
by  M.  Schweigtauser.     "  The  Heydenmauer,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  30,  33,  London,  1832. 

f  "  Monumentorum  Danicorum  Libri,"  Book  i.  T.  Molyneux,  on  "Danish  Mounts,"  &c., 
1725. 


CHUN    CASTLE, 


ORCVA,  SCOTLAND 

..'1..  %!''«.•.•/. 


Fig.  4.— forts  IN  CENTRAL  AND  WESTERN  EUROPE. 


32  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

later  days  it  was  strengthened  by  mounds  and  fosses,*  and  must  have 
resembled  the  long  entrenchments  of  Duncladh,  tlie  Danes'  Cast,  tlie  Worm 
Ditch,  and  Cleeroe.  The  quotations  from  Wormius  by  Molyneux  combined 
with  the  statement  in  Giraldus  Cambrensis  to  familiarise  the  English 
speakers  in  Ireland  with  the  name  and  idea  of  Danish  forts. 

22.  Holland  and  Belgium. — A  very  typical  "  rath,"  locally  called  a 
"  Hune  schans,"  lies  on  the  Udeler  Meer  in  Guelderland.  It  is  a  large, 
flat-topped,  and  roughly  circular,  earthen  fort,  with  a  fosse  and,  we  think, 
from  the  plan,  a  second  ring,  a  small  mound,  lies  on  the  platform,  and 
there  are  "gangways"  or  ramps  across  the  fosse  to  the  south  and  west. 
Four  tumuli  stand  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood. 

Groups  of  forts  occur  in  Belgium,  for  example,  at  Lasne  in  Brabant, 
where  six  circular  earthworks  remain  about  182  feet  in  diameter  ;  near  them 
is  a  tumulus  about  16  feet  high.f  Borlase  notes  a  fortification  on  the  coast 
of  Holland  named  Enchusa,  and  compares  its  name  and  situation  to  those 
of  Dun  Aenghus  (save  for  the  high  cliff  on  which  tlie  Irish  fort  is  founded). 
"  Natura  loci  munitum,  maris  furore  objectum,  quem  in  extreme  terras 
margine  situm  despicit."J 

23.  France. — Information  regarding  the  forts  of  this  countiy  is  very 
accessible,  the  main  difficulty  being  the  necessity  of  selecting  from 
abundant  materials.  Many  of  the  Gaulish  forts  are,  however,  different 
in  construction  from  those  which  we  have  been  considei-iug.  Traces  of 
frameworks  of  beams,  held,  together  in  some  cases  by  bronze  pins,  and 
embedded  in  dry-stone  walls,  occur,  as  at  the  fortress  of  Beuvray 
(Bibracte  ?),§  and  bear  out  Caesar's  description  of  such  edifices.  Two  facts 
mentioned  by  Csesar,  the  excluded  water  supply  of  Uxellodunum  and  the 
outwork  walled  with  dry  stones  and  6  feet  high  on  the  slope  of  Alesia, 
recall  Irish  forts. || 

*  "  Monumentum  hoc  validius  ac  firmius  multo  aggeribus  et  fossis  redidisee." 

t  "  Diet.  Ai-ch.  de  la  Gaule,"  ii.,  p.  75  and  p.  1126. 

\  Borlase,  "  Dolmens,"  iii.,  p.  1132,  from  Nijhoffs,   "  Bijdragen." 

§  "  The  Mount  and  City  of  Autun  "  (Hamerton),  p.  64. 

II  "Fossam  etmaceriam  sex  in  altitudineni  pedum  praeduserant." — Bella  Gallico,  vii.  69,  70. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  33 

24.  Brittany. — Taking  Brittany,  on  account  of  its  close  racial  con- 
nexion with  Great  Britain,  we  may  note  that  characteristic  "  promontory 
forts"  remain  in  Finisterre  ;  for  example,  at  Beuzec  in  Cap  Sizun,  near 
Quimper,  a  large  cliff  fort  upon  a  headland.  Two  walls  and  several 
fosses  and  mounds  defend  an  isthmus,  the  mounds  increasing  in  height 
inwards.  It  has  the  foundations  of  several  hundred  rectangular  buildings. 
one  32  feet  by  16  feet ;  it  is  called  Castel  Coz.  We  first  meet  a  mound 
losing  itself  in  the  slope,  extending  only  across  about  half  the  neck  of  the 
promontory.  Inside  this  is  a  wall  of  granite  blocks.  Then,  after  crossing 
a  spacious  enclosure,  we  find  two  rows  of  blocks  4  feet  high  and  5  feet 
apart.  Further  still  are  earthworks  and  a  stone  wall  curving  outward. 
There  are  hut  depressions  at  the  end.  Excavations  have  been  made,  and 
disclosed  traces  of  an  early  Celtic  settlement  succeeded  by  a  period  of 
Roman  occupation.  At  Laz,  in  Finisterre,  near  Kerzilaoenen,  is  a  small 
fort  65  feet  in  diameter  near  a  menhir  and  dolmen.  In  Morbihan  we 
find  a  circular  fort  215  feet  in  diameter.  In  Dinan,  Cotes  du  Nord,  it  will 
be  remembered,  stood  that  unmistakable  round-topped  mote  with  fosse  and 
ring  of  earth  defended  by  palisades  and  wooden  towers,  of  which  and  its 
assailants  the  Bayeux  tapestry  gives  so  spirited  a  view.  The  very  name 
apparently  preserves  a  reminiscence  of  the  dun.  H^nansal  has  a  fort 
called  Durestal,  a  semicircular  structm-e  2270  feet  across,  with  a  large  fosse 
and  triangular  annexe,  the  mounds  26  feet  high  and  39  feet  thick  at  the 
top  and  48  feet  at  the  base.  Langast  is  a  circular  fort,  687  feet  in  diameter, 
and  has  earthen  ramparts,  22  feet  thick,  on  a  little  hill  over  a  ravine.* 

25.  Normandy. — In  Calvados,  near  Bayeux,  is  a  fort  called  "  La 
Burette,"  on  a  hill  spur  near  Seulle,  defended  by  two  earthworks.  At 
Aubry  en  Exmes,  near  Argentan,  is  an  oval  fort  called  "  Chateau  des 
Remains,"  and  having  two  rings  20  feet  high.f 

26.  Seine  Valley. — Some  very  large  earthen  entrenchments  remain  in 
the  valle)^  of  the  Seine.    The  camp  of  Boudeville  (fig.  3)  consists  of  a  great 

*  "Diet.  Ai'ch.de  la  Gaule,"i.,  pp.  291,292,91;  ii.,  pp.  18,66,75.     Archaeologia  CambrenBis, 
er.  iv.,  vol.  ii.  (1870),  p.  287.     Plan  and  view  of  Castel  Coz  given  herewith,  figs.  3,  4. 
\  Hid.,  i.,  p.  119. 

From  KL.  IK.  ACAD.  TEANS.,   VOL.  XXXI. PAHT  XIV.  F 


34:  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

series  of  enclosures  containing  150  acres,  and  lies  on  a  neck  of  land.  The 
innermost  fort  is  oval,  of  earth  and  rocks,  on  the  end  of  the  hill,  with  five 
radiating  mounds  down  the  slope  farthest  from  the  Seine  to  another  semi- 
circular fence.  In  the  oval  fort  is  a  "  druid"  pillar  and  many  foundations  ; 
the  neck  leading  to  the  fort  is  crossed  by  two  groups  of  double  fosses  and 
mounds.  The  three  forts  at  Caudebec  are  on  hills  which  overhang  the 
town.  The  first  is  oval  with  an  inner  enclosure  ;  the  second  is  formed  by 
two  trenches  crossing  a  spur ;  and  the  third  is  circular  and  encloses  the 
remains  of  a  Roman  villa.  Jumifeges  fort  is  formed  by  great  trenches 
across  the  neck  of  a  bend  of  the  Seine  ;  and  there  are  numerous  other  camps 
from  400  feet  to  680  feet  in  circumference,  and  15  feet  to  25  feet  high. 
The  Abbey  of  Jumifeges,  as  its  Annals  state,  was  built  "ibidem  castrum 
condiderant  antiqui."  In  Oise,  at  Bailleu  sur  Th^rain,  is  an  oval  ring-wall 
of  two  ramparts  of  great  size,  about  3425  feet  north  and  south,  and  1370  feet 
east  and  west ;  while,  at  Chartres,  a  ring-wall  of  "  cyclopean  "  masonry 
girds  the  summit  of  a  hill. 

At  St.  Germaine,  in  Bar  sur  Aube,  is  a  fosse  across  a  spur  of  a  hill, 
85  feet  long  and  32  feet  wide  ;  1400  feet  farther  up  the  ridge  are  jiarallel 
fosses  and  mounds,  490  feet  long;  and  at  the  end  of  tlie  spur  is  a  mote 
with  an  earth-ring,  and  called  "  Le  Chatelet."  An  oval  fort  with  deep 
fosses  remains  near  Arces  in  Yonne.* 

27.  Central  and  Southern  France. — Chateau  L' Archer,  near  Poitiers, 
in  Vienne,  has  a  "promontory  fort"  formed  by  a  curved  fosse  and 
"  oppidum  "  across  a  spur  from  a  plateau  ;  while  a  similar  fort  at  Cras  in  Lot 
had  a  rampart  of  beams  and  dry  stones.  Huilly,  in  Saone  et  Loire,  is  a 
circular  fort  on  level  ground,  about  600  feet  in  diameter  and  over  60  feet 
higli.  Entrenched  tumuli  and  forts  lying  near  dolmens  (as  at  Challignac, 
in    Charente)  occur ;  while   near  the    Pyrenees,   in  Landes,  several  large 

*  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Normandy,  Journal  and  Atlas,  1835,  Plates  vi.  and  -s-iii. 
'•  Enti-enched  enclosui-es,"  by  M.  Leon  Fallue.  "Diet.  Archeol.  de  la  Gaule  epoque  Celtique," 
parti.,  pp.  114,  108,  121,  172.  Arehseologia  Cambrensis,  ser.  v.,  vol.  iii.  (1886),  "Pembroke 
shire  Raths,"  and  very  many  other  authorities.     Plans  of  Caudebec  and  BoudeviUe,  figs.  3,  4. 


Westropp— y/^c  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  35 

cii'cular  forts  girding  the  tops  of  hills  remain  at  Sanguinada,  Castera  dc  la 
Gouarde,  and  Puyoo.* 

28.  Great  Britain. — Here  still  more  than  in  France  the  difficulty  of 
selection  presses  hard  upon  us  ;  and,  indeed,  we  can  only  note  here  and  there 
one  out  of  the  many  forts  similar  to  the  types  prevailing  in  Ireland.  The 
ease  witli  which  material  for  fuller  study  can  be  procured  absolves  us  from 
the  task  of  giving  anything  like  a  general  survey.  Indeed,  only  for  the 
necessity  of  imjjressing  the  fact  how  little  unique  or  exceptional  in  type  are 
our  Irish  forts  we  might  almost  have  rested  content  with  general  state- 
ments as  to  the  similarity.  We  will  commence  witli  Scotland,  following  it 
with  the  forts  of  England,  treating  Cornwall,  as  it  deserves,  in  greater 
detail ;  and  finishing  with  Wales,  which  brings  our  survey  of  non-Irish  forts 
to  a  close. 

29.  Scotland. — Dr.  Christison's  lists  of  Scotch  forts  reckon  at  least 
1300;  a  large  number  to  anyone  unaccustomed  to  the  thousands  of  Irish 
forts.  This  abundance  adds  to  our  difficulties  by  obliging  us  to  omit 
notes  on  many  fine  examples.  The  simple  ring-fort,  with  or  without  con- 
centric rings  and  fosses,  is  of  common  occurrence.  A  good  example  with 
three  earthworks  occurs  at  Northshields  in  Peeblesshire.  A  fine  oval  fort, 
with  two  fosses  and  a  ramp  across  the  inner  one  leading  to  the  platform, 
is  found  at  Dinvin  in  Argyllshire.  Arbory  fort,  in  Clydesdale,  has  a  ring- 
wall  with  the  entrance  to  the  east,  but  is  greatly  overturned.  It  is 
135  feet  in  diameter,  with  two  irregularly  concentric  earthworks.  Possibly, 
in  such  cases  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  the  stone  fort  was  an  afterthought, 
built  inside  an  older  earthwork,  as  Mr.  R.  A.  S.  Macalister,  with  probability, 
considers  was  the  case  at  Dunbeg  in  Kerry. 

Two  of  the  Scotch  forts,  Cademuir  and  Dreva,t  have  the  unusual 
feature  of  an  abattis  of  stones  set  in  the  ground.  Occasionally  a  Scotch 
fort  has  a  passage,  cells,  or  steps  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall ;  and  this 
feature  is  worked  out  very  elaborately    in    the    "  brochs,"    which  most 

*  "Diet.  Arch,  de  la  Gaule,"  ii.,  pp.  1-50,  250. 
t  "  Early  Fortifications  of  Scotland,"  pp.  225,  220. 

F2 


36  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

interesting  buildings,  the  limits  of  Irish  fort  types  excludes  from  this 
paper. 

The  "  j^romontory "  fort,  of  course,  occurs  in  Scotland  as  all  over 
Europe.  At  Blackcastle  rings,  Berwickshire,  are  two  curves  across  a 
triangular  spur,  and  at  Raebury  Castle,  Kirkcudbright,  three  fosses,  and 
a  rampart  are  found  across  a  sea  headland. 

The  simple  entrenched  mote  and  the  table  mote  with  a  "  base  court " 
or  lower  platform  remain  ;  as,  for  example,  Kirkland  mote,  Kirkcudbright, 
and  the  fine  mote  of  Urr  in  the  same  shire.  The  latter  rises  on  a  hillock 
above  the  river  Urr;  the  "base  court"  measures  460  feet  by  220  feet,  or 
228  feet  by  220  feet  excluding  the  mote  proper,  which  is  25  feet  high  and 
entrenched ;  the  whole  is  girded  by  a  fosse  and  earthwork.  The  axis,  as 
is  common,  lies  north  and  south.  Another  type,  which,  so  far  as  we  are 
aware,  does  not  exist  in  Ireland,  is  oblong,  both  as  regards  base  court  and 
citadel.  The  fort,  with  one  or  more  ramparts,  crescent-shaped  in  plan, 
and  abutting  on  a  cliff  or  hillside,  is  common.  A  fine  double  example, 
two  forts  conjoined,  each  with  three  ramparts,  remains  at  Coldingham. 
Errickstane  in  Annandale  has  three  crescent-mounds,  like  the  "  Hring" 
of  Bdny,  while  the  Doon  of  Nunmill,  a  more  beautiful  example,  abuts  on 
a  hill-slope  in  Kirkcudbright.  It  is  a  fort  with  two  mounds  and  fosses, 
the  interior,  154  by  202  feet,  with  trenches,  12  feet  to  15  feet  deep. 

Of  cliff-forts,  on  more  or  less  isolated  rocks  or  knolls,  there  are 
examples  in  the  stone  fort  of  Gallanach  on  Kerrera  Sound,  whicli,  by 
the  way,  has  the  extra  defence  of  two  high  dykes  of  natural  rock,  and 
Dun  Chonallaich,  Argyll,  like  Cahercashlaun  in  Clare.  The  fort  with  the 
long  loop  is  found  in  a  few  places,  as  at  Finaven  in  Forfarshire,  which 
measures  500  feet  long  east  and  west,  and  from  80  feet  to  140  feet  north 
and  south.  It  is  farther  defended  by  a  natural  mound  to  the  east.  The 
fort  is  vitrified,  and  is  said  to  have  contained  a  well. 

Smaller  forts  set  in  the  main  walls,  and  representing  a  step  towards 
towers  and  bastions,  remain  in  Barnheugh  fort,  and  Dungarry,  on  Ben 
Tuther.  Trusty's  Walls  fort,  near  Anwoth,  seems  from  the  map  to  be 
defended  by  smaller  forts  on  the  fourth  terrace  of  its  eastern  slope. 
Rectangular  forts   are   not  uncommon,  and  are  often   attributed  to  the 


KiRi^LAND  noie, 


MRCU06RI&HT.        nOTEOFURR. 


KIRCU08RICMT. 


MOFFAT, 


^^^aZf'-^ 


ARBORY 


CUYOESDALE 


ffOOPI 


WHITE.    CATE.RTHUN,      FORFAR 


ft: 


O        100    iOOFt 
1 1 1 


CftSTU'E  LAW 

Fig.  5.— forts  IN  SCOTLAND. 


PERTH 


^^«^tillW%||^ 


%      0, ,50'-^ 


''■'"",'„. 


s 


TRUSTY'S     WALLS 


ERRICKSTANE. 


•^Il&^^i^ 


DJUN,         LOU&HFWCH/MJ 


38  "Westropp- — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Romans,  in  some  cases  apparently  with  justice.  Like  their  Irish  equi- 
valents, however,  many  are  more  probably  Celtic. 

The  complicated  forts,  some  with  as  many  as  eight  mounds,  have  no 
Irish  equivalent ;  but  the  simpler  form,  with  from  one  to  three  mounds 
and  fosses,  is  represented.  We  find  a  rectangular  bastion  in  the  third 
outwork,  on  the  slope  below  the  curious  double-walled  oval  stone  fort  of 
Castle  Law,  Perthshire.  Some  structural  features  call  for  brief  notice. 
The  rock-cut  trenches,  largely  iilled  up  as  at  Castle  O'er,  Dumfriesshire, 
occur  in  Irish  forts  as  at  Tara  (under  the  eai'thworks  of  the  Rath  of  the 
Synods  and  the  King's  chair),  and  the  hill-fort  of  Doon,  above  Kilfenora 
in  Clare.  Alignment  of  forts,  a  phenomenon  not  uncommon  in  Bohemia 
and  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Ireland,  is  found  in  Scotland  ;  also  great 
groups  of  hut-sites,  as  at  Eildon  Hill,  where  some  hundreds  occur.  Forts  with 
walls  of  loose  stones,  like  the  White  Caterthun,  are  more  rare  than  those 
with  built  walls.  Masonry  of  various  kinds  occurs,  the  walls  varying  in 
width  from  8  feet  to  12  feet.  Sometimes  thin  walls  of  4  or  5  feet  are 
found,  or  very  thick  walls  from  14  to  24  feet  wide.  Sometimes,  as  in  Irish 
forts,  varieties  are  found  in  the  same  wall,  as  where  a  layer  of  slates  was 
laid  over  as  well  as  under  larger  stonework  in  a  fort  on  the  Island  of 
Luing,  Argyllshire.     The  forts  not  unfrequently  lie  on  a  sloping  site. 

Polygonal  masonry  was  used  at  Dreva  with  packing  stones  in  the 
interstices.  The  coursed  masonry  found  in  not  a  few  Irish  cahers  is  not 
unknown  in  Scotland,  nor  is  the  batter  (or  sometimes  curve)*  of  the  wall 
face.  Steps  and  chambers  have  been  found  in  the  south  fort  of  Luing, 
and  a  gallery  in  the  promontory  fort  of  Dun  Stron  Duin  on  Barra  Head. 

Some  Scotch  forts  give  evidence  of  the  use  of  timber  beams  in  the 
walls,  like  the  forts  in  France  already  noticed,  and  which  Csesar  mentions. 
Vitrified  forts  are  fairly  common,  at  least  fifty-three  remaining  in  Scotland, 
while  only  seven  are  alleged  to  exist  in  Ireland,  and,  it  is  said,  none  remain 
in  England — one  supposed  Welsh  example,  five  in  France,  and  a  few  in 
Germany  and  Bosnia  complete  the  list  which  is  merely  mentioned  here,  to 
excuse  or  explain  the  fact  of  their  exclusion  from  this  paper,  which  is  devoted 

*  Brash,  "  Ecclesiastical  Architecture  of  Ireland,"  p.  5,  mentions  this  ciu-ved  batter  as 
existing  in  forts  of  Caithness  and  Sutherland. 


Westropp— 7%e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  39 

to  the  more  usual  forts  of  earth  and  stone.  There  are  very  few  examples 
of  fort  gateways  sufficiently  preserved  to  be  accurately  measured.  The 
smallest  is  2  feet  6  inches  wide.*  Three  have  gateways  from  3  feet 
2  inches  to  3  feet  6  inches,  two  are  about  5  feet,  two  about  6  feet,  one 
7  feet  6  inches,  and  one  10  feet  wide.  Guard-rooms  occur  in  two  gate- 
ways ;  in  one  case  it  is  outside  the  gate.  A  curious  form  of  fort,  somewhat 
spiral  in  plan,  occurs  in  Scotland  and  Montgomeryshire,  and  one  examjole 
appears  on  the  O.S.  maps  of  Tipperary.  Walled  islets  occur  in  Scotch 
lakes,  as,  for  example,  Dun  Torquill  in  Loch  an  duin,t  in  N.  Uist,  which 
has  a  causeway  of  large  stones.  J 

30.  England. — The  plans  common  in  Irish  forts  are  very  well 
represented  in  England.  The  round  or  oval  fort,  with  or  without  fosses, 
is,  as  usual,  the  most  common.  For  example,  a  typical  group  of  forts  and 
tumuli  occur  in  the  parish  of  West  Tanfield  in  Yorkshire.  Three  forts 
stand  in  a  line  from  N.  W.  to  S.  E.,  the  two  more  northern  have  three 
rings,  the  southern  has  only  one ;  and  (a  curious  fact)  each  fort  has  two 
entrances  facing  the  N.  W.  and  S.  E.  on  the  axial  line  of  the  forts.  A  fine 
and  typical  example  at  Winterbourne,  near  Bristol,  is  a  great  oval  fort, 
540  feet  by  420  feet,  enclosing  four  acres,  with  a  well  and  a  long  barrow  in 
its  garth. 

Promontory  forts  on  sea  surrounded  headlands  occur  in  Hampshire§  and 
elsewhere,  but  are  most  characteristic  of  Cornwall,  where  they  are  called 
"  cliff  castles,"  as  for  examjjle,  one  at  Maen,  consisting  of  a  wall  of  large 
blocks,  built  up  with  smaller  stones,  and  running  across  a  headland ;  the 

*  There  are,  so  far  as  we  know,  only  four  Irish  forts  in  which  the  width  of  the  main  entrance 
approaches  this  narrow  opening  :  BallyeUy,  Dangan,  Caherdooneerish,  and  Ballynasean. 

t  "Eeliquary,"  i.,  No.  4,  1895. 

X  Boy's  "Military  Antiquities,"  Plates  xxvi-xlvi ;  George  Chalmer's  Caledonia;  Gentlemayi's 
Maga%ine,  1831,  "  Vitrified  Forts  in  the  Orkney  Islands  "  ;  Proceedings  of  Society  of  Antiquaries 
of  Scotland  ;  "  Early  Fortifications  of  Scotland,"  Dr.  D.  Christison,  and  very  many  other 
authorities. 

§  Hengistbury  Head,  near  Christ  Chm-ch,  has  a  straight  fosse  and  double  mound  across  the 
neck  of  the  headland.  Inside  this  we  find  a  tumulus  which  contained  an  lu-n  and  human  bones  ; 
there  were  also  some  irregular  oval  enclosures,  "  Archseologia,"  vol.  v.,  p.  237. 


40  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

long  lintel  still  remains  on  its  gateway.  To  keep  together  our  examples 
of  Cornish  forts,  the  district  having  so  marked  an  individuality  in  race 
and  history,  we  may  mention  the  very  tine  ring-wall  of  Chun  Castle.  It 
has  two  walls  and  radiating  lines  between,  with  a  rather  complicated 
approach  to  the  gateway.  (Fig.  4).  There  is  a  fosse  round  the  outer  wall, 
as  at  Staigue  in  Kerr}^,  and  a  very  regular  series  of  inner  enclosures  in  the 
garth  (somewhat  akin  to  those  in  the  caher  of  Ballykinvarga  in  Clare) ;  one 
of  these  contains  a  well,  an  unusual  feature  in  Cornisli,  as  in  Irish  forts. 
Of  other  ring-forts  in  the  district,  we  need  only  cite  Cairn  Conan  (Tre- 
goning),  a  large  oval  enclosure  of  earthworks  faced  with  stones,  measuring 
318  feet  east  and  west,  by  276  feet  north  and  south.  Triple  ringed  forts 
occur  like  Ty  wardreath.  In  the  Kelly  Rounds  and  Castle  Dor,  we  find 
the  ring-fort  with  a  side  annexe,  fan-like  or  semicii'cular  in  plan.  While 
Castellack  Round  has  pillars  embedded  in  its  wall*  like  the  Irish  caher, 
called,  by  Sir  William  Wilde,  "  Eogan  Biel's  fort,"  near  the  Church  of 
Inismaine  on  Lough  Mask. 

The  ring-fort,  with  the  fan-like  side  annexe,  occurs  in  other  parts  of 
England,  as  at  Marston  Tressel  in  Northamptonshire. 

Another  type  of  ring-wall,  not  quite  paralleled  in  Ireland,  is  found 
more  especially  on  Dartmoor.  Like  some  of  the  Kerry  forts,  these  en- 
closures are  known  as  "pounds,"  and  enclose  the  traces  of  hut-sites  and 
cattle-pens.  Grimspound  seems  to  have  a  passage  in  the  thickness  of  the 
wall,  which  is  20  feet  wide.  There  is  a  well  in  the  rampart.  Throwleigh 
is  of  better  masonry  than  Grimspound,  but  its  walls  are  only  7  feet  thick. 

The  promontory  forts  on  the  spurs  of  inland  hills  are  especially  abundant 
in  Yorkshire,  along  the  Esk  Valley  from  Guisborough  to  Whitby.  Eight 
or  nine  of  the  spui's,  mostly  fortified  with  a  single  rampart  of  earth,  some- 
times with  a  core  of  loose  stones,  more  rarely  with  a  facing  of  dry  masonr}- 
of  large  blocks;  in  a  few  cases  several  fosses  and  mounds  occur.  The  fort 
on  the  third  spur  from  the  west  has  a  double  earthwork  with  a  ditch,  and 
farther  back  three  earthworks  and  two  fosses.     In  the  rere  of  these  is  a 

*  For  pillars  embedded  in  the  -n-aUs  of  forts,  see  Annual  Reports  of  the  Royal  Institute 
of  Cornwall  (1865)  p.  65.  "Journal  of  the  Archaeological  Association,"  vol.  xto.,  p.  1. 
Duu  Bharpa  as  described  in  "  The  Reliquary,"  vol.  i.  (1895)  p.  203. 


Westropp— r/^e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


41 


ring-fort ;  still  farther  back  a  single  mound  crossing  the  ridge      Then  a 
mound  ,, birds  of  the  ridge  from  the  west,  and  anoLr  overlap 

ping  It  from  the  east,  runnmg  down  the  eastern  slope  to  a  bog.     Behind 
he  second  rampart  is  a  hut-site  and  several  tumuli,  hundreds  of  the  latter 

IZnXir^  ""t"''  ""'  '^""^^  ^  ^^^^"^^^  ''  '^^-^  — d  them. 
Among  the  tumuh  are  a  flat-topped  fort,  with  fosses  and  ring,  and  a  circular 

earthwork  contamn.g  a  monolith.     The  forts  have  been  found  to  contain 

antiq-ties  of  the  Bronze  Age,  while  (as  a  rule)  the  tumuli  belong  to  tl 

Stone  Age.      Of  such  forts  on  the  coast  the  largest   and  most  complex 

example  xs    probably  Hillsborough,   near  Ilfracontbe,  in  Devonshire!'  It 

occup:es  a  rocky  promontory  300  feet  high  and  about  40  acres  in  extent  over- 

ri      .    ^  '  entrenchments  which  are  parallel  for  half  their  exteni 

and  then  diverge.  The  entrance  is  placed  so  as  to  expose  the  unshielded 
ught  szde  of  an  assailant  to  the  defenders.  The  walls  are  of  loose  and 
broken  rocks,  and  a  spring  wells  out  beside  them. 

aJ.T  '"!"''^'^"/ '^'  ''''''"*  P^""  ""^  ^'^^t^^'^g  ^^  '^^^  -"d  steep  slopes 
(hke  the  cahers  of  Feenagh  and  Cahercommaun,  in  Ireland,  and  perhaps 
Dun  Aenghus)  are  not  unrepresented  in  England.     Two  "  horseshoe  forts  " 
each  with  four  ramparts,  occur  in  Northumberland  in  the  valleys  of  the 
Breamish  and  TiH ;  in  them  were  found  hut-sites,  and  stones  witlf  cup  and 
ring  markings      Others  occur  near  Bristol ;  three  existed  at  the  cliffs  at  the 
Suspension  Bridge   two  of  which  were  unfortunately  levelled  and  built  over. 
Ihe  Uifton  fort  had  a  rampart  455  yards  long  with  a  double  fosse,  and  a 
heap  of  stones  between  ;  Stokeleigh  had  a  similar  defence,  and  its  well 
lay  at  some  distance  from  the  rampart.     A  horseshoe  fort,  with  a  straight- 
sided  outer  enclosure,  remains  abutting  on  a  steep  bluff  at  Bannishead 
near  (Joniston.  ' 

As  a  good  example  of  a  hill-fort  we  cannot  omit  the  great  Worle  Hill 
tort,  near  Weston-super-Mare,  on  a  hill  overlooking  the  Bristol  Channel 
It  IS  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long  and  240  feet  wide,  enclosing  fifteen  to  twenty 
acres.  Seven  dykes  cross  the  ridge,  and  in  front  of  the  caaip  is  a  sort  of 
abattis  of  loose  stones.  The  cross  ramparts  turn  westward  at  the  ends  to 
protect  the  flanks,  those  on  the  north  being  unnecessary  from  the  steepness 

From  HL.  IE.  ACAD.  TBANS.,  VOL.  XXXI.— PAM  XIV 


42  "Wkstropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

of  the  slope.  The  fifth  and  seventh  ramparts  are  piles  of  loose  liraestone 
12  to  14  feet  high  and  25  feet  thick,  recalling  the  description  by  Tacitus, 
"in  modum  valli  saxa  praestruit."*  The  fort  has  been  much  ruined  by 
the  builders  of  the  neighbouring  town. 

The  English  motes  are  from  12  feet  to  50  feet  high.  Their  builders 
sometimes  took  advantage  of  a  natural  mound  (as  in  the  case  of  those  carved 
out  of  the  eskars  in  King's  County,  Ireland).  The  base  court  was  circular, 
oval,  or  crescent-shaped  in  plan,  and  the  whole  was  girt  with  a  deep  ditch, 
which,  in  some  cases,  as  at  Great  Canfield,  in  Essex,  was  partly  formed  by 
a  natural  stream  which  filled  the  ditch. f  Many  of  these  motes  only  date 
from  Saxon  times,  the  construction  of  some  twenty  being  recorded  in  the 
Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle  from  the  eighth  to  the  tenth  century ;  they  formed 
the  citadel  of  the  "ton"  or  village.  About  265  remain  in  England;  they 
are  scax'ce  in  the  three  northern  counties,  but  are  evenly  distributed  over 
the  rest  of  the  country. 

Terraced  iiills  like  the  notable  "  Beacon"  of  Herefordshire,  and  great  lines 
of  earthwork  like  the  "  Devil's  Dyke,"  barely  call  for  mention.  Vitrified 
forts  are  not  known  to  occur  in  England. J 

31.  Wales. — We  have  separated  the  Welsh  from  other  British  forts  rather 
for  the  benefit  of  those  of  our  students  who  can  study  them  from  Dublin 
with  less  inconvenience  than  they  can  explore  those  of  Galway  or  Kerry 
than  for  any  great  difference  from  other  forts  in  Great  Britain.  Irish 
influence  is  apparent  in  the  ruins  no  less  than  in  the  jDoems  of  ancient 

*  Ann.  xii.,  c.  33. 

t  Great  Canfield  Mote,  by  Rev.  E.  A.  Doromnan. 

X  The  authorities  are  far  too  numerous  to  cite ;  omitting  the  larger  works,  some  of  those  more 
especially  quoted  above  may  be  given  :— Royal  Institution  of  Corn-wall  Annual  Reports  (1846); 
Henry  M'Lauchlan,  "  Giants' Hedges,"  church  in  fort,  &c.  (1848-56),  plans.  Plates  xxi-xxvii. 
( 1 865),  p.  65.  Pillars  set  in  walls  ;  ring-wall  round  Church  of  St.  Denis,  &c.  ( 1 864),  Maen,  by  J.  T. 
Blight,  &c.  Archaeological  Association,  e.g.  vol.  xvii.,  "  British  walls  with  inserted  or  included 
pillars."  Yorkshire  Archaeological  and  Topogiaphical  Joui'nal,  eg.  vol.  i.,  "\^'est  Tanfield.  Somer- 
Betshii-e  Archaeological  and  Katm-al  History  Society,  e.g.  (1851)  "Worle  Hill.  "Perambulation 
of  Dartmoor"  (J.  Rowe).  Gentleman's  Magazine,  especially  the  recent  reprints  in  its  "Library 
of  Archaeology  "  for  inland  promontory  forts.  And  "  Archsologia,"  especially  v.,  Hengistbury, 
Francis  Grose  ;  vi.,  six.,  Gloucestershii-e,  T.  J.  LI.  Baker;  xlii.,  p.  32,  Cissbmy  and  High  Doon, 
by  Col.  A.  H.  Lane  Fox;  xliv.,  p.  428,Clifton,  &c.,  Rev.  H.  M.  Scarth. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  43 

Wales.  We  find  hut-hollows  called  "  Irishmen's  huts,"*  and  raths 
(occurring  with  the  legend  of  Irish  settlers)  in  Pembrokeshire.  Ring-walls 
are  not  uncommon.  A  good  example,  with  a  chambered  terraced  wall  like 
the  Irish  forts  and  a  side  enclosure,  may  be  noted  at  Pentyrch,  in  Carnar- 
vonshii-e.f  Caer  Drewyn,  near  Bala,  has  compound  walls  15  feet  to  20  feet 
thick,  with  a  terrace ;  along  the  top  of  the  wall  are  hollows  with  regular 
faces  supposed  to  have  been  chambers ;  the  rampart  has  several  sallyports 
and  is  nearly  a  mile  in  girth.  Tre  Ceiri,  Pen  y  Gaer,  and  Carn  Goch  forts 
have  also  got  terraced  walls.J  This  is  a  notable  feature,  as  we  have  not 
met  it  in  Continental  or  English  forts ;  while  the  traces  (if  any)  in  Scotch 
forts  are  very  vague.  Indeed,  as  a  rule,  it  is  absent  even  in  Ireland, 
though  (from  its  occurrence  in  such  remarkable  examples  as  Dun  Aenghus 
and  other  Aran  forts,  Ballykinvarga,  Cahercommaun,  and  other  important 
Clare  forts,  Grianan  Aileach,  Caherdorgan,  and  several  notable  cahers  in 
Kerry  and  Galway)  most  archaeologists  have  come  to  regard  it  as  typical 
and  not  exceptional  in  Ireland. 

Dun  Sylwy,  in  Anglesey,  and  Caer  Creini  have  got  an  arrangement  of 
stones  laid  on  edge  in  their  masonry,  recalling  forts  near  Lough  Gur  in 
Limerick,  and  Cahernaspekee,  the  baun  near  Cashlaun  Gar,  and  the  caher  of 
Carrahan  in  Clare.  Caer  Creini  has  also  got  a  rock  cut  "way"  over  its 
fosse. 

The  ordinary  mote  is  found,  but  not  in  great  numbers.  About  nineteen 
occur,  eight  being  in  Radnor,  five  in  Montgomeryshire,  and  three  in  Denbigh- 
shire. Single  examples  are  found  in  Glamorgan,  Pembroke,  and  Flint.  For 
example,  Hendomen,  in  Montgomery,  closely  resembles  in  plan  Dundermot 
in  Antrim.  Rhy  yn  Owen  seems  to  be  a  combination  of  a  mote  and  a  pro- 
montory fort,  as  it  occupies  a  spur.§  Nantcribben  mote  is  120  feet  in 
diameter,  no  uncommon  size  in  Ireland. 

Promontory  forts  abound  as  much  as  in  Ireland  or  Brittany.  A  few 
examples  will    suffice.     Penrhyn  Coch  or   Castell  Coch  consists  of  three 

*  ArchsBologia  Cambrensis,  ser.  iv.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  239. 

f  Plan,  vol.  iv.,  ser.  iii..  Arch.  Cambrensis.     Plan  of  Pentyrch  herewith.     Fig.  4. 

X  Archoeologia  Cambrensis,  Ser.  v.,  vol.  iv.  (1887),  pp.  247-254. 

§  Similarly,  the  mote  of  Ardniircher,  Westmeath,  had  fosses  across  its  spur. 

G2 


44 


Wkstropp — The  Ancirnt  Forts  of  Ireland. 


straight  earthworks  across  a  ueck  of  land.  There  is  a  dohiien  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Caerfai  lias  three  curved  works  and  the  remains  of  a 
fourth,  convex  towards  the  land  side  as  is  usual.  St.  David's  Head,  besides 
a  group  of  huts,  has  three  lines  of  stone  walls,  and  an  outer  wall  enclosing 
between  itself  and  the  three  walls  several  huts  and  a  dolmen ;  while 
Llanunwas  has  evidently  been  cut  deeply  by  the  sea  since  it  was  dug,  as 
a  creek  runs  in  directly  behind  the  earthwork,  and  there  is  no  evidence 
that  the  earthworks  were  purposely  formed  to  cover  the  creek,  as  suggested 
by  Mr.  Barnwell,  while  the  inroads  of  tlie  sea  on  some  of  our  Irish  forts 
are  well  recognised. 


Fig;.  6.— Pen  C»er  Helen. 


The  important  fort  of  Pen  Caer  Helen  has  the  rare  feature  of  an 
abattis  among  its  defences. 

Hut  groups  occur,  the  most  notable  being  in  the  great  fortresses  of 
Braich  y  Ddinas  above  Penmaenmaur,  Tre  Ceiri,  and  Dun  Sylwy.  The 
Irishmen's  huts,  in  the  latter,  show  those  curious  slab  structures  and 
kerbings  which  appear  in  some  of  the  huts  at  Fahan  in  Kerry. 

Of  "  horseshoe  "  rings  abutting  on  a  cliff,  we  have  Marloes,  in  Pembroke- 
shire ;  an  inner  enclosure  with  three  outer  rings  and  a  deep  fosse,  on  the 
edge  of  a  sea  cliff. 

Tre  Ceiri  and  Dinas  Dinorwig  have  been  described  in  forms  so  accessible 
that  we  need  only  go  very  generally  into  their  salient  features.  The  first- 
named  fortress  rests  on  a  steep  mountain  1500  feet  above  the  sea.  It  is 
about  1000  feet  long  and  from  180  to  300  feet  wide.  It  is  girt  by  a  wall 
about  12  feet  thick  and  high.     There  are  several  outworks  and   lines  of 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


45 


Fig.  7.— Gate  of  Tre  Ceiri. 


defence  to  the  west  and  south.  The  lintel  of  the  N.W.  gateway  is  in  position  ; 
the  wall  has  at  least  one  terrace,  and  is  believed  to  have  had  two.  The 
garth  is  about  five  acres  in  extent, 
and  crowded  with  the  basements  of 
huts  in  groups  or  rows.  They  were 
probably  not  beehive  huts,  but,  like 
those  in  the  Clare  cahers,  thatched 
or  sodded.  We  have  seen  very  effi- 
cient roofs  made  in  Connemara  by 
herdsmen  out  of  long  "scraws'' 
of  sod  thrown  like  tablecloths  over 
a  little  oval  enclosure,  with  low  dry-stone  walls,  and  not  even  propped 
by  timber.  Perhaps  in  the  caher  huts  this  was  often  the  case,  and  it 
would  account  for  the  small  amount  of  stones  and  rubbish.  The  site 
slopes  southward,  and  near  the  lower  end  is  a  small  well.  The  local  name 
for  the  ruins  is  also  "Irishmen's  huts,"  and  it  has  been  supposed  to  be 
"a  last  stronghold  of  the  Gael  against  the  Cymri."  Dinas  Dinorwig,  in 
Carnarvonshire,  occupies  a  lower  but  commanding  hill,  and  overlooks  the 
lowlands  from  the  forts  on  Penmaenmaur  on  the  north  to  Tre  Ceiri  on  the 
south.  It  has  two  bold  earthworks  of  irregular  plan  and  an  inner  and 
massive  stone  wall,  with  a  garth  about  500  feet  by  380  feet.  A  small  ring- 
wall  about  42  feet  wide  stands  on  a  neck  of  crag  at  the  northern  end ;  the 
main  approach  turns  to  the  left,  and  exposed  the  right  sides  of  assailants  to 
the  defenders,  who  could  also  make  a  long  stand  in  the  looped  ends  of  the 
outer  earthworks. 

Mr.  Robert  Burnard  informs  me,  with  regard  to  the  age  of  the  forts,  that 
of  those  he  has  excavated,  Carn  Brea  has  been  occupied  as  a  place  of 
defence  from  the  Bronze  Age  to  the  Iron  Period,  while  St.  David's  Head  and 
Trigarn  seem  to  be  of  the  Iron  Age.  The  Dartmoor  forts  yielded  only 
flint  chippings.  These  facts  are  parallel  with  finds  in  Irish  forts,  where 
certain  raths  in  county  Galway  only  yielded  flint;  Dun  Aenghus  and 
Cahermacrole  flint  and  later  bronze  finds  ;  the  Dunbell  raths  and  forts 
(such  as  Knockgerranebane)  in  Counties  Galway  and  Clare,  bronze ;  and 
Caherspeenaun,  Cahercalla,   and  Tara,  iron  objects.     It  is  by  no  means 


46  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

improbable  that  Wales  may  have  been  invaded  by  Irish  predatory  bands 
and  forts  built  or  dug  by  tliem,  but  as  we  have  striven  to  show  the  types 
of  Irish  forts  have  their  equivalents,  not  only  in  Welsh  forts,  but  even  far 
to  the  east  across  Europe.* 

III. — The  Age  of  the  Forts. 

In  the  important  question  of  the  age  of  the  construction  of  the  Irish 
forts,  this  paper  rather  strives  to  bring  together  evidence  than  to  state  (still 
less  assert)  any  very  definite  view.  Facts  seem  to  point  to  a  date  at  least 
B.C.  800  for  the  occupation  of  some  of  the  Bosnian  and  Hungarian  forts, 
while  some  of  the  Scotch  andli-ish  ones  were  either  built  ("  construitur  "  is 
used  in  Latin  annals)  or  entirely  rebuilt  between  800  and  1100  of  our 
era.  Some  facts  tell  in  favour  of  an  early  date  for  some  of  our  Irish 
forts;  it  is,  for  example,  impossible  to  attribute  Moghane  or  Caher- 
shaughnessy  to  a  period  later  than  the  conquest  of  Thomond  by  the 
Dalcassians,  circa  a.d.  370,  and  what  tribe  of  sufficient  importance  to 
have  built  Dun  Aenghus  held  Aran  since  the  same  date  would  be  hard 
to  conjecture.  The  Pagans  of  Aran,  for  example,  seem  to  have  been 
few,  and  with  little  powers  of  resistance,  when  St.  Enda  established 
the  first  Christian  mission  in  Aranmore,  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  century, 
while  the  Dalcassian  princes  resided  near  Limerick  about  a.d.  440,  and 
did  not  need  large  residences  north  of  the  Shannon.  A  mass  of  tradi- 
tions, records,  and  the  unconscious  allusions  in  Irish  laws  and  literature 
show  still  more  cleai'ly  that  fort-building  flourished  in  Ireland  down 
to  the  rise  of  the  peel-towers  under  English  example.  More  than  this 
suggestion  it  would  hardly  be  safe  to  state,  for  the  evidence  is  at  present 

*  Pennant's  "  Toiu-  to  Snowdon,"  p.  174  ;  Archreologia  Cambrensis,  ser.  iii.,  vol.  iv.  (1858), 
especially  "  Earthworks  and  llotes  "  ;  vol.  vi.,  "  Carn  Gogh  "  ;  vol.  xi.,  "  CUff  Castle  of  Maen  "  ; 
vol.  X.,  "  Eaths  in  Pembrokeshire."  Ser.  iv.,  vol.  ii.,  "  Tre  Ceiri  " ;  vol.  iv.,  "Pentyrrch"; 
vol.  vi.  (1875),  "  Cliff  Castles  in  Pembrokeshire,"  forts  on  St.  David's  Head,  &c. ;  iloated  Monnds, 
vol.  ix.,  "  Craig y  Dinas  "  ;  vol.  xii.,  "  Din  Silwy,  Pen  Caer  Helen,"  Promontory  Forts,  Tre  Ceiri  ; 
vol.  xiv.,  "Pen  Caer  Helen."  Ser.  v.,  vol.  iv.,  "Caer  Drewy,"  "Craig  y  Dinas,"  &c. 
Montgomeryshire  Historical  and  Archaeological  Collections,  vol.  x.  (1877),  "  Hendomen  Moats," 
&c. ;  vol.  xvii.,  1884,  "Moated  Mounds." 


Westropp— I%e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  47 

equivocal;  and  whatever  dates  may  be  hereafter  fixed,  it  is  probable 
that  such  forts  were  made  and  the  types  and  details  handed  down  unaltered 
from  remote  prehistoric  times  to  the  thirteenth  century.  We  find  (before  the 
year  1242)  the  rath  of  Clouroad  "a  princely  circular  abode  of  earth"  made 
for  Donchadh  Cairbreach  O'Brien,  while  his  grandson  built  six  towers, 
and  in  the  days  of  his  great-grandsons  the  cahers  were  grass-topped  and 
deserted,  save  by  a  few  outcasts  lurking  in  their  souterrains  (a.d.  L'-ilT).* 

32.  Doubtful  Criteria. — Despite  the  assertions  of  several  antiquaries 
whose  opinion  carries   much  weight,  we  cannot  consider  that  anything 
even  approaching  an  approximate  date  has  been  fixed  for  any  prehistoric 
period  in  Ireland :    the  Age  of  Bronze  in  one  district  in  eastern   Europe 
may  have  coincided  with  the   Stone  Age   or  Iron  Age  in  another,  and 
similar    ornaments    or    implements    in     Mycenae     and     the     Boyne     or 
Shannon    Valley    may    be   very    differently    placed    in    the    centuries. 
Ireland,  in  its  artistic  conservatism,  reproduced  features  and  ornaments 
of  eighth  century  buildings  in  the  fifteenth  century,  and  even  if   older 
art    reached    here   500   years   before    Christ,   it  might  by  analogy   have 
lingered    on    to   the  third   or    fourth  century.     We   must  bear    in   mind 
this  caution  when   dealing  with  finds  in  forts.     Another   serious   doubt 
might  arise,  namely,  the  possibility  of  a  caher  having  been  built  (like  many 
a  modern  garden -wall)  round  a  spot  enclosing  earlier  objects  of  antiquity. 
Thus  the  flint  implements  found  in  Dun  Aenghus  may  have   been  lost  on 
the  hill  by  hunters  ages  before  one  stone  of  the  great  walls  rested  on  another, 
while  the  fifth  or  sixth  century  bronze  brooch  found  near  them  may  have  been 
lost  when  the  tops  of  the  abattis  were  already  worn  with  centuries  of  storm. 
Neither  is  more  useful  for  accurately  dating  the  fort  than  a  Roman  coin, 
and  a  coin  of  Victoria  found  in  a  modern  garden  would  be  for  dating  its 
walls   which  were  built  ages  after  the  Roman  Emperor,    and  perhaps  a 
century  before  the  later  monarch.      We  know  of  bronze  celts   found   in 
modern  yards  and  a  cinerary  urn  under  the  floor  of  Monasterboice  Church, 
and  all  these  things  teach  us  great  caution  in  trying  to  fix  dates. 

*•  "  Wars  of  Turlough,"  1317,  "  Euan  of  the  grass-topped  hollow  (Ooans)  cahers."      "  Even 
a  man  iu  au  Ooan,"  i.e.  a  caher  us  still  used  in  the  district  names. 


48  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

We  have  also  to  consider  the  possibility  of  rebuilding  having  taken 
jilace.  Did  (for  example)  the  Clancys,  O'Davorens.  O'Drineens,  the 
O'Briens  of  Inishere,  or  the  0' Conors  never  rebuild  the  ring-walls  in 
which  they  lived,  till  the  sixteenth  or  seventeenth  century  ? 

The  rebuilding  of  the  Board  of  Works  at  Dun  Aeughus*  or  Inismurray 
is  now  nearly  equalised  by  the  Aveather  with  the  early  work.  The  forts 
are  less  weather-worn  than  some  of  our  Irish  churches  of  the  eighth  or 
ninth  century.  The  material  most  jirobably  had  been  weather-beaten  for 
generations  before  it  was  levered  up  from  the  surface  of  the  crag  to  build 
a  fort.  Only  the  weather  wear  of  the  tops  of  pillars  can  be  necessarily 
attributed  to  the  period  since  their  erection.  We  could  not  be  sure,  even 
if  O'Dunovan's  theory  was  correct,  and  the  Dubh  Cathair  really  dated 
1000  years  before  Christ,  that  we  have  a  single  fort  as  it  left  the  builder's 
hands,  and  the  defaced  inner  wall  of  this  fort  is  now  rebuilt  into  terraces 
and  steps  which,  to  those  who  did  not  see  the  entire  wreckage  of  the 
interior  in  1878,  seem  genuinely  ancient.  Can  we  be  more  certain  that 
the  lintelled  doors  and  steps  of  the  dry-stone  forts  are  more  certainly 
"original"  work  than  the  mortar-built  cut-stone  steps  and  gate  of  Caher- 
ahoagh  or  Cahercugeola  ?  The  gateway  of  Dun  Aenghus  has  joints  beside 
it  which  factf  warrants  Mr.  P.  Lynch  in  his  belief  that  it  is  a  later  feature. 
It  is  hardly  possible  to  question  the  marks  of  rebuilding  at  Caherfeenagh, 
Langough,  and  Caherdoonerish.  The  material  admitted  little  difference 
of  treatment  at  any  period,  and  the  hammer-marks  on  the  stone-work 
of  some  of  the  forts  occur  on  more  than  one  of  the  dolmens  in  order  to 

*  The  inroads  of  the  sea  do  not  supijly  reliable  data.  It  is  quite  possible  that  Dun  Aenghus 
may  have  resembled  Moghane  in  girding  a  hilltop  with  three  ring-walls,  but  it  may  with  equal  proba- 
bility have  resembled  inland  forts  like  Cahercommane  over  a  di'y  valley,  Bau'nsdale  in  Scotland,  and 
Beny  in  Hungary.  The  central  enclosure  may  have  alone  been  a  ring,  and  the  two  other  walls 
may  have  abutted  on  the  clifi.  The  eastern  part  of  Doonmore  fort,  Loop  Head,  is  now  isolated 
by  the  fall  of  a  natural  arch ;  but  a  similar  and  even  larger  arch,  not  far  from  its  site,  was  made 
in  1897,  in  one  night,  and  pieces  of  cHfE  10  or  12  feet  deep  have  collapsed  in  the  last  thirty  years. 
The  breaking  of  Illaun  Fitae,  on  the  same  coast,  into  three  is  recorded  in  our  Annals,  about 
A.n.  902. 

f  See  Plate  II.  On  the  other  hand,  the  joint  through  a  flight  of  steps  at  Staigue  implies 
that  the  work  was  mainly  of  one  period. 


Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  49 

dress  the  sides  to  a  straight  edge  before  laying  on  the  top  slab,*  and  thus 
cannot  be  used  for  fixing  any  very  definite  date. 

33.  The  Older  Legends. — What  can  we  say  of  the  legends  or  even 
the  annals  ?  Tlie  oldest  and  clearest  are  doubtful  for  the  remoter  past, 
and  the  use  of  "building"  for  "rebuilding"  is  common.  Nevertheless 
there  may  be  a  certainty  apart  from  historic  genuineness — circumstances 
favoured  the  preservation  of  genuine  legends  apart  from  names  and  dates 
— and  the  impression  left  by  our  early  literature,  as  a  whole,  is  certainly 
that  some  forts,  both  of  earth  and  stone,  were  no  mysterious  and  half- 
forgotten  objects,  but  were  built  in  the  writers'  day,  while  others  were  even 
then  supposed  to  have  been  built  in  remote  and  even  in  fabulous  times. 

The  Latin  annals  apply  the  word  "  construitur"  to  the  building  of  a 
fort,  and  speak  of  such  structures  as  existing  long  after  their  "  destructio" 
and  "demolitio"  were  recorded,  thereby  implying  an  entire  rebuilding 
in  the  historic  period.  Some  particular  cases  will  be  extracted  here- 
after ;  meanwhile  it  may  be  well  to  note  a  few  of  the  legends  in  less 
historic  works. 

Of  course,  we  cannot,  like  Eugene  O'Curry,  gravely  treat  all  (if  we  can 
treat  any)  of  such  legendary  statements  as  hard  fact.  O'Curry  and  not  a 
few  other  ardent  students  of  later  days  seem  to  be  strangely  devoid  of 
even  elementary  critical  feelings ;  else  how  could  a  poem  of  the  seventeenth 
century  be  gravely  quoted  for  facts  of  the  fifth  century  or  even  a  thousand 
years  earlier,  and  such  descriptions  as  that  of  Bricriu's  "  grianan,"  with 
its  glass  windows,  liave  been  cited  to  illustrate  ancient  Irish  residences  ? 
Even  the  mention  of  a  "rath-maker,"  or  "  casliel-builder,"  in  a  really 
ancient  work,  carries  little  conviction,  for  the  "Book  of  Leinster " 
mentions  Ileam,  Solomon's  cashel-builder,  and  Buchat,  the  rath-builder  of 
Nimrod.  We  do  not  wish  to  quote  more  than  a  few  of  the  allusions  to  forts, 
and  select,  in  those  cases,  legends  of  actual  value  for  elucidating  the  building 
or  features  of  early  forts  apart  from  mere  mention  of  a  name  or  legend. 

The  Grianan  of  Aileach  is  alleged  to  be  of  great  antiquity,  "  authorities  " 

*  Journal  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  X3viii.  (1898),  p.  356.  Later  experience  has  confirmed  these  obser- 
vations by  traces  of  hammer-dresBJDg  ou  several  other  dolmens. 

From  RL.  IB.  ACAD.  TKANS.,  VOL.  XXXI. I'AKT  XIV.  H 


50  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

varying  in  placing  its  foundation  from  1700  to  670  before  Christ.  The 
Dagda,  "  Eochy  Ollahir  divided  all  Ireland  between  his  sons;  greyer  than 
the  grey  mist  was  the  man  " :  he  also  had  determined  to  build  a  notable 
fort.  "  Hereupon  were  brought  the  two  good  men  in  art  expert — Garvan 
and  Imcheall "  ;  he  told  them  to  build  "  a  rath  of  beauteous  circles  .  .  . 
Active  Garvan  proceeded  to  work  with  art  and  to  chip.  Imcheall  placed 
a  scaffolding  of  wood  (or  proceeded  to  cut  the  dressed  stones)  round  the 
building,  and  finished  the  erection  of  the  dangan  of  Aileach."  "  The 
oldest  of  the  works  of  Erin  is  Aileach  Frigrinn."*  We  may  further  learn 
from  the  Dindsenchas  that  the  stones  for  the  building  were  drawn  by 
horses.  The  same  work  tells  of  the  building  of  Emania,  about  400  B.C., 
its  plan  marked  out  by  Macha,  daughter  of  Cimbaith,  with  her  brooch,  and 
dug  by  her  rivals ;  and  the  Book  of  Feenagh  tells  of  a  caher  built  about 
the  same  time  (a  fastness  and  a  stone  cashel)  at  Feenagh.  Art,  son  of 
Setna,  excavated  the  ramparts  of  Dun  Ailenn  in  Kildare,  and  it  was 
finished  by  Fiach  and  Ururus.  In  the  first  century  B.C.,  Rathcrogan  was 
made  by  Eochy  Fidleach,  father  of  Queen  Maeve.  The  three  chief  rath- 
builders  of  Erin  (Nas,  Rone,  and  Alestair)  to  redeem  their  lives,  forfeited 
to  Eochy,  son  of  Dua,  for  a  supposed  slight  on  his  daughter  Taltiu,  built 
for  the  jjrincess  the  forts  of  Naas,  in  Kildare,  Rathruinc,  in  Connaught. 
and  Cluanalestair,  on  Slieve  Callan,  in  Clare.  Curoi,  son  of  Daire,  a 
generation  later,  by  the  treacherous  counsel  of  his  wife,  dispersed  his 
clans  to  erect  Caherconree  with  "  every  pillar-stone  in  Erin  whether 
standing  or  lying."t  In  the  Christian  era,  Tuathal  Techtmar  founded 
Usnach  about  a.d.  80,  while  Luighdech  Eithlenn  built  (or  restored)  Naas 
about  A.D.  277. 

In  other  works  we  find  of  Tara  that  (except  for  a  few  structures  of 
fabulous  antiquity,  such  as  Caher  Crofinn,  the  fort  of  Cuchullin,  and  the 
triple  fort  of  Nessa,  mother  of  King  Conor,  in  the  first  century  B.C.) 
the  majority  of  the  buildings  dated  from  the  time  of  Cormac  Mac  Airt,  in 
the  possibly  semi-historical  period  of  the  third  century  of  our  era.  J 

*  "  Dindsenclias,"  Eevue  Celtique,  vol.  xvi,  (1895),  pp.  41-42.  Ordnance  Survey  of  Ireland, 
Parish  of  Templemorc,  Londonderry,  vol.  i.,  pp.  223-227. 

t  "Dindsenclias,"  Revue  Celtique,  vol.  xvi.,  p.  279;  vol.  xv.,  pp.  309,  463,  317,  448. 
X  Trans.  ll.I.A.,  vol.  xvii.     Journal  E..S.A.I.,  vol.  xxiv.  (1894),  pp.  233-240. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  51 

84.  The  Historic  Period.— To  come  to  historic  times,  Laoghaire, 
King  of  Ireland,  in  the  early  fifth  century,  made  a  rath  (which  is 
again  called  after  his  name)  on  the  southern  slope  of  Tara.  Luirig 
forcibly  built  a  caher  at  his  brother's  monastery,  a.d.  513-534.*  Grianan 
Aileach  was  destroyed  by  Finnsneachta,  son  of  Donchad,  King  of 
Erin,  a.d.  674,  and  demolished  by  the  Danes  in  a.d.  937,  and  again  by 
Murchad  O'Brien  in  a.d.  1101;  this  implies  at  least  two  rebuildings  in 
the  seventh  and  tenth  century,  yet  the  remains  are  very  primitive. 
Dun  Onlaig  was  destroyed  in  a.d.  700,  and  rebuilt  in  a.d.  710  or  714. f 
Caisteal  Mac  Tuathal,  in  Scotland,  a  fort  of  early  type,  was  built  by  a 
chieftain,  Tuathal,  who  died  in  a.d.  865  ;  Grianan  Lachtna,  a  fort  of 
earth  and  stonework,  was  built  on  Craglea,  above  Killaloe,  by  King 
Lachtna,  great-grandfather  of  Brian  Boru,  before  a.d.  840. 

King  Brian,  at  the  close  of  the  tenth  and  dawn  of  the  eleventh 
centuries,  strengthened  the  duns,  dangans,  crannoges,  and  royal  forts  of 
Munster.  He  built  Cashel,  Cenn  Abrat,  Duncrot,  Kincora,  and  Boruma, 
Duntrileague,  Dun  Cliach,  and  Island  forts  at  Lough  Gur  and  elsewhere.J 
The  stone  fort  of  Kincora  was  demolished  in  a.d.  1062;  and  again  in 
A.D.  1098,  when  its  stones  and  timber  were  thrown  into  the  Shamion ;  so 
evidently  a  true  caher  had  been  built  and  rebuilt  in  the  eleventh  century, 
even  if  the  other  caher  on  Lough  Derg,  which  gave  its  name  to  King 
Conor  na  Cathrach  (a.d.  1080-1120),  was  not,  as  has  been  alleged,  actually 
built  by  him.  Lastly,  Donchadh  Cairbreach  O'Brien,  Prince  of  Thomond, 
built  his  "princely  circular  palace  of  earth"  at  Clonroad  before  a.d.  1240, 
and  we  find  the  rath  further  defended  with  a  '  mur,'  or  stone  rampart ; 
about  A.D.  1287,  at  which  date  his  descendant,  King  Turlough,  strengtliened 
it  with  a  peel  tower.§ 

35.  Familiar  to  the  Early  Literary  Men.— Apart  from  the  allusions 
to  traditions  of  the  early  fort-builders,  one  feels  in  reading  the 
works  of   the    pre-Norman    poets    and    monks    that    a    caher,     or    rath, 

*  Irish  "Nennius,"  p.  181. 

t  "Ann.  Ulster"  and  "Ann.  Foui- Masters." 

X  "  Wars  of  the  Gaedhil  with  the  Gaill  "  (Ed.  Todd),  p.  141. 

§  "  Wars  of  Turlough,"  1240,  1306. 

H  2 


52  Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

was  a  mere  familiar  object  of  daily  life,  not  simply  a  relic  of  the 
remote  past.  Tlie  Book  of  Lecan  (p.  17)  copies  an  authentic  poem  of 
Seanchan,  circa  a.d.  640,  which  mentions  a  battle  fought  in  Burren,  in 
county  Clare,  "from  cloch  comuir,  the  stone  of  meeting,  by  the  three 
mounds  of  walled  fortresses" — an  evident  allusion  to  triple  forts,  which 
find  a  more  curious  illustration  in  an  ancient  description  of  the  Heavenly 
City,  which  evidently  was  founded  on  recollections  of  a  triple  caher,  each 
enclosure  one-third  larger  than  the  last,  and  a  square  fort  in  the  centre,* 
like  the  cahers  near  Tuam.  Nothing  but  great  familiarity  with  such 
buildings  in  both  poet  and  audience  could  have  led  a  bard  to  illustrate  the 
size  of  a  huge  ollapiast,  or  monster,  by  stating  that  "its  ears  were  larger 
than  the  gateway  of  a  caher. "t  "  The  Battle  of  Moylena  "J  sings  of  the 
building  of  "  three  strong  duns,  three  lofty  murs  of  assembly,  and  three 
strong  cahers."  "  The  Battle  of  Ventry  "  tells  of  the  destruction  of  three 
cahers — Dun  Cais,  Dun  Aedha,  and  Dun  Cearban — each  with  thrice  fifty 
men  in  it,  besides  women  and  children,  horses,  and  dogs  ;  and,  as  these 
lie  west  from  Ventry,  Mr.  R,  Macalister  is  most  probably  right  in  identi- 
fying them  with  the  three  larger  ring  forts  of  Fahan.§  These  allusions, 
not  intended  for  the  learned,  but  for  a  company  wanting  amusement,  were 
surely  proofs  that  the  fort  was  a  living  and  familiar  institution  even  in 
later  mediaeval  times. 

36.  Gradual  Desertion  of  the  Forts. — Even  so  early  as  when  the 
Calendar  of  Oengus  was  written,  some  of  the  forts  were  deserted  and 
ruined.  Of  course,  some  imj^ortant  forts  had  been  destroyed  or  deserted 
from  early  times: — Emania  fell  in  a  raid  of  the  three  Collas  in  a.d.  321  ;|| 
Tara  before  the  blight  of  St.  Ruadhau,  about  a.d.  563  ]%  Rathcroghan 
ceased  to  be  a  palace  in  a.d.  645  ;  Naas  was  deserted  in  a.d.  904,  and 
Aileach  in  a.d.  937;   Kincora  was  destroyed  finally  in  a.d.  1098.      But 

*•  "  Leabhar  Breac,"  in  Todd  Lecture  Series,  R.I.  A.,  vol.  iii..  No.  830. 

t"  Hunting  of  Sliab  Trium,"  p.   115. 

X  "  Battle  of  Moylena,"  p.  79. 

§  Trans.  R.I. A.,  sxxi.,  p.  313. 

II  Or  331.     Tigberuacli  gives  the  date  as  322,  and  the  Four  Masters  321. 

^  "  Anuals  of  Clonmacnoise "  (Ed.  Rev.  Denis  Murphy),  p.  87. 


Westropp— r//e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  53 

more  plainly  than  these  exceptional  eases  comes  the  generalised  statement 
of  "  Oengus"*  :   "  Guilty  gentiles  are  carried  off,  their  raths  are  not  dwelt 
in.  ...   Eman's  burgh  has  vanished,  save  that  its  stones  remain. f 
The  gentiles'  ancient  cahers,  vphereon  great  duration  was  wrought,  they 
are  waste,  without  adoration,  like  Lugaid's  house-site." 

At  a  much  later  date  (a.d.  1317),  as  we  have  pointed  out,  the  cahers 
round  Ruan,  in  Clare,  were  grass-topped;  and  in  Prince  Donchad's 
despairing  muster,  before  the  battle  of  Corcomroe,  that  same  year,  "even 
every  man  in  a  caher's  souterrain"  was  summoned.  J 

Peel  towers  were  built  in  a  few  ring-forts,  such  as  Cahercloggaun  and 
Ballyganner,  in  Clare  ;  Cahercullaun  and  Rahinnane,  in  Kerry ;  Inishere, 
in  Aran  ;  and  on  the  great  motes,  as  Knockgraffan,  Dunohill,  and  Kilfeakle^ 
in  Tipperary,  in  a.d.  1192;  Durrow,  and  more  than  one  mote  in  Louth! 
The  Desmond's  Castle,  at  Adare,  in  Limerick,  was  planted  in  an  early  earth 
fort  in  the  thirteenth  century.  §     Askeaton  Castle,  in  the  same  county, 
stands  on  the  island  where  probably  stood  the  fort  of  Geohthine,  named 
in  the  Book  of  Rights,||  Dunamase  on  the  fort,  which  probably  was  known 
to  Ptolemy  as  Dunum.     While  round  the  headlands  of  our  coast  many 
a  promontory  fort  was  strengthened  by  walls  and  towers— Dun  Cearnmna 
to  the  south  and  Dunseverick  to  the  north— two  out  of  the  three  oldest 
fortresses  of  Ireland,  if  the  Triads  are  true  ;  Ferriter's  Castle,  in  Kerry  • 
the  shattered  walls  of  Dunlecky,  in  Clare  ;  and  probably  the  nearly  isolated 
Dunluce,  in  Antrim,  are  on  ancient  sites.     Even  the  fortified  islet  was  not 
neglected.     King  Torlough  O'Brien  (after  a.d.  1287)  built  a  peel  tower  on 
a  small  island,  with  traces  of  ancient  piling,  in  Inchiquin  Lough,  in  Clare, 
and  other  lakes  in  the  same  county  had  similar  buildings.     Castle  Hag, 
in  Lough  Mask,  and  Doonvinalla  promontory  fort.  Mayo,  are  virtually 
mortar-built  cahers. 

A  very  full  account  of  an  ancient  caher,  with  its  great  house,  kitchen, 

*  "  Calendar  of  Oengus"  (Ed.  Whitley  Stokes),  p.  18. 

t  See  infra,  section  71. 

t  "  Wars  of  Turlougli." 

§  "  Memorials  of  Adare"  (Lady  Dunraven),  plan  of  the  Castle,  p.  105. 

II  "  Book  of  Rights,"  p.  89-91  n. 


54  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

gateway,  &c.,  recalling  the  monastic  caher  in  the  Ti'ipartite  Life  of  St. 
Patrick,*  was  written  down  in  a  partition  deed  of  the  O'Davorens  of 
Cahermacnaughten,  Clare,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.,  1679  ;t  while,  in 
the  same  primitive  district  of  the  Barren,  the  forts  of  Ballyganner  and 
Caheranardurrish  were  inhabited,  at  any  rate,  till  1840,  and  the  caher 
of  Balliny,  not  far  away,  is  inhabited,  and  likely  to  continue  so  even 
in  the  twentieth  century. 

37.  The  Age  of  Forts  from  Other  Sources. — It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  in  cases  (all  unfortunately  outside  our  island)  we  are  able 
to  fix  at  any  rate  a  minimum  date  for  cex'tain  forts,  and  that  the 
date  fixes  their  origin  to  periods  comparable  with  the  Irish  legendary 
statements.  For  example,  in  the  far  east  of  Europe  finds  of  the 
early  Bronze  Age  have  been  found  in  the  forts,  under  circumstances 
connecting  them  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  fortresses,  so  far  back,  it 
is  stated,  as  the  tenth  or  twelfth  century  before  our  era.  In  Brittany 
and  in  Switzerland  (and  some  also  suppose  in  Scotland),  there  is  un- 
mistakeable  evidence  that  Roman  occupation  of  the  forts  took  place  in  the 
early  centuries  of  the  Empire,  as,  for  example,  in  Castel  Coz,  and  the 
great  earthen  "  Lisses  "  at  Caudebec,  Gaulish  in  origin,  one  occupied  by  a 
Roman  villa.J  The  dry-stone  ramparts  of  Vercingetorix,  Caractacus,  and 
others  in  Gaul  and  Britain  will  occur  to  readers  of  Caesar  and  Tacitus. 
It  will  also  be  remembered  that  these  structures  were  built  in  the  first 
century  B.C.,  and  its  successor,  the  very  period  when,  according  to  Irish 
legends,  the  Huamorian  forts,  Caherconree,  Rathcroghan  and  the  Treduma 
Nesi  at  Tara  were  constructed.  If,  indeed,  the  smoother  surface  of  the 
gateway  passage  of  Grianan  Aileach  owes  its  better  preservation  to  shelter, 
and  not  to  the   selection  of  smoother  blocks  by  the  builders ;   it  would 

*  See  infra,  section  42.  "  The  Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick"  (Ed.  Whitley  Stokes),  p.  44, 
uses  '  cathair '  for  an  enclosed  monastery,  "  Thy  cathair  on  earth  shall  be  low,"  p.  74,  "  build  a 
cathair  on  its  brink  "  ;  but  the  word  is  also  used  for  a  lay  building,  p.  112,  "  That  he  should  take 
a  cathair  at  Achad  Fobuir."     The  Patrician  Monastery  is  described,  p.  237  and  p.  civ. 

t  Joirrnal,  Roy.  Soc.  Ant.  Ireland,  xxvii.  (1897)  p.  121. 

J  See  also  Revue  Archeologique,  vol.  xvii..  No.  16,  for  an  account  of  a  Roman  camp  over 
a  Gaulish  stone  fort  in  the  department  of  Lot. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  55 

imply  a  considerable  antiquity  for  the  fort;  and  as  already  mentioned, 
the  less  equivocal  weathering  of  the  tops  of  the  pillars  at  Dun  Aenghus 
and  Ballykinvarga  tells  a  tale  of  great  age,  perhaps  slightly  modified  by 
the  undoubted  weathering  and  channelling  of  the  upper  surfaces  of  the 
bases  and  arms  of  crosses  dating  from  the  tenth  to  the  twelfth  centuries. 
The  rock-cut  fosses  at  the  King's  Chair  and  the  Rath  of  the  Synods  at 
Tara  are  deeply  covered  with  earth ;  and  the  late  ill-starred  search  for  the 
"Ark  of  the  Covenant"  laid  them  open,  and  disclosed  a  probable  Pagan 
burial  in  a  rampart  of  the  former  mound,  in  which  the  bones  had  been 
taken  asunder  and  packed  together  with  the  skull  underneath. 

38.  Finds. — Flint  implements  have  been  found  in  many  forts.  Arrow- 
heads, with,  however,  a  brooch  considered  to  be  of  the  fifth  or  sixth 
century,  were  found  in  Dun  Aenghus.  Arrow-heads  were  also  found  in 
Cahermacnole  (Cahermackirilla),  Clare,  Rahinnane,  Kerry,  and  in  several 
of  the  raths  near  Galway  Bay,  and  in  Waterford  and  Kilkenny.  A 
beautiful  jjolished  stone  axe  was  found  beside  a  fort  near  Mullingar,* 
and  basalt  axes,  granite  spear-heads,  and  tiint  arrows  in  Dungorkin. 
I  found  a  small  chij^ped  flint  in  the  so-called  Dun  Criffan,  a  promontory 
fort  on  Howth. 

Gold  (as  a  rule,  of  the  Bronze  Age)  has  been  found  in  several  forts. 
For  example  a  gold  fibula  was  found  in  Rathkenny,  near  Cootehill ;  and 
two  splendid  torques  were  found  on  Tara  Hill. 

If  we  could  connect  the  "  great  Clare  gold  find"  with  the  inhabitants 
of  the  neighbouring  cahers  of  Moghane  and  Langough,  exjierts  would 
consider  those  forts  as  dating  from  four  or  five  centuries  B.C.,  but  the 
question  does  not  admit  of  profitable  discussion  in  this  essay.  A  gold 
bracelet  was  found  covered  by  an  earthen  vessel  in  the  fort  of  Lisline, 
near  Tramore,  Waterford,  before  1746. f 

Bronze  must  be  discussed  with  equal  caution,  for  when  Brian  Boru 
captured  the  Danish  fort  of  Dublin,  he  found  "  a  great  quantity  of  bronze  " 
among  the  other  spoils,  a.d.  1000. J 

*  Laid,  before  the  Academy,  March,  1901,  by  Mr.  (j.  Kinahan. 

t  Smith's  "  State  of  the  County  and  City  of  "Waterford,"  17-16,  p.  98. 

X  "Wars  of  the  Gaedhil  and  Gaill,"  p.  115. 


56 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


Fio.  8. — Mould  for  casting  Spear-head,  Caber,  Knockgarranbane. 


Bronze  not  referable  to  Christian  times  has  been  found  in  many  forts. 
A  socketed  celt  was  found,   it  is  stated,  in  a  fort  near  Lough  Derg,  in 

eastern  Clare.  We  have 
seen  the  object,  but  could 
not  ascertain  the  actual 
locality.  A  stone  mould 
for  casting  a  beautiful 
bronze  spear-head,  fluted, 
and  with  two  loops,  was 
found  built  into  the  wall 
of  the  caher  at  Knockgar- 
ranbane,* near  Clarinbridge,  at  the  head  of  Galway  Bay ;  but  this,  far  from 
fixing  a  date,  may  only  imply  a  rebuilding  after  the  metal  and  style  of 
weapon  had  gone  out  of  use.  The  Dunbell  raths  yielded  bronze  and  jet 
as  well  as  stone  objects,t  and  the  second  cashel  amid  the  wonderful  cists 
and  trilithons  of  the  Deerpark,J  near  Sligo,  yielded  a  bronze  "buckle." 
Bronze  implements  have  been  found  at  Tara.§  Later  bronze  objects,  such 
as  the  brooch  found  in  Dun  Aenghus,  the  bronze  sword  label  with  the  runic 
inscription,  "  Domnal  Selshofoth  a  soerth  theta,"  "  Domnall  Sealshead 
owns  this  sword, "||  found  in  the  mote  of  Greenmount,  in  Louth,  or  the 
bronze  slip  with  late  mediseval  lettering  found  in  tlie  Dunbell  rath,  tell 
us  as  little  about  the  date  as  the  silver  coins  of  Edward  XL,  found  in 
the  abattis  of  Bally  kin  varga,  or  the  base  Tudor  coins  found  inside 
Cahei-macnole,  along  with  the  pointed  flint  implements.  These  manifestly 
serve  as  little  for  a  date  as  the  golden  tores  found  at  Tara,  or  the  beautiful 
chalice  in  the  rath  of  Ardagh,  county  Limerick. 

Iron  has  been  frequently  found  in  forts ;  it  is  said  to  have  been  dug  out 
from  a  considerable  depth  in  the  forts  of  Tara,  and  to  have  been  found 
in  a  demolished  wall  at  the  triple  fort  of  Cahercalla,  near  Quin,  in  Clare. 


*  "  ArchEeologia,"  xv.  (1805),  p.  394,  Plate  xxiv. 
t  Journal  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  iii.  (1854),  pp.  133,  175. 
X  Hid.,  vol.  xxi.  (1891),  p.  581. 
§  Proc.  ll.I.A.,  8er.  iii.  (1870-1879),  p.  25. 
II  Journal  ll.b.A.l.,  vol.  xi.  (1870-71),  p.  487. 


Westropp— 7%e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  57 

Iron  axes  were  also  found  built  up  in  the  walls  of  Caherspeenaun  and 
Caherbiel,  near  Cong,  on  the  borders  of  Mayo  and  Gal  way.*  We  have 
found  primitive  '<  corn  crushers,"  long  hollowed  stones,  at  Caherahooan, 
Moheramoylan,  and  Eallyganner  cahers.  The  pottery  found  in  the 
souterrains  and  forts,  as  those  of  Waterford  and  Kilkenny,  is  of  the 
rudest  description.  In  short,  like  the  legends,  the  actual  finds  fix  no 
"  fort-building  period,"  but  show  during  how  vast  a  period  these  structures 
were  actually  raised  in  Ireland  from  "  the  twilight  waste  where  pale 
Tradition  sits  by  Memory's  grave,"  to  the  time  of  Henry  III.,  and  in 
continental  Europe  from  the  days  of  the  strong  men  before  Agamemnon 
to  the  days  of  the  Crusaders. 

39.  Theories  regarding  the  Fort-Builders. 

The  Sons  of  Huamore. — The  Firbolgic  origin  of  the  cahers  has  been  im- 
pressed on  Irish  Archaaology  by  the  great  names  of  Petrie  and  O'Donovan, 
supported  by  Loi'd  Dunraven  and  Miss  Stokes,  popularised  by  many  writers 
and  accepted  by  a  large  body  of  antiquaries  without  any  thought 
of  the  vast  impossibility  involved  in  the  legend  and  its  hopelessly 
weak  foundation.  Even  if  the  legend  of  the  sons  of  Huamore  be  not  a  sun 
myth,  as  Professor  Rhys  suggests,  even  if  it  rested  on  some  earlier  and 
better  authority  than  (it  should  appear)  a  poem  of  the  tenth  century,  still, 
the  story  in  that  poem  is  alone  enough  to  undermine  the  popular  belief  ;  and 
it  is  surprising  that  any  of  the  above  antiquaries  should  have  been  carried 
away  by  so  wild  a  theory.  We  are  called  on  to  believe  that  several 
hundred,  if  not  a  couple  of  thousand,  stone  forts  were  built  by  a  liandful  of 
fugitives  who  were  able  to  live  in  nine  raths  in  Meath,  and  were  exter- 
minated or  scattered  in  a  year  or  two  after  settling  in  Galway,  Mayo  and 
Clare.  The  prose  version  only  names  Dun  Aenghus  ;  the  poem  in  addition 
tells  how  Ennach  built  a  fort  in  Clare  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dael ;  and 
one  manuscript  adds  "  thus  they  dwelt  in  fortresses."  On  this  tiny  base  tlie 
vast  inverted  pyramid  of  theory  which  attributes  the  cahers  of  Kerry  and 
Cork  to  a  tribe  never  even  stated  to  have  settled  in  those  counties,  and  tlio 
innumerable  cahers  of  Clare,  Galway,  Mayo,  Sligo,  and  other  districts,  to 
this  short-lived  little  band.  After  this  utter  impossibility,  the  question  of 
*  8ir  W.  Wilde,  "Lough  Corrib,"  pjj.  330-338. 

From  JiL.  IK.  ACAD.  TKANS.,   VOL.  XXXI.— I'AET  XIV.  I 


58  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

the  historic  value  of  the  legend  sinks  into  unimportance ;  and  the  question 
of  the  vast  labour  imjjlied  in  the  building  of  even  a  single  large  caher,  or 
the  fact  that  the  principal  centres  of  Firbolg  legend  display  earthen, 
rather  than  stone,  forts,  may  be  disregarded. 

The  Sea-Rovers. — In  a  natural  reaction  against  the  last  overweighted 
theory,  some,  with  more  apparent  reason,  attributed  the  great  stone  forts 
to  sea-rovers.  As  with  the  advocates  of  the  former  view,  it  would  almost 
seem  as  if  the  authors  of  the  "rover  theory"  only  thought  of  the  forts 
described  by  Lord  Dunraven,  and  overlooked  the  many  thousand  enclo- 
sures in  nearly  inaccessible  valleys,  and  on  plateaux  far  from  the  sea. 
Many  of  our  promontoiy  forts  are  on  headlands  flanked  by  harbourless 
and  precipitous  coast  for  many  miles.  Why  did  the  "wanderers  on  the 
whale's  path,"  who  were  very  practical  people,  devise  such  useless  and 
inconvenient  abodes,  while  they  never  seem  to  have  built  any  such  great 
fortresses  to  hold  the  rich  meadows  of  the  Shannon  and  other  rivers  most 
suitable  for  the  safety  and  convenience  of  their  ships,  and  more  profitable 
either  for  plunder  or  settlement. 

The  Danes. — Giraldus  Cambrensis,  with  countless  other  errors,  origi- 
nated the  theory  that  our  raths  and  lisses  had  been  made  by  the  Danes.* 
This  was  developed  and  published  by  Thomas  Molyneux  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  has  never  died  down,  nay  more,  has  been  spread  wide-cast 
amongst  the  peasantry,  and  received  the  sanction  of  not  a  few  of  our  later 
writers.  We  may  well  ask  whether  the  Norsemen  on  princij^le  adopted  a 
style  of  fortification  abundant  in  lands  where  the  ravens  of  Odin  never 
preyed,  and  whether  the  invaders  carefully  fortified  districts  in  which 
they  never  settled,  or,  so  far  as  our  records  extend,  never  overran,  while 
erecting  no  .such  works  in  their  own  country  or  Iceland.  We  can  only 
recall  one  really  great  Irish  fort  (Moghane)  in  a  Danish  district,  and  it 
is  never  mentioned  as  having  been  used  in  the  deadly  guerilla  warfare 
of  Brien  in  the  woods  of  Tradree  at  the  end  of  the  tenth  century. 

*  It  lias  been  a  growing  custom  since,  at  any  rate,  1868  (R.S.A.I.,  ser.  iii.,  vol.  i.,  p.  22),  to 
state  that  Dane  is  a  mistake  of  the  peasantry  for  Danann.  There  is  no  evidence  for  this,  and  the 
peasantry  probably  derive  it  from  conversation  with  the  followers  of  Giraldus  and  Molyneux. 
The  Scotch  peasants,  however,  used  to  attribute  the  forts  to  the  Danes,  as  does  the  elder  Borlasc 
in  "Antiquities  of  Cornwall."     See  M.  Martin's  "  Western  Islands  of  Scotland,"  1703,  p.  34. 


WEaxEopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


59 


Other  views.— The  theories  attributing  our  stone  forts  to  Phcenicians 
or  monks  are  practically  dead.  The  Vallancey  school  failed  to  prove  its 
case,  and  modern  archjeologj  seems  to  have  cast  very  grave  doubts  on 
the  existence  of  any  regular  Carthaginian  commerce  with  Ireland,  where 
it  certainly  left  no  indisputable  trace.  The  monks  certainly  built  stone 
cashels,  but  usually  of  irregular  plan  and  without  terraces  or  steps.  A 
very  interesting  relic  of  these  builders  is  found  at  Termonfeckin  in 
Louth— an  inscribed  stone  with  the  inscription  :  Opoir  Do  Ulcan  -j  Do 
Dubrhach  Do  pigni  in  caippel,  "  Pray  for  Ultan  and  Dubthach  who  made 
this  stone  fort."* 


Fio.  9.— Fort  Builder's  Monument,  Termonfeckin,  Louth. 

It  was  more  usual,  however,  for  the  monks  to  build  their  "  cathair  "  or 
"  conghabhaile  "  in  some  existing  fort  which  some  newly  converted  chief- 
tain gave  to  God  and  the  Church.  Skellig,  Caher  Island,  and  Magharees, 
Grlendalough,  and  Sier  Kieran  are  good  examples  of  the  former  class  of 
works.  Cashel  in  Cork,  Temple  na  raha  near  Ruan,  Clare  (where  the  foun- 
dations of  a  venerable  oratory  lie  within  a  ring-wall  of  massive  blocks), 
the  Rock  of  Cashel,  Innismurray,  and,  possibly,  Rathmichael  in  Dublin, 
were  secular  forts  before  they  were  granted  to  the  monks. 


IV.  UsK  OF  THK  Forts. 

40.  The  most  widespread  views  regard  the  forts  as  fortifications  or  as 
cattle  bawns,  and  each  contains  a  certain  element  of  truth.  The  idea  that 
they  were  j^laces  of  burial,  though  apparent  both  in  our  literature  and  the 


*  "  Christian  Inscriptions  in  the  Irish  Language  "  (Miss  M.  Stokes),  vol.  ii.,  p.  70. 


IS 


60  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

ruins  has  been  less  advanced.  Popular  legend  of  our  own  time  supports, 
in  some  cases,  Spenser's  statement*  that  some  of  the  forts  were  places  of 
assembly.  Other  legends,  found  at  Moghane  and  in  Germany  (also  in 
*'  Marmion"),  consider  the  forts  as  places  for  tournaments  and  combats, 
and  this  view  has  been  elaborated  by  Vallancey  in  his  account  of  Staigue 
fort.  One  writer  fancies  that  the  latter  may  have  been  a  Phoenician 
emjDorium  connected  with  certain  traces  of  ancient  mines,  while  others 
fancied  it  a  temple  or  observatory.  We  only  deal  here  with  the  first 
three  and  the  temple  and  assembly  theories. 

41.  Fortresses. — The  first  two  theories,  like  most  half  truths,  obscure 
some  points  and  raise  some  unnecessary  difficulties.  In  the  first  place, 
the  modern  (or  mediaeval)  notion  of  a  "fortress"  is  so  complex  and  so 
different  from  a  Celtic  fort  that  it  is  better  to  dismiss  the  idea  from 
our  minds,  and  to  think  of  the  cahers  and  raths  as  moated  or  walled 
residences  such  as  were  common  at  all  times  in  insecure  states  of  society. 
In  their  inclosures  stood,  as  a  rule,  groups  of  small  houses :  in  other  cases 
the  whole  space  or  summit  must  have  been  occupied  by  a  single  large 
house.  The  strong  wall  or  palisaded  earthwork  was  merely  a  passive 
defence  for  these  houses,  and  was  only  raised  against  a  sudden  attack, 
not  against  undermining,  battering,  or  other  siege  work.  In  short,  the 
house  or  group  of  houses  forms  the  essential  feature  of  a  Celtic  fort ;  the 
rampart  or  earthwork  was  merely  an  accessory.  Even  in  Algeria  many 
a  supposed  prehistoric  trilithon  was  more  probably  the  gateway  of  a  de- 
molished dry-stone  "  cashel"  which  defended  a  farmhouse  early  in  our  era. 

In  view  of  this  design,  the  reasons  often  urged  as  to  the  impossibility 
of  certain  apparent  facts,  such  as  the  building  of  the  wall  in  two  or  three 
sections,  and  the  excluded  water  supply,  lose  all  weight.  Tlie  picture  of 
the  Ventry  fortsf  crowded  with  people  and  animals,  and  taken  by  storm 
and  bm-ned,  is  probably  true  to  fact.  The  dependents  lived  round  the  fort, 
and  would  have  naturally  crowded  into  it  on  any  alarm.  We  find  in  Kerry 
and  Aran,  where  timber  was  scarce,  both  single  huts  and  groups  in  the  fields 

*  "  View  of  the  State  of  Ireland."     This  is  borne  out  by  the  Annals  of  Ulster,  a.d.  803  :  "  An 
Assembly  of  the  senators  of  the  TJi  Neill  in  Dun  Cuair." 
t  "  Cath  Finntraga"  (Ed.  Kuno  Meyer),  pp.  5,  6. 


Webtrofp— The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  61 

round  the  forts  or  in  their  garths.  In  Clare,  on  the  other  hand,  where  wood 
was  plentiful,  even  in  Burren,  few  huts  or  traces  other  than  the  boundary 
walls  of  the  enclosures,  and  more  rarely  slab  basements,*  remain  in  or  near 
the  cahers.  The  Anglo-Saxon  'town,'  with  its  hall  and  huts  crowded 
together  in  the  midst  of  the  cultivated  land,  affords  a  close  analoo-v. 
but  mstead  of  a  single  fort,  as  in  England,  a  group  of  so  many  as  ten  or 
twelve  fair-sized  forts  might  remain  within  call  of  each  other  in  Ireland. 

In  the  legend  of  the  three  forts  near  Ventry,  each  of  these  settlements 
fell  by  itself.  There  was  no  attempt  made  to  join  forces  against  the 
invaders.  This  lack  of  organisation  was  probably  common,  and  was 
possibly  based  on  the  rarity  of  successful  attack,  as  the  examples  of  the 
storming  of  forts  are  comparatively  few  in  Irish  literature.  It  is  easy  to 
see  how,  in  an  undisciplined  raid  (indeed  we  have  noted  it  recently  even 
in  modern  warfare),  raiders  were  more  anxious  to  sweep  away  cattle  and 
plunder  from  the  open  country  and  unfenced  villages  than  to  assail  (still 
less  besiege)  even  slightly  fortified  places.  Save  that  the  "  glory"  to  be 
gained  by  sacking  the  residence  of  a  king  or  chief  led  to  an  assault 
and  the  destruction  of  his  house,  our  annals  would  be  nearly  devoid  of 
such  incidents.  As  it  is,  the  very  same  assailants  seem  to  have  swept 
past  dozens  of  other  forts  without  attacking  them. 

One  more  fact  of  interest  needs  to  be  recorded.  The  caher  of  Balliny, 
near  Black  Head,  Clare,  has  been  inhabited  from  beyond  human  memory 
down  into  the  twentieth  century.  We  see  it  with  its  houses  and  enclosures 
both  inside  and  surrounding  the  ring-wall.  Looking  on  the  simple  life 
of  its  inmates,  we  are  compelled  to  feel  how  much  nearer  it  is  to  the  life  of 
even  a  pre-Christian  settlement  than  it  is  to  the  life  of  its  contemporaries 
in  the  great  cities  far  away. 

42.  The  Ecclesiastical  Cathair  was  (save  for  its  churches  and  crosses) 
nearly  identical  in  its  arrangements  with  the  dun  of  a  secular  chieftain. 

*  Professor  Sullivan's  Introduction  to  O'CuiTy's  "  Manners  and  Customs"  makes  the  start- 
lingly  incorrect  statements  (p. 74)  that  no  clocliauns  remain  round  the  forts  of  Aran,  and  that  there 
was  no  bmlding  material  in  Daelach,  in  Clai'e,  except  stones.  The  fact  was  that  thick  woods 
existed  down  to  the  eighteenth  century,  and  trees  still  grow  freely,  as  even  the  maps  clearly  show. 


62  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Indeed,  in  the  first  generations  of  Christianity  in  Ireland,  we  read  of  circular 
churches*  with  crosses,  or  a  holy  word  "Jesus,"  or  "  Soter,"t  rudely  engraved 
on  the  pillar-stones  which  often  accompanied  a  lay  fort ;  and  such  features 
must  have  greatly  added  to  the  similarity.  When  a  chief  gave  his  fort  to  an 
early  missionary,  the  latter  probably  did  nothing  to  alter  the  structure  of 
the  establishment.  The  monastery  was  organised  on  tribal  lines ;  the  great 
hall  became  a  church  ;  religious  observance  took  the  place  of  festivity  ;  the 
huts  of  the  retainers  outside  the  fort  were  filled  with  catechumens,  but,  in 
other  respects,  the  rude  and  simple  life  of  the  community  probably  differed 
little  from  that  of  their  predecessors. 

In  the  "Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick  "J  we  find  a  description  of  a 
monastic  cathair  presumably  as  existing  in  the  latter  half  of  the  fifth 
century:  it  consisted  of  a  great  house,  a  church,  an  "aregal,"  a  kitchen, 
a  "prauntech"  (refectory),  a  guest-house,  and  a  graveyard;  the  whole 
was  enclosed  by  a  "  vallum."  The  saint  on  one  occasion  laid  out  a 
rath  140  feet  in  diameter,  and,  a  little  later,  St.  Enda,  brother  of 
St.  Fainchea  "made  deep  fosses  round  her  monastery."§ 

To  show  how  unaltered  was  this  t3'pe  over  twelve  centuries  later,  we 
may  take  the  enumeration  of  the  buildings  in  Cahermacnaughteu,  Clare, 
as  described  in  the  will  and  deed  of  partition  made  by  Gillananaeve 
O'Davoren  in  1675.||  The  structure  still  remains,  a  very  massive,  and  pro- 
bably prehistoric  ring-wall,  some  of  whose  crowded  house-sites  can  still  be 
sufficiently  identified  to  enable  us  to  follow  the  description.  The  "  kean- 
nait"  contained  "the  site  of  the  large  house  of  the  caher  within,  the  site 
of  the  kitchen  house,  which  belongs  to  the  house  within  the  caher,  and 
the  site  of  the  house  of  the  churchyard  on  the  west  side  of  the  caher,  and  all 
the  gardens  extending  westward  from  the  road  of  the  garden  of  Teige  Roe 
MacGrillapheen  (not  including  Teige  Roe's  house  and  garden),  the  house  site 
between  the  front  of  the  large  house  and  the  door  of  the  caher  at  the  N.-W. 
{sic),  and  the  large  house  which  is  outside  the  door  of  the  caher."  Save  for 
the  lack  of  a  church,  and  one  existed  west  of  the  caher  at  no  great  distance, 

*  Doubtless  closely  resembling  in  external  appearance  certain  Abyssinian  cburclies. 

t  "  Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick"  (Ed.  Whitley  Stokes),  p.  107. 

\  Hid.,  p.  237.  §  Acta  SS.,  Jan.  1.  ||  Journal  U.S. A.I. ,  toI.  xxyii.  (1897),  p.  121. 


Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  63 

this  might  read  for  the  description  of  a  monastic  caher  in  the  days  of 
Hengist,  rather  than  a  law  scliool  in  the  days  of  Newton  and  Milton. 
The  similarity  of  Skellig  Monastery  to  the  secular  cahers  and  huts  at 
Fahan  is  very  marked  ;  the  huts  may  be  reckoned  a  little  better,  but  not 
more  so  than  Grallerus  oratory  is  to  the  ruder  oratory  on  the  great  sea-rock. 

43.  Cattle  Pens. — This  theory  only  errs  in  being  too  sweeping.  Doubt- 
less many  of  the  slighter  ring- walls  and  straight  walled  "  mohers"  were 
for  cattle ;  but  who  would  think  of  building  a  fort  like  the  Grianan  or  Dun 
Aenghus,  Moghane  or  Staigue,  Ballykinvarga  or  Dunbeg,  for  such  a  purpose? 

The  bawn,  or  boen,  was  usually  distinguished  from  the  residential  fort 
by  being  of  less  imposing  massiveness  and  having  no  terraces  or  steps ; 
little  more  was  attempted  than  to  establish  a  place  for  cattle,  lofty  enough 
to  exclude  the  wolf  and  strong  enough  to  be  an  obstacle  to  the  robber.  It 
was,  however,  not  unusual  to  keep  the  cattle  in  the  residential  fort ;  we 
find  this  in  legend,  as  in  the  case  of  the  cattle  of  luchna  the  curly-haired,* 
and  in  that  story,  so  often  quoted,  of  the  three  forts  of  Veutry.  What  is 
stronger  evidence  is  that  the  ancient  laws  of  Ireland  made  provision  for 
seizing  cattle  kept  in  forts,  and  even  for  keeping  them  impounded  therein 
on  dark  nights. t  That  this  extended  to  later  times  we  have  seen  in  the 
fort-names  Caheruagree,  Lisnagry,  &c.,  and  perhaps  even  in  the  "pounds" 
of  Dartmoor  and  the  local  name  for  Staigue  fort  "  Pounda-na-Staigue." 

44.  Sepulchral. — As  regards  sepulture  in  forts,  we  find  abundant 
examples  both  in  early  Irish  literature  and  in  the  ruins  themselves. 

Of  course,  in  this  place,  as  always  through  this  paper,  the  extracts  are 
quoted  to  illustrate  customs  or  the  structural  features  of  the  forts  without 
any  question  as  to  the  historic  truth  of  the  relation.  In  the  legend  of  the 
battle  of  Moytura-Cong  we  hear  how  Slainge  pursued  the  sons  of  Caelchu 
and  their  followers,  when  they  fled  from  the  left  wing  of  the  Tuatha  De 
Danann  and  slew  them  near  the  margin    of    Lough    Corrib,    setting   up 

*  "  Silva  Gadelica"  (S.  H.  O'Grady),  vol.  ii.,  p.  131. 

f  "  Senchas  Mor,"  vol.  i.,  p.  131,  for  joint  labour  on  forts  ;  p.  137,  for  provisioning  forts  ; 
vol.  ii.,  p.  61,  cattle  can  be  kept  in  forts  on  dark  nights. 


64 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


seventeen  flagstones  over  their  graves.  These  slabs  Sir  W.  Wilde  identifies 
with  thirteen  slabs  still  standing  in  an  oval  fort  on  the  shore  of  that  lake.* 
The  "Colloquy  of  the  Ancients"  mentions  "a  fort,  within  this  again  a 
colossal  sepulchre."t  The  Lady  T^a,  wife  of  Erimon,  was  buried  in  the  fort 
of  Tara  in  imitation  of  another  princess,  Tephe,  daughter  of  Bachter,  King 
of  Spain,  buried  in  the  "  mur"  of  Tephe,  in  Spain. J  In  the  same  work 
we  find  the  cashel  of  Aengus,  son  of  Cruindmael,  among  the  burial-places 
of  the  Brugh  na  Boinn.  Crimthann,  son  of  Lugaid,  dying  of  his  fatal  love 
for  the  Banshee  Nar,  was  buried  in  his  fort  on  Howth,§  while  the  bones  of 
some  10,000  slain  soldiers  of  Cairbre  Liffechair  were  buried  in  the  rath  of 


FiQ.  10.— "Tomb  o£  Dathi,"  Eathcroghan. 

Cnamross.||  In  more  historic  times  we  find  King  Dathi's  tomb  at  Rath- 
croghan  to  be  a  small  fort  with  a  fosse  and  pillar  stone,  and  King  Laoghaire, 
son  of  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages,  was  buried  upright  in  the  rampart  of  his 
rath,  armed,  and  with  his  face  turned  towards  the  land  of  his  enemies,  in 
enmity  unappeased  by  death.  It  is  remarkable  that  an  interment  was 
found  in  the  rampart  of  a  rath,  the  King's  Chair,  at  the  same  place. 

*  Since  the  date  of  this  paper  Mi-.  P.  Lynch  showed  me  a  phm  and  views  of  a  most  inter- 
esting monument  in  Kerry,  an  are  of  a  small  ring  wall  mth  a  "  chord"  of  pillai-  stones,  probably 
sepulchral.     It  is  intended  to  publish  it  in  the  Jom-nal  E. S.A.I. 

t  "  Silva  Gadelica,"  ii.,  p.  131. 

\  "Dindsenchas  of  Tara,"  Revue  C'eltique  (1894),  p.  277  ;  the  more  usual  version  was  that 
Tephe  was  buried  at  Tai'a,  and  gave  if  the  name  of  "  Tephe  Mm-." 

§  Ibid.,  p.  332.  II  Ibid.,  p.  333. 


Westropp— I%e  Ancient  Forfs  of  Ireland.  65 

The  remains  themselves  tell  the  same  story.  The  ancient  cemeteries 
at  Usnach  and  Rathcroghan  are  scarcely  distinguishable  from  ordinary 
ring-forts,  and  may  have  been  first  designed  for  residence.  We  see  a 
dolmen  in  the  middle  of  the  vast  earthwork  of  the  "  Giant's  Ring"  in 
Down,  and  others  in  the  ring-walls 
of  Ballj'ganner  and  Creevagh  in 
Clare,  and  a  rath  near  Kilpeacon, 
Limerick  ;  while  the  "  Doon  fort," 
on  a  bold  headland  south  of  Dingle 
in  Kerry,  encloses  a  "  giant's 
grave."  A  double  cist  remains  in 
the  levelled  fort  of  Kilcameen, 
near  Kilfenora,  Clare.  Molyneux* 
mentions  and  figures  an  urn  found 
in  a  cist  in  a  "Danish"  fort  at 
Stillorgan,  Dublin,  in  June,  1716. 
Rude  pottery  and  numerous  human 
bones  were  also  found  in  a  cist 
in   the   great   rath    of    Rathcoran, 


OS 


.««!& 


%^- 


i 


<,Sd, 


%.         ^^  ^^^"^ 


Fig.  U.— Cemetery  of  Eatheroghan. 


Wicklow,    on    a    lofty    hill    above 

Baltinglas.      These    facts    did    not 

escape  the  well-stored  mind  of  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson,  who,  in  one  of  lils 

best  known  poems,  uses  it  with  fine  effect : — 


"  No  more — dispelling  battle's  gloom — 
Shall  son  to  mo  from  war  return, 
The  great  green  rath's  ten-acred  tomb 
Lies  heavy  on  his  uni."f 

Pillar-stones  in  raths  are  not  uncommon  in  Munster,  and  occur  in  a 
stone  fort  at  Edentinny,  Leitrim.J    Ogham-inscribed  stones  have  been  found 

*  "  Danish  Mounts,"  p.  201. 

f  "  The  Cromlech  on  Howth."     Urns  are  frequently  found  in  earth  forts. 
X  O'Hanlon,  "  Lives  of  the  Irish  Saints,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  581.     We  have  noted  an  example  iu 
Yorkshire,  supra,  section  30. 

From  lil,.  IK.  ACAD.  TEANS.,    VOL.  XXXI. PART  XIV.  K 


66  ,  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

in  forts,  as  at  Doonmore,  Kerry,  and  Lisheenagreine,  Cork.*  Cairns 
occur  inside  ring-walls  at  Ballyganner  (near  the  enwalled  dolmen),  and 
a  small  one  in  Caheranardurrish  fort  in  Glensleade,  Clare,  was  recently 
demolished,  and  disclosed  a  small  cist  of  at  least  three  compartments, 
the  finds  being  thus  in  complete  agreement  with  the  allusions  in  our 
oldest  legends  and  history. 

Burial  in  one's  fort  or  house  was  an  ancient  and  widespread  custom  ; 
the  ancient  princes  of  Mycense  and  Iberia  were  laid  in  state  within  their 
palaces.  Even  among  the  Israelites,  who  dreaded  defilement  from  the 
dead,  Joab  was  buried  "  in  his  own  house  in  the  wilderness."  We  have 
noted  cairns  and  burial  mounds  enclosed  in  the  ancient  forts  of  Ograch 
and  ]\Ialagradina  in  Bosnia  ;t  while  tlie  stone  fort  of  Ismanstorpsborgen 
in  Sweden  is  crowded  with  ancient  burials, J 

This  tradition  has  probably  led  to  the  usage  of  numerous  earthen  and 
stone  forts  for  burial  in  Ireland,  sometimes  for  general  burial,  sometimes 
only  for  the  bui'ial  of  children  or  for  unbaptized  infants. 

Finally,  in  the  case  of  the  motes,  several  have  yielded  evidence  of  burials, 
even  the  complex  mote  of  Greenmount  in  Louth.  Waringstown  "  Dane's 
Mound"  in  Down,  when  opened  in  1684,  yielded  a  handsome  urn  covering 
burned  bones  and  charcoal  in  a  beehive  cell  with  a  passage  10  feet  long.§ 
In  these  cases  the  unaccountable  neglect  with  which  these  very  interesting 
antiquities  have  been  treated  prevents  our  generalizing ;  and  we  leave  for 
fuller  light  the  question  whether  the  defensive  mound  was  eventually  used 
for  burial  or  the  sepulchral  mount  adapted  for  defence. 

45.  "Worship. — This  is  a  problem  too  important  to  be  passed  over, 
and  too  obscure  to  be  treated  with  more  than  the  slightest  allusion. 
We  liave  seen  the  weighty  name  of  Virchow  attached  to  the  theory 
that  the  fort  with  an  annexe  was  an  ancient  temple,  and  the  resem- 
blance of   tlie  shrine  of  Suantowit  at  Rugen   to  one  of  tlic  promontory 

*  Trans.  E.I.A.,  vol.  xxxi.,  p.  279,  and  E.S.A.I.,  ser.  iii.,  vol.  i.  (1868),  p.  260. 
t  "Bosnia-Herzegovina,"  Dr.  E.  Munro,  pp.  197,  203. 
X  "Dolmens  of  Ireland"  (W.  Borlase),  vol.  iii.,  p.  1133,  and  supra,  fig.  4. 
§  "  Ajicient  and  present  state  of  the  county  of  Down,  1744,"  p.  212. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  67 

forts  has  been  pointed  out,  while  Cormac  Mac  Airt  is  said  to  have  been 
worshijDped  at  Tara.  The  remains  throw  little,  if  any,  light  on  the  subject. 
The  mote  of  Skirk  in  the  townland  of  Newtown  Skirk,  Queen's  County 
(0.  S.,  map  21),  has  a  circle  of  upright  stones,  which  Sir  Charles  Coote* 
says  enclosed  an  altar,  and,  like  a  defensive  mote,  had  a  conical  mound 
of  earth  and  stone,  circumscribed  by  a  rampart  or  ditch.  Human  bones 
and  urns  were  found  "when  the  altar  or  mound  is  opened."  Coote  goes 
on  to  quote  Vallancey's  unfounded  assertion  that  sucli  places  "were  called 
Magh  Adhair,  the  sanctuary  of  the  wise  divinity  of  the  tombs,  and  were 
dedicated  to  Magh  or  Sodorn  and  the  manes  of  heroes."  It  is  probable 
that  if  any  rites  were  celebrated,  they  were  rather  sepulchral  than  directed 
to  the  national  deities. 

46.  Ceremonial. — Many  forts  became  centres  for  aenaghs,  great  fairs 
and  merrymakings  of  possibly  religious  origin.  We  need  only  name  the 
Feis  of  Tara,  and  the  aenaghs  of  Tailtinn  and  Carman ;  while  such  names 
as  Caherwarraga,  Ballykinvarga,  and  Eanty,  attaching  to  forts,  attest  the 
existence  of  similar  gatherings.  The  aenagh  of  Magh  Adhair  in  Clare  was 
older  than  the  invasion  of  Thomond  by  King  Flan  Sunach  in  a.d.  877,t 
and  lasted  as  a  local  gathering  down  to  the  Great  Famine.  It  is  still 
remembered  by  the  older  people  in  that  part  of  Clare  as  taking  place 
round  the  mote.  Races  were  held  down  to  the  nineteenth  century  at  a 
barrow  and  fort,  near  Mallow,  but  were  then  transferred  to  Bally clough. 
The  barrow  on  being  opened  was  found  to  contain  a  fine  cist,  with  a 
skeleton  and  bronze  sword. J  Indeed  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  great 
present-day  fair  of  Cahirmee  may  have  owed  its  remote  origin  to  some 
aenagh  held  at  the  ancient  caher  of  that  name. 

The  forts  occasionally  enclosed  objects  of  popular  veneration  (if  not 
formerly  of  worship),  Magh  Adhair,  Clare,  possessed  a  "Bill"  or  ancient 
tree,  connected  with  the  inauguration  of  the  Dalcassian  chiefs.  Roevehagh 
in  Co.  Galway  takes  its  name  from  a  famous  "Red  birch  tree"  (Ruaidh 

*  "  Statistical  Survey  of  Queen's  County,"  p.  92. 
t  "Book  of  Munster,"  O'Eeilly,  MSS.,  R.I.A.,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  39-42. 

I  "  The  Early  Age  of  Greece,"  Professor  Kidgeway  quoting  letter  from  late  Kev.  T.  Oklcn. 
For  games  at  Caherachladdy,  Cork,  see  Journal  R.R.A.I.,  vol.  ii.  (1852),  p.  231. 

K2 


68  Westkopp — The  Ancieni  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Bheitheacli).  The  Clare  tree  was  maliciously  cut  down  by  the  Ard  Righ 
Malachi  in  982,  and  its  very  roots  dug  up.  Its  successor  met  the  same 
fate  from  the  troops  of  Aed  O'Conor,  King  of  Connaught,  in  1051.  The 
Roevehagh  tree  was  cut  down  and  its  stone  fort  demolished  by  Turlough 
O'Brien,  King  of  Thomond,  in  1143,  vendettas  being  long-lived  at  that 
period. 

The  fort  of  Tullaghog  contained  the  inauguration  stone  of  O'Neill, 
and  the  cliff  fort  of  Dunadd  in  Argyllshire,  with  the  basin  stone  and 
rock-cut  footprint  thereat,  was  used  for  the  inauguration  of  the  Dalriadic 
kings,*  while  other  Irish  forts  (as  Naas  and  Cairnfree)  served  a  like 
purpose.  The  oblong  fort  at  Edentinny,  in  Leitrim,  has  two  lai'ge  pillar- 
stones  (one  standing  and  one  prostrate),  the  former  12  feet  high,  and 
has  been  supposed  to  have  been  a  place  of  pillar-worship.f 


V. — Structural  Features  in  the  Forts. 

We  now  turn  to  the  important  subject  of  the  structural  features  of  the 
early  forts.  Leaving  to  Irish  scholars  the  task  of  collecting  the  ancient 
nomenclatui'e,  a  task  which  they  have  up  to  this  neglected  to  perform, 
we  may  be  permitted  to  turn  to  the  buildings  themselves,  with  no  further 
preamble,  using  (as  all  thi'ough  this  paper)  the  facts  we  have  collected 
from  ancient  Irish  writings  only  so  far  as  the}^  seem  to  elucidate  any 
features  of  the  ancient  buildings.  J 

As  might  be  expected,  the  earthen  forts,  although  by  far  the  more 
abundant,  fall  into  the  background  in  this  section.  Nearly  all  the 
"featm-es,"  apart  from  the  mere  plans,  being  confined  to  the  stone  forts, 

*  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,  (1878-9),  p.  28,  paper  by  Capt.  F.  Thomas,  E.N. 

t  Canon  O'Hanlon,  "Lives  of  tlie  Irish  Saints,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  581.  It  is  not  marked  in  the 
townland  on  the  Ordnance  Sm-rey  map  of  6-inches  to  the  mile. 

\  Very  few  have  been  collected.  We  find  in  the  "  Mesca  Ulad,"  Todd  Lcct.  Series,  E.I. A., 
p.  47,  and  Professor  Sullivan's  Introduction  to  O'Cui-i-y's  "Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Ancient 
Irish,"  p.  107,  a  few  of  the  old  names  for  various  portions  of  the  forts.  As  "  tulchin,"  the  flat 
top  of  a  rath  or  mote  :  "  iarom,"  the  garth  or  enclosure  ;  "  mur,"  the  rampart ;  "  fordorus,"  the 
gate  in  the  outer  wall;  "auiiand,"  the  slope  before  that  gateway.  We  hope  for  more  light  on 
this  interesting  and  important  study  fiom  some  of  the  many  earnest  students  of  Irish. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  69 

and  being  on  that  account  taken  in  a  vast  preponderance  from  the 
counties  in  which  lie  the  best  preserved  cahers,  i.e.  in  Donegal,  Cavan, 
Sligo,  Mayo,  Galway,  Clare,  Kerry,  and  Cork. 

47.  Ramparts. — In  stud3^ing  the  structural  anatomy  of  the  walls,  we 
not  unfrequently  meet  the  curious  method  of  construction  in  which  the 
face  of  the  masonry  exhibits  continuous  upright  joints.  These  were  at 
one  time  supposed  (from  the  two  joints  occurring  close  to  each  other  in 
Staigue  fort)  to  have  marked  an  opening  left  for  the  convenience  of  the 
builders,  and  afterwards  closed ;  but  numerous  other  forts,  notably,  those 
in  Aran  and  Clare,  exhibit  many  joints  at  approximately  regular  intervals 
and  25i"eclude  the  older  idea.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  each  section 
marks  the  work  of  a  different  gang.  This  system  was  adopted  by 
Nehemiah  when  repairing  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  very  possibly  was 
not  unknown  in  other  times  and  countries. 

In  at  least  one  interesting  example,  the  fort  of  Caherdooneerish  on 
Black  Head,  overlooking  Galway  Bay,  we  see  marks  of  three  periods,  the 
joints  running  for  perhaps  6  feet  from  the  ground  ;  other  joints  running 
at  other  places  from  5  or  6  feet  above  the  ground  to  10  or  12  feet;  and  still 
other  joints  confined  to  the  topmost  part  of  the  wall  ;  other  divergencies  in 
the  masonry  being  also  apparent,  which  evidently  mark  at  least  two 
successive  rebuildings. 

The  legends  in  the  Dinsenchas  tell  us  that  the  stones  were  drawn  by 
horses  or  collected  by  the  inmates  of  the  fort,  who  took  pillar-stones,  both 
standing  and  prostrate  ;  the  blocks  were  "  chipped  "  to  make  them  fit  better 
in  the  wall,*  and  (if  the  translation  given  by  Petrie,  in  his  account  of 
Grianan  Aileach,  be  correct)  were  put  up  with  the  aid  of  scaffolds. f  With 
regard  to  the  latter  question,  however,  the  occurrence  of  smaller  stonework 
in  certain  forts,  from  a  height  of  6  or  7  feet  above  the  ground,  seems 
rather  to  imply  that  the  stones  were  sometimes  lifted  by  mere  strength 

*  "  Dindsenchas"  {Revue  Celttque,  1894)  pp.  41,  42,  448.  "  Ordnance  Survey  of  the  County 
of  Londonderry"  (1837)  vol.i.,  p.  226. 

f  O'Curry  renders  the  line  "  proceeded  to  set  them  (the  blocks)  rouiid  the  house,"  "  Manners 
and  Customs,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  9. 


70 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


up  to  the  builders,  who  stood  upon  the  wall,  and  by  the  aid  of  the  terraces 
and  steps,  frequently  occurring  in  the  forts,  such  work  could  have  been 
easilj^  carried  out  without  scaffolds.* 

Signs  of  ancient  rebuilding  are  not  lacking.  Sometimes  a  patch  of  the 
wall  is  of  a  poor  and  hurried  character,  the  stones  set  on  the  slope  and  not 
fitting  against  the  other  blocks.  A  good  example  of  this  in  the  outer  ram- 
part of  Cahercommaun  has  been  illustrated.f  Another  very  interesting 
example  of  rebuilding  occui's  in  the  caher  of  Langough  in  Clare.  The 
central  caher  appears  to  have  belonged  to  the  original  design  and  to  have 
had  a  large  annexe,  j^ear-shaped  in  plan,  covering  the  top  of  the  rocky 
knoll   on  whose  precijiitous  flank  the  ring-fort  stands.     Two  long  walls, 

1  which,  after  running  nearly 
parallel  to  each  other  for  400 
feet,  turn  inward  and  probably 
formed  a  loop,  extend  into  the 
adjoining  townland  of  Rath- 
foland.  In  the  rebuilding, 
these  long  walls  and  the  pear- 
shaped  annexe  were  levelled, 
though  the  large  foundation 
blocks  remain,  and  in  their 
stead  was  made  a  strong,  but 
smaller  annexe,  crossing  and 
covering  the  foundations  of 
the  older  walls.  Curiously  enough,  the  radiating  walls  of  the  stone 
forts  of  Ballykinvarga  and  Cahershaughnessy  seem  to  pass  through  the 
central  ring-walls,  but  closer  examination  shows  that  their  lines  are  alone 
continuous,  and  that  they  abut  against  the  faces  of  the  ring-wall  instead  of 
being  covered  by  it  as  at  Langough. 

Tlie  rampart,  besides  being  built  in  longitudinal  sections,  was  sometimes 
formed  of  a  series  of  thinner  layers,  one  behind  the  other,  and  each  complete 

*  For  this  reason  we  greatly  question  the  probability  of  the  theory  that  the  builders  of  the 
Cashel  of  Skellig  stood  on  the  stones  projecting  from  the  outer  face  of  the  wall  over  the  steep 
descent  to  the  sea.  f  Journal  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxvi.  (1896)  p.  165, 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  71 

in  itself.  This  has  been  recently  denied  ;  but  no  one  who  saw  the  ramparts 
of  Dun  Aenghus  before  its  "destructive  re-edification,"  or  the  caher  of 
Feenagli,  in  Burren,  or  (as  we  had  the  "sad  good  fortune"  to  see)  the 
demolition  of  the  upper  caher  of  Ballyallaban,  could  have  any  doubt  as  to 
the  fact.  To  argue  that  "  it  would  weaken  the  wall  against  hostile  attack  " 
is  beside  the  question ;  for  escalade  and  capture,  not  the  overthrow  of  the 
wall,  was  the  besetting  peril  of  the  older  fort-builders. 

In  Dun  Aenghus,  Feenagh,  Caherbullog,  and  probably  Ball^'kinvarga, 
we  have  seen  the  well-built  face  of  the  inner  wall  exposed  by  the  fall  of 
the  outer  portion  ;  while  at  Ballyallaban,  the  two  sections  were  separate 
down  to  the  crag  on  which  the  fort  stood.  This  was  not,  however,  the 
usual  method,  which  was  effected  by  building  two  faces  of  large  blocks, 
4  to  12  feet  apart,  the  outer  face  set  to  a  slight  batter,  and  filling  the 
interspace  with  a  packed  mass  of  smaller  stones  ;  these  eventually  settling 
down  distorted  the  even  batter  into  a  curve,  simple  or  slightly  S-shaped, 
and  eventually,  in  certain  cases,  burst  out  the  facing  altogether ;  it  also  led 
to  distortion  and  settlement  in  the  upright  joints,*  and  to  the  sloping 
inward  of  the  top  stones,  and  thereby  the  retention  of  wet  in  the  walls. 
Altogether,  it  is  a  far  inferior  method  than  where  the  wall  was  built  in 
layers  where  such  destructive  settlement  is  less  apparent.  It  is  very  pro- 
bable that  later  facings  of  wall  were  added  in  some  forts — the  cases  of 
Caherbullog,  Caherscrebeen,  and  Dunbeg,  near  Fahan,  are  evidently  cases 
in  point.  In  the  first  two  it  j^receded  the  demolition  of  the  inner  and  older 
ring-wall  to  the  level  of  the  garth,  in  order  to  widen  the  area ;  in  the  last 
it  was  evidently  intended  to  contract  the  outer  opening  of  the  gateway  and 
to  strengthen  the  face ;  and,  from  the  curious  fact  that  it  was  a  little  lower 
than  the  inner  wall,  it  was  probably  never  completed.  Dun  Aenghus, 
early  in  the  last  century,  possessed  the  unusual  feature  of  a  sunken  way 
between  the  outer  and  inner  faces  of  the  upper  part  of  the  central  wall. 

The  usual  method  of  construction  was  evidently  as  follows : — The 
laying  out  of  a  roughly  circular  area,  marked  with  foundation  blocks. 
Such  a  marked- out  semicircle  may  still  be  seen  near  Cahernaspekee,  near 

*•  This  is  well  seen  in  Lord  Dimraven's  large  views  of  Staigue  and  Dun  Conor,  and  the 
views  of  Caherdooneerish  in  Jom-nal  of  R.S.A.I.,  xxxi.,  p.  4. 


72  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Ballyganner.  Then,  if  no  plinth  was  made,  the  foundation  blocks  were 
set  and  the  facings  continued  upwards.  The  outer  face  was  usually  built 
to  a  straight  batter  with  great  neatness  and  skill  and  the  filling  laid  or 
thrown  in  as  the  face  layers  were  raised.  In  some  cases  other  thicknesses 
of  the  wall  were  subsequently  added,  and  where  there  was  a  terrace  its 
steps  wei'e  possibly  utilised  to  bring  stones  to  the  builders  working  on  the 
summit.  In  some  cases  various  gangs  worked  on  certain  sections  of  the 
wall,  which  were  not  bonded,  but  only  abutted  against  the  contiguous 
sections  leaving  long  upright  joints. 

48.  Masonry. — The  masonry  varies  with  the  rocks  of  the  district.  In 
cases  where  boulders  abound,  the  stonework  is  rude,  and  the  crannies 
packed  with  smaller  stones  ;  in  shale  districts,  the  facing  is  regular,  but 
small,  and  has  rarely  escaped  collapse,  while  in  limestone  districts  the 
masonry  is  often  coursed  or  polygonal,  often  as  regular  as  ashlar,  and 
sometimes  showing  traces  of  hammer-work.  In  Kerry  we  see  igneous 
rocks,  which  break  into  "  diamond-shaped"  fragments,  used  with  excellent 
effect  to  form  a  reticulated  pattern.  The  regularity  of  the  limestone 
blocks  sometimes  led  the  builders  into  neglecting  to  "  break  joint";  and 
as  a  result  we  see  at  Cahercloggaun,  near  Lisdoonvarna,  closely  occurring 
upright  joints  a  few  feet  apart.* 

Another  kind  of  masonry,  though  somewhat  rarer  than  the  more  or  less 
oblong  blocks,  is  the  "  cyclopean."  To  it  such  undue  importance  has  been 
attached,  that  it  has  come  to  be  regarded  as  the  common  type  of  masonry 
in  our  ancient  cahers.  Vallancey  and  Betham  affected  Petrie  and  his 
school  to  an  extent  which  the  latter  would  have  indignantly  repudiated.  It 
became  a  fashion  to  treat  of  the  Irish  forts  as  though  they  were  as  massive 
as  those  of  Greece  or  Etruria ;  and  though  there  are,  as  we  have  seen, 
striking  points  of  resemblance  between  the  fortifications  of  early  Grreece 
and  Ireland,  this  fact  was  overstated.  Styles  of  masonry,  as  apparent  in 
Mashonaland  and  Peru  as  in  Greece,  were  made  the  basis  of  clear-cut 
theories  where  clearness  is  not  possible,  and  the  largest  and  most  excep- 
tional blocks  were  taken  as  a  standard  of  comparison  in  size   with  the 

*  Journal  R.S.A.L,  vol.  xxxi.  (1901),  p.  12,  illustrated. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  73 

average  masonry  of  southern  Europe,  till  readers  were  imjiressed  with 
the  belief  that  Dun  Aenghus  was  as  "well  walled"  as  Tiryns  itself. 
This  exaggeration  went  further  and  further,  till  (carried  away  by  the 
"  Cyclopean "  masonry  and  features  of  some  early  churches,  which  no 
architect  outside  Ireland  would  now  date  before  the  eighth  century)  the 
theoretic  pre-Christian  origin  of  our  churches  and  carved  higli-crosses  was 
evolved  and  published  to  the  great  detriment  of  our  reputation  for  sober 
study  in  archaeology. 

In  fact,  we  have  seen  clever  modern  "cyclopean"  masonry  built,  and 
have  admired  the  great  skill  and  judgment  of  the  workmen  in  fitting 
blocks  into  others  already  laid,  or  adapting  them  by  a  few  strokes  of  the 
hammer;  however,  none  of  this  "cyclopean"  masonry  fails  to  date  itself, 
whereas  the  modern  building  with  rude  blocks  is  deceptively  like  the 
early  stonework,  and  requires  caution  to  detect  it. 

The  forts  in  Clare  occasionally  show  hammer-work ;  but  all  these 
examj)les  lie  along  the  southern  border  of  the  Burren.  The  "chipping" 
of  the  stones  of  Grianan  Aileach,  mentioned  in  the  Dindsenchas,  is  also 
borne  out  by  the  ruin.* 

In  a  few  (possibly)  later  forts  the  lower  face  of  the  wall  or  terrace  is 
"  veneered"  with  large  slabs  set  on  edge;  as,  for  example,  at  Poulacarran, 
Cahernaspekee,  and  the  square  "moher"  near  Cashlaun  Gar. 

The  blocks  are  variously  laid,  but  nearly  always  with  much  skill ; 
sometimes  the  length  appears  in  the  face  (stretchers) ;  at  others,  the 
stronger  plan  is  adopted  of  laying  the  blocks  across  the  wall,  the  ends 
appearing  in  the  face  (headers).  The  inner  facing  is  usually  smaller  than 
the  outer. 

The  batter  varies  from  1  in  12,  to  as  much  as  1  in  5 ;  and  the  wall 
has  a  cornice  of  larger  slabs  at  Staigue  and  at  Dunbeg,  where  it  still 
remains.  A  plinth  or  projecting  base  course  is  found  at  Ballyallaban 
and  Kilcashel,  resembling  those  in  early  churches  and  tlie  round  towers. 
A  higher  plinth,  scarcely  a  foot  wide,  rises  about  3  or  4  feet  from  the 
ground,  round  the  inner  face  of  Cahercuttine  fort  near  Noughaval,  and  in 
a  stone  fort  in  Morbihan,  France.     Steps  or  very  small  terraces  run  for  a 

*  Brash,  "Ancient  Architecture  uf  Irdund,"  p.  4. 

From  HL.  IB.  ACAD.  TEAKS.,   VOL.  SXXI. PART  XIV.  L 


74  Wkstropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

considerable  distance  along  the  inner  face  of  the  wall  at  Dunbeg,  and 
on  a  larger  scale,  at  Caherconree.  Curious  arrangements  of  blocks  with 
radiating  joints  occur  in  the  outer  faces  of  Cahercommaun  and  Caher- 
screbeen,  near  Lemaneagh  Castle,  Clare :  it  is  doubtful  whether  these  were 
accidental  or  ornamental.  As  for  the  thickness  and  height  of  the  walls 
the}'  are  very  variant  even  in  the  one  fort.  A  few  examples  from  various 
counties  are  here  given  in  feet,  the  height  being  given  last. 

Donegal :  Grianau  Aileaeh,  12  to  15  by  6  ;  Loughadoon,  14  by  lOA.  <S7/^o  :  Cashelore,  10  by  10 
Deerpark  Cashel,  8  thick;  Carrowmore,  10  thick;  InnismuiTay,  7  to  15  by  13.  Caran:  Money- 
gashel,  10  by  8.  Mayo  :  Doonamoe,  8  by  18  ;  Kilcashel  13  to  12  by  9.  Galwaij  :  Caheradi-ineen, 
7  by  7;  Cahcr  Aiclne,  6  by  10;  Dun  Aenghus,  12=  by  18;  Dim  Conor,  18^  by  20; 
Dun  Onaght,  16  by  16;  Dun  Oghil,  11  by  16;  Dubh  Cathair,  16  to  18  by  30;  Dun 
Moher,  11  by  15;  Caheimugachane,  14  by  11;  Cahereugeola,  18  to  13  by  13.  Clare: 
Caherdooneerish,  13  by  13^;  Cahercloggaun,  9  by  15;  Caherbullog,  11  by  7;  Caher- 
macnaughten,  10  by  10;  Lismacsbecdy,  19  by  9  ;  Feenagh,  13A  by  14^;  Ballyallaban,  10 
by  9  ;  Caheranardurrish,  8  by  8  ;  Cahcrconnell,  12  by  14;  Cahermacnole,  1 5  by  8  ;  Cahergrillaun 

10  to  15  ;  Ballykinvarga,  14  to  19Jby  15;  Cahenninane,  8  by  9  ;  Cahercuttinc,  ll^to  12^ by  10 
Cahercommaun,  20  to  22  by  14;  Cashlaun  Gar,  10  to  ll|by  13^;  Caherscrebcen,  12  to  17 
by  7;  liallyganner,  12  by  8;  Roughan,  10  by  7;  Glenquin,  10  by  lU;  Mullach,  9  by  9 ;  Cahcr- 
shaughnessy,  12  by  18;  Cahercalla,  17  by  8;  Creevagh,  8  by  8  ;  Moghane,  13  to  17  (and 
perhaps  21)  thick.  Kerry:  Caherconor,  8J  by  7  ;  CahcrcuUaun,  9  by  12;  Dunbeg,  22  by  8 ; 
Caherconree,  14  to  17;  Staigue,  13  by  18;  Cahergel,  19^  to  12  by  14;  Caherdorgan,  9  by  9 ; 
Ballynavenooragh,  11  by  8  ;    Cahercrovdearg,  lOJ^  by  12.       Corlt:    Cashel  Knockanimid,   10  to 

11  by  6  ;    Cahermoygliar,   12  by  8. 

The  thickness  of  the  walls  thus  varies  from  4  to  22  feet,  and  the  height 
extends  to  at  least  20  feet.  The  earth  works  in  the  motes  rise  to  over 
50  feet,  but  do  not  admit  of  very  accurate  treatment ;  they  were  originally 
palisaded  or  planted  with  thorn  bushes.  We  have  noted  an  eleventh- 
century  representation  of  a  palisaded  mote  on  the  Ba3'eux  tapestry  in  the 
attack  of  Duke  William's  soldiers  on  Dinan.*  In  about  1788  we  find  an 
Irish  rath  still  used  for  defence.  "  The  garrison,  as  it  was  called,  was  a 
Danish  fort  in  form  circular,  and  planted  with  fir  trees  that  made  the  place 
so  dark  as  not  to  be  able  to  see  into  it.  The  banks  round  about  it  were 
about  18  feet  high,  with  a  stake  hedge  at  top,  and  a  deep  fosse  around  this 
in  an  open  field   on  a  rising  ground."     Sir  John  Carden  (writer  of  the 

*■  others  arc  shown  at  Dul,  Konncs  and  (perhaps)  Bayeux. 


Fig.  13.— details  OF  IRISH  FORTS 


'6 


Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


letter,  and  the  sheriff,  we  think,  of  Tipperary)  agreed  that  this  fort  could 
not  be  taken  without  artillery.* 


49.  Terraces  and  Steps. — Some  forts  have  been  alleged  to  have  re- 
tained as  many  as  four  terraces.    We  have  never  observed  more  than  three. 
SUgo,  3Iayo,   Cauan,   and  Donegal. — The  forts  are  so  much  defaced  as 
a  rule  that  nearly  every  trace  of  the  terraces  seem  to  have  disaj^peared. 
Only  one  ancient  terrace,  2^  feet  wide,  remains  at  Grianan  Aileach ;  it  is 

probable  that  others  existed, 
though  there  is,  of  course, 
no  actual  warrant  for  the  ex- 
tensive modern  rebuilding. 
To  the  right  of  the  entrance 
is  a  wedge-like  flight  of  steps 
widening  upwards  and  other 
double  flights  (V-arrangement) 
were  found  under  the  debris. 
Inismurray  Cashel  had  till 
1880  wedge-like  (V)  an-ange- 
inent  of  steps  up  the  wall,  but 
unfortunately  the  unguided 
restorers  built  the  recesses 
into  fanciful  niches,  each  con- 
taining an  inscribed  slab.  The  steps  at  Moneygashel  caher,  Cavan,  rise 
in  a  V  arrangement  like  the  last;  it  has  two  flights  of  steps. 

Clare  and  Galwaij. — The  straight  form  predominated,  the  steps  being 
very  narrow.  In  Cahercuttine,  near  Noughaval,  they  are  from  3  to 
5  inches  deep;  and  at  Caherahoagh  they  form  an  actual  ladder  hardly 
projecting  be^^ond  each  otlier,  but  having  spaces  under  each  block  for 
foot-holds.  Cahermoyle,  in  Dangan,  near  Ballyvaughan,  has  a  recess  in 
its  terrace,t  with  only  one  step  like  a  rung  across  it.       A  flight  turns 

*■■  "  Appendix  to  31st  Eeport  of  the  Deputy  Keeper  of  the  Records,"  p.  96.     I  have  to  thank 
Mr.  James  Mills  for  pointing  out  this  letter  to  me  before  it  was  published, 
f  The  terrace  is  paved  with  large  slabs. 


*-%^^'^';*^"- 


Fig.  14. — Steps  at  Moneygashpl,  Pavon. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  77 

to  the  right  from  the  terrace  at  Cahergrillaun  to  the  top  of  the  wall. 
Caherahoagh  has  two  sloped  flights  rising  in  opposite  directions.  The 
best  remaining  examples  of  steps  in  that  county  are  at  Caherfeenagh, 
Caherahoagh  ("ladder  steps"),  Cahercuttine,  and  Cahergrillaun,  but  there 
are  remains  at  Caherminane,  Cahercommaun,  Ballyallaban,  &c.  Dun 
Onacht  in  Aran,  Mullach  and  Cahercommaun,  in  Clare,  have  recesses 
probably  for  ladders  in  the  terrace  walls  ;  there  is  a  trace  of  a  long 
slojjing  ascent  at  Caherdooneerish. 

The  Aran  forts  have  been  so  much  restored,  and  that  without  proper 
record  of  the  remains  on  which  that  restoration  was  based,  that  it  is  not 
safe  to  rely  on  them  in  their  present  condition.  There  were,  however, 
in  1878,  when  we  first  examined  them,  both  straiglit  and  sloped  flights 
of  steps  in  Dun  Aenghus,  and  straiglit  flights  in  Dun  Oghil,  Dun  Conor, 
and  Dun  Moher.  Dun  Oghil  then  possessed  three  flights  to  the  S.W., 
S.,  and  N.E.,  seven  steps  in  the  first,  4  feet  wide,  and  leading  up  to  the 
terrace,  and  a  continuation  to  the  top  ;  the  steps  13  inches  high,  and 
6  inches  to  8  inches  deep.  The  south  flight  had  only  three  stones 
16  inches  high  and  7  inches  deep  ;  and  the  last  was  entirely  defaced, 
but  led  to  the  platform.  Dun  Moher  had  four  flights  of  steps,  the 
western  3  feet  8  inches  wide,  the  north-eastern  broken,  and  the  eastern 
with  three  steps,  while  the  fourth  led  from  the  terrace  (which  was  flagged) 
to  the  top  of  the  wall.  Abundant  flights  have  since  been  built.  In  Dun 
Conor  there  were,  before  the  restoration,  four  flights  of  steps,  about  five  in 
each,  though  some  must  have  been  covered  ;  another  flight  led  from  left 
to  right  from  the  terrace  to  the  top,  at  the  north.  Now  it  and  the  then 
utterly  defaced  inner  wall-face  of  Dubh  Cathair  have  got  elaborate  terraces 
and  steps.  The  lower  part  of  a  massive  flight  of  sloping  steps  rising  from 
left  to  right  remains  at  Cahergel,  near  Headford,  Galway.  Like  a  fort  at 
Mary  Gray  Hill,  Tyrone,  they  are  of  unusual  construction,  for  the  blocks 
project  from  the  face  of  the  wall  like  the  steps  of  a  modern  stile. 

The  actual  terraces  in  these  forts  are  very  variable  in  width  and  height.  For  example  : — 
Caherdooneerish,  5  feet  wide  hy  5  feet  high;  Feenagh,  lower  terrace,  4  feet  by  4  feet;  second, 
2  feet  by  4  feet ;  and  upper  terrace,  perhaps,  4  feet  by  4^  feet.  Ballykinvarga,  lower,  4  feet  by 
4  feet ;  second,  2  feet  to  4  feet  by  4  feet  to  5  feet ;  upper  broken.     Cahermoyle  Bangan,  2J  feet 


78  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

by  3  feet;  Cahercuttine,  9  to  12  inches,  and  4  feet  to  5  feet  high;  Cahergrillaun,  1  foot  to  \h 
feet  wide  ;  Glenqiiin,  2  feet  to  4  feet,  and  4  feet  to  5  feet  high  ;  MuUach,  lower  ten-ace,  2 J  feet 
by  5  feet;  upper,  4  feet  by  4  feet;  Caherahoagh,  3J  feet  by  4  to  5  feet  high;  Cahermorp 
Killeen,  3  feet  by  5  feet  high.  The  terraces  of  Dun  Aenghus,  about  3^  feet  to  4  feet.  Dun 
Onacht,  3  feet  deep,  and  6  feet  or  7  feet  high,  with  3  recesses,  4  feet  or  5  feet  deep,  as  at 
Mullach  in  Clare. 

The  size  of  the  steps  vary,  as  larger  blocks  could  in  some  cases  be  procui'ed  and  were 
always  preferred.  They  were,  in  Caherdooneerish,  2^  feet  long  ;  Cahergrillaun,  IJ  feet 
long,  10  inches  to  15  inches  high,  and  12  inches  to  16  inches  tread ;  Caherfeenagh,  3  feet  long, 
10  inches  high,  3  inches  or  4  inches  tread;  Cahercuttine,  3}  feet  long,  10  inches  high,  3  inches  or 
4  inches  deep  ;  and  2^  feet  long,  6  inches  to  8  inches  high,  and  3  inches  to  4  inches  deep. 

Kerry. — The  terraces  are  sometimes  replaced  by  platforms,  and  the 
steps  run  up  the  wall  in  X  shaped  arrangements  or  bays,  as  strikingly  seen 
at  Staigue  fort  and  Ballycarberry.  Staigue  has  ten  bays  of  X  steps ;  and 
though  the  steps  are  of  small  shapeless  blocks,  far  inferior  to  those  in  Galway 


Fig.  15.— Staigue  Fort,  Kerry. 

and  aare,  the  arrangement  is  easily  discernable.  For  defensive  purposes  it 
was  inferior  to  the  terraces  and  steps,  as  one  could  only  pass  on  the  level  at 
the  top  and  bottom  of  the  wall.  Cahergel  has  three  terraces  2  feet,  2|  feet, 
and  21  feet  wide,  the  wall  being  12|  feet  at  top  and  19  feet  at  base,  and  the 
whole  14  feet  high.  It  has  eight  bays  of  X  steps.  Cahersavane  has  con- 
tinuous terraces  and  no  steps.  Dunbeg  has  three  low  steps  or  terraces ; 
and  the  liss  of  Caherdorgan  to  the  south  of  the  stone  fort  of  that  name 
and  the  "Rath  Caher"  of  Bally heabought,  have  low  earthen  terraces 
faced  with  dry  stone. 

For  steps  other  than  in  the  terraces  and  inner  face  of  the  wall  we  only 
know  of  five  flights :  tlie  rock  cut  steps  ascending  the  east  face  of  Doon 
hill  fort,  above  Kilfenora,  Clare,  the  block  steps  leading  up  the  knoll  to 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  79 

the  ruined  gate  of  Ballyshanny  fort  near  the  same  village,  two  at  Lough- 
nacrannagh,  Antrim,  and  those  at  the  Giant's  Sconce  in  Londonderry. 

50.  Gateways. — The  regularly-built  gateways  of  early  stone  forts  are 
some  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  primitive  building,  and  are  very 
rare  outside  Ireland,  the  best  examples  being,  perhaps,  tliose  of  Tre  Ceiri 
in  Wales  and  Maen  promontory  fort  in  Cornwall  ;*  but  tlie  doorways  of 
clochauns  and  those  of  the  Scottish  brochs  ai'e  closely  similar. 

In  Irish  literature  we  find  many  allusions  showing  us  how  familiar  to 
the  ancient  inhabitants  was  the  stone  gateway  of  a  fort.  It  is  noteworthy, 
however,  that  the  gateway  with  side  posts,  though  most  frequently  named 
in  our  books,  is  rarest  in  our  ruins. |  A  poem  of  Flan  Mainistrech  (c.  1050) 
mentions  "a  pillar  stone  in  the  principal  gate  of  the  caher";J  and  in  the 
Mesca  Ulad,^  warriors  are  mistaken  for  "stone  columns  at  the  doors  of 
these  royal  raths,"  which  gets  an  interesting  illustration  from  our  ruins, 
notably  the  trilithon  gate  of  the  rath  near  Renvyle,  Galway.  One  of  the 
stone  forts  named  in  the  Voyage  of  Maelduin  had  a  stone  slab  with  a  hole 
in  it,  closing  its  gateway  on  the  seaside,  and  had  another  gateway  facing 
the  plain. II  The  outer  entrance  of  the  souterrain  in  the  fort  of  Mortyclough, 
Clare,  was  actually  closed  by  a  movable  slab.  Another  fort  in  the  same 
story  had  a  "  brazen  door  and  drawbridge,"  while  "  The  Demon  Chariot  of 
Cuchullin  "^  tells  us  of  Dunsciath  with  doors  and  ramjoarts  of  iron.  For 
the  holed  slab  we  probably  find  equivalents  in  those  lying  near  the  gate 
of  Dunbeg,  near  Fahan,  and  at  Cahercullane,  near  Dingle.  One  has  also  been 
found  in  a  promontory  fort  in  Dalmatia.  Traces  of  a  drawbridge  jjrobably 
exist  in  Doon  Fort  near  Kilf enora ;  we  find  a  gaj)  in  the  rampart  and  a 
square  jjlatform  projecting  fi'om  the  ojiposite  side  of  the  rock-cut  fosse, 
evidently  to  su^iport  a  removable  plank  or  bridge. 

Trilithon  doorways  with  side-posts  and  lintels  are  found  at  Renvyle 
and  Caherribert,  in  Galway,  Cahercuttine,  Caherminane,  Dangan,  Bally- 
kinvarga,  and  Rannagh,  in  Clare;  and  some  other  forts.     Upright  slabs 

*  Royal  Inst.  Cornwall,  vol.  i.  (1864),  p.  8.  §  Todd  Lectui'e  Series,  R.I.A.,  p.  21. 

t  "  Hunting  of  Sliabh  Triiim,"  p.ll5.  ||  Bevtie.  Celtiqtie,  ix.  (1888),  p.  451,  &c. 

X  "Book  of  Feenagh,"  p.  131.  ^  R.S.A.I.,  i.,  ser.  iv.  (1870),  p.  385. 


80  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

form  gateposts  at  Ballynavenooragh  and  Fahan  in  Kerry,  or  great  side- 
blocks,  as  in  the  Cashel  of  Rathmichael  in  Dublin  and  Caheradrine  in 
Galway.  The  more  common  type  has  got  sides  of  coursed  masonry, 
slightly  inclined  jambs,  and  large  lintels.  In  some  cases  double  lintels  occur, 
a  relieving  one  lying  overhead,  as  at  Staigue  in  Kerry  and  Caheranardur- 
rish,  Clare.  Perfect  examples  of  such  doors  are  found  at  Inismurray, 
Sligo ;  Dun  Aenghus  (two),  Galway  ;  Kilcashel,  Mayo  ;  Caheranardurrish, 
Poulcaragharush,  Lisananima  and  Moheramoylan,  Clare  ;  Dunbeg,  Kerry  ; 
and  Cahermoygliar,  Cork.*  Defaced  ones  are  found  in  numerous  forts. 
For  example,  at  Grianan  Aileach,  Dun  Oghil,  Dun  Conor,  and  many 
Galway  forts ;  Caherconree,  Caherconor,  and  many  other  Kerry  forts;  Caher- 
grillaun  (a  most  massive  examjjle)  and  many  other  Clare  forts,  and  several 
in  Mayo,  Sligo,  Donegal,  and  Cork.  The  type  is  also  familiar  in  Scottish 
brochs  and  forts. 

Variants  of  this  type  have  a  corbelling  towards  the  upper  part  to  reduce 
the  unsupported  span  of  the  lintel,  as  at  the  cliff  fort  of  Cashlaun  Gar,  and 
in  Kilcashel,  or  slabs  projecting  like  door-jambs  from  the  sides  of  the 
passage,  as  in  Ballynavenooragh  and  the  Fahan  forts.  We  also  noticed 
this  feature  in  the  shore  brochs  of  Keiss  in  northern  Scotland. 

Dunbeg  fort  near  Fahanf  has  one  of  the  most  elaborate  and  interesting 
gateways  occurring  in  early  forts.  It  consists  of  a  large  passage  from 
3  feet  6  inches  to  4  feet  6  inches  wide  ;  and  at  about  9  feet  from  the  entrance 
it  abruptly  widens  to  7  feet.  The  whole  is  paved  and  roofed  with  lai-ge 
slabs.  Closer  examination  shows  that  the  wide  passage  is  original  and  ran 
through  the  older  wall  for  about  16  feet.  A  later  wall,  7^  feet  thick,  Avas 
built  outside  of,  but  in  contact  with,  the  older,  having  a  contracted  entrance 
and  a  recess  on  each  side,  probably  for  a  beam  or  sliding  barrier.  The  older 
part  had  on  each  side  a  small  guard-room,  each  with  a  "  spy  hole  "  running 

*  To  give  a  few  examples  of  large  lintels,  we  select: — Ballykinvarga,  6  ft'et  by  12  inches 
by  2  feet  7  incbes  ;  Cabercuttiue,  8  feet  6  inches  by  2  feet  by  1  foot  2  inches ;  Caheranardurrish, 
8  feet  2  inches  by  1  foot  6  inches  by  9  inches  ;  Staigue,  5  feet  10  inches  by  9  inches  by  2  feet ; 
Dangan  (Burren),  8  feet  10  inches  by  1  foot  6  inches  by  10  inches. 

I  See  excellent  plans  by  Mr.  E.  A.  S.  Macalister,  Trans.  E.I. A.,  vol.  xxxi.,  plate  xx.,  and 
ilr.  Lynch,  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxviii.  (1898),  pp.  325-328. 


Westropp— ?%e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


81 


aslant  and  looking  across  the  entrance.  Tlie  right  or  western  room  had 
also  a  long  recess  continued  into  the  passage,  and  at  the  opposite  side  of 
the  latter  for  a  sliding  beam.  The  spy-hole  of  the  left  or  eastern  guard- 
room is  closed  by  the  later  pier.  It  has  been  carefully  planned  by  Mr, 
P.  J.  Lynch,  by  myself,  and  by  Mr.  R.  Macalister,  the  plan  by  Du  Noyer 
being  undoubtedly  most  inaccurate.  An  underground  passage  remains 
beneath  the  entrance,  and  raised  way  through  the  outworks.  It  was 
probably  intended  to  enable  the  garrison  to  sally  and  assail  an  attacking 
band  in  the  rear. 


The  gateway  of  Ballykinvarga  Caher  is  approached  by  a  sunken 
passage  through  the  abattis,  tliis  passage,  as  at  Tiryns  and  elsewhere, 
turning  to  the  right  (and  possibly  intended  to  expose  the  right  and 
unshielded  side)  of  anyone  approaching  the  wall.* 

The  low  doors  of  Innismurray  cashel  are  also  exceptional  in  forts, 
but  are  similar  to  entrances  not  uncommon  in  souterrains  ;  the  outer  ope 

*  Can  this  approach  with  the  right  side  to  the  object  have  only  had  a  luck-bringing 
intention?  and  did  friendly  visitors  make  a  "desiul"  round  the  fort  before  entering? 

From  RL.   IR.  ACAB.  TRANS.,   VOL.  XXXI. PART  XIV.  M 


82  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

is  much  lower  than  the  inner,  an  abrupt  rise  in  the  floor  taking  place  in 
a  domed  chamber  where  an  enemy  would  lie  at  a  deadly  disadvantage 
against  any  defender  of  the  passage. 

The  doors,  as  a  rule,  face  the  south  or  east,  though,  where  the  fort  is 
built  among  rocks,  the  position  of  the  gateway  depends  on  the  ground, 
being  turned  to  some  accessible  ledge  or  track ;  but  the  gateway  at 
Cashlaun  Gar  is  built  upon  the  only  precipitous  ridge  less  than  10  feet 
high  and  was  evidently  reached  by  a  ladder.  At  all  other  points 
were  either  a  high  cliff  or  accessible  slopes,  and  both  were  avoided  by 
the  door-builders. 

Some  forts  present  a  perfect  face  without  any  trace  of  a  gateway  ; 
they  may  have  been  also  intended  to  be  entered  by  a  ladder,  but  care  has 
to  be  used  in  asserting  the  fact,  for  unless  the  whole  outer  face  can  be 
examined,  a  doorway  may  have  existed ;  for  example,  at  Roughan  fort,  we 
long  believed  we  had  established  the  want  of  a  gateway,  but  found  that 
remains  existed  under  bushes  on  the  inner  side,  and  that  its  narrow  ope 
less  than  a  yard  wide  was  hidden  on  the  outer  face  by  bushes  and  debris. 

To  enumerate  the  size  of  a  few  gateways  (giving  the  compass  point,  and,  if  possible,  the 
height)  we  may  select : — Li  Donegal — Grianan  Aileach  (S.),  3  feet  8  inches  to  3  feet  10  inches  ; 
Cashelore,  2  feet  by  2  feet  6  inches  high.  In  Londonderry — Giants'  Sconce,  5  feet.  In  SUgo — Innis- 
murray,  main  gate  (W.),  3  feet  5  inches  to  3  feet  by  6  feet  3  inches  high.  In  Galtcag— Dim 
Aenghus  (E.),  3  feet  5  inches,  and  6  feet  6  inches  high  ;  Dim  Onacht  (E.),  5  feet  9  inches  ;  Dun 
Conor  (N.E.),  6  feet  3  inches;  BaUynasean,  2  feet  6  inches  ;  Caherribert  (W.),  3  feet  2  inches 
to  2  feet  10  inches  by  4  feet  10  inches.  In  Cavan — Moneygashel,  3  feet  8  inches.  In  Mayo — 
Dunnamoe  (E),  3  feet  8  inches.  Kilcashel  4  feet  9  inches  wide  and  about  6  feet  high.  In 
Clare — Caheimoyle-Dangan,  2  feet  6  inches;  Caherdoonerish  (E.),  2  feet  8  inches;  Ballyganner 
South,  2  feet  9  inches,  passage,  6  feet  9  inches  (E.);  Ballyelly  (W.),  2  feet  10  inches;  Caher- 
commaun  (N.),  Poulacarran  (N.E.),  Caheimore  Eoughan  (E.),  all  3  feet;  C'ahercuttine  (S.S.E.), 
Ballyganner  North  (E.),  all  4  feet  2  inches;  Caheranardunish  (E.),  6  feet  high,  Eannagh 
(S.S.E.),  Poulcaragharush  (E.),  Moheramoylan  (S.),  and  Caherahoagh  (S.E.),  all  4  feet  4  inches; 
Cashlaun  Gar  (E.N.E.),  5  feet  2  inches;  Ballykinvarga  (S.S.E.),  5  feet  9  inches;  Cahermacrole 
(E.S.E.),  and  Cahergrillaun  (S.S.E.),  8  feet  and  8^  feet,  but  perhaps  only  in  the  passage,  and 
not  at  the  gateway.  In  Kerry — Dunbeg  (N.),  3  feet  6  inches ;  Caherconor,  "  Fort  of  the 
"Wolves"  (E.),  4  feet  4  inches;  Caherdonnell  (Cahemamairtinigh)  (E.),  3  feet  9  inches;  Staigue, 
inner  3  feet  6  inches,  outer  5  feet  2  inches  ;  Ballynavenooragh,  4  feet  6  inches ;  Caherconree 
(E.),  7  feet  6  inches,  perhaps  only  in  passage ;  Cahermurphy  (^N.W.),  2  feet  3  inches  to  3  feet. 
In  Cork — Caheimoygliar,  2  feet  8  inches. 


Westijopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


83 


It  may  be  seen  that  among  these  examples  the  width  varies  from 
2  feet  6  inches  to  5  feet  2  inches,  and  the  height  from  2  feet  6  inches  to 
6  feet  6  inches. 

51.  Abattis  and  Pillars. — In  ancient  Ireland  pillars  were  set  near 
forts,  frequently  close  to  the  entrance.  Several  of  these  occur  at 
the  forts  of  Cork  and  Kerry ;  we  only  recall,  in  Clare,  a  small 
example  in  the  fosse  of  a  rath,  on  the  hill  overlooking  the  great 
stone  fort  of  Cahershaughnessy. 


r  A 


•^n.  '^  "   -  ft 


In  mediaeval  Irish  literature,  the 
Tdin  B6  Cuailgne  mentions  "a 
pillar-stone  on  the  green  before  a 
dun";  the  "Mesca  Ulad  "  speaks 
of  a  "pillar-stone  outside  the  fort 
which  all  the  Clanna  Degad  could 
not  lift,"  and  of  stone  columns 
raised  to  shelter  horses  and  houses 
from  the  snow  near  Knockaney 
fort  in  Limerick* ;  but  we  are 
not  aware  of  the  existence  of  any 
certain  allusion  to  an  abattis  or 
chevaux  defrise.  This  is  not  sur- 
prising when  we  consider  that 
these  obstacles  are  only  found 
in  wild  and  remote  corners  of 
Ireland,   the   only    ones   of  any 

importance  being  in  North-western  Clare  and  the  neighbouring  Isle  of 
Aran.  We  find  at  Dun  Aenghus,  between  the  second  and  outer  ramparts,  a 
band  of  fixed  pillar-stones  60  to  80  feet  wide  ;  the  pillars  as  a  rule  3  and 
4  feet  high,  and  set  closely  together.  A  still  more  interesting  example 
girds  the  great  caher  of  Ballykinvarga  in  Clare  ;  it  varies  from  50  to 
100  feet  wide,  of  close  set,  low  pillars,  jagged,  and  sharp,  and  smaller 
spikes  set  between  them  ;  a  most  painful  and  dangerous  tract  to  traverse  in 


-> 


•.;*r>«>^ 


SO 


100  F! 


Fig.  17. — Abattis,  Ballykinvarga,  Clare. 


*  "  Tain,"  as  quoted  in  "  Feis  tighe  Chonain,"  p.  79.     "  Mesca  Ulad,"  pp.  17-21 


M  2 


84  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

peace,  and  probably  too  dangerous  for  attack  in  war.  The  outer  edge  is 
kerbed  with  large  blocks  and  an  earth  mound  ;  the  greater  width  to  the 
N.W.  is  accounted  for  by  a  decided  alteration  in  the  setting  at  about  40 
or  50  feet  from  the  fort  whence  the  spikes  are  more  apart,  and  were 
probably  an  afterthought  or  a  still  later  addition.  The  largest  block 
in  the  outer  kerbing  is  7  feet  by  2  feet  7  inches  by  1  foot  thick,*  and,  with 
its  smaller  but  massive  neighbours,  forms,  to  modern  minds,  a  most 
dangerous  shelter  for  an  attacking  force,  once  they  had  rushed  over  the 
open  field.  The  abattis  at  Dubh  Cathair  in  Aran  is  a  slight  structure 
compared  to  the  two  first  examples,  and  still  less  (scarcely  worthy  of  the 
name)  is  that  at  Dunnamoe,  Mayo,  a  band  of  small  blocks  scarcely  rising 
a  foot  above  the  soil.  The  late  Dr.  Frazer  had,  in  his  collection,  a  plan 
of  a  cliif  fort  in  the  mountains  north  of  Anascaul  to  the  west  of  Dingle, 
in  Keriy,  the  ground  before  which  was  sti'ewn  with  large,  loose  blocks. 

The  feature  is  not  confined  to  the  forts  of  Ireland  ;  we  find  it  at  Pen 
Caer  Helen  in  Wales,  the  pillars  standing  in  rather  open  ranks  with  sharp 
slate  splinters  set  between  the  larger  stones ;  and  otliers  exist  at  Cademuir 
and  Dreva  in  Scotland. f  Castel  Coz,  at  Finist^re,  in  Brittany,  has  a  double 
line  of  pillars  as  an  obstacle  between  the  walls,  and  running  across  the 
headland. J  A  "  Ring-berg  "  at  Laufen,  in  Berne,  Switzerland,  has  a  semi- 
circle of  stones  on  its  defended  side  ;  and  the  outer  ring  of  the  great 
"  Bauerberge  "  on  Mohne,  in  the  Baltic,  has  an  earth-mound  set  with  large 
stones  closely  resembling  Ballykinvarga.  Perhaps,  akin  to  such  defences 
is  the  line  of  pillar-stones  across  a  projecting  headland  in  Kerry,  the  clifF 
near  it  bearing  the  suggestive  name  of  Doonroe. 

Pillars  exist  in  groups  near  certain  forts  in  Cork  and  Kerry :  in 
the  former  we  find  a  "  gallan,"  or  pillar,  and  a  defaced  dolmen  at  Bally- 
nabortagh  fort  (0.  S.  Map  52),  and  others  at  forts  near  Cahertruce  and 
Cappaboy ;  but  the  subject  of  Cork  forts  lias  been,  as  usual,  unworked, 
and  we  have  been  able  to  do  ver}'  little  in  the  district  which  (save  for 

*  Journal,  U.S.A. I.,  vol.  xxvii.  (1897),  p.  125,  illustration. 

f  Archaeological  Journal,   vol.  sxv.,  p.  228.       ArcLEeologia  Cambrensis,   ser.  iv.,  vol.  xii., 
p.  345.     Dr.  Christison's  "  Early  Foi-tifications  of  Scotland,"  pp.  22.5,  226.     See  fig.  4,  supra. 
\  "  Archseologia  Cambrensis,"  ser.  iv.,  vol.  i.  (1870),  p.  286  ;  and  fig.  4,  supra. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  85 

the  endless  labours  of  John  Windele,  so  forg'otten  and  neglected  by  j^resent 
antiquaries)  has  been  almost  unnoticed  by  Irish  workers.  Not  far  from 
Annagh  Church,  Kerry,  are  a  caher  and  eight  pillars,  10  feet  apart;  six 
of  these  have  fallen.  Various  theories  have  been  put  forward,  the  least 
satisfactory  of  which  the  "monumental"  theory*  supposes  the  abattis  of 
Dun  Aenghus  to  be  a  cemetery.  No  one  who  had  seen  the  serried  ranks 
of  pillars  at  it  or  Ballykinvarga  could  have  ever  for  an  instant  conceived 
of  such  an  explanation  for  such  defences,  but  in  the  case  of  the  above 
"detached"  gallans  it  may  hold  good.  For  other  purposes  of  such 
"detached"  pillars,  we  may  perhaps  find  a  clue  in  a  poem  of  Seanchan 
{c.  A.D.  640)  in  the  Book  of  Lecan,t  which  mentions  "a  stone  of  meeting 
by  the  three  mounds  of  walled  fortresses";  and  in  the  chartulary  of 
Aberdeen,  where  Alexander  Steuart,  Lord  of  Badenoch,  is  recorded  to 
have  held  a  court  of  regalityj  "  apud  le  standand  stanes  de  la  Rath  de 
Kingusie."  The  latter  earthen  fort  is  still  extant,  but  the  pillars  have 
been  removed,  doubtless  for  building  material.  The  Lebor  na  hUidhre 
mentions  "pillar-stones  erected  to  commemorate  victories";  but  without 
records  we  cannot  tell  whether  any  of  these  gallans  are  dumb  witnesses 
of  forgotten  bloodshed.  We  have  noted  the  pillars  in  a  stone  fort  at 
Edentinny,  and  there  are  others  in  forts  in  Cork,  Armagh,  Donegal, 
Tip])erary,  and  one  in  a  small  ring  at  Rathcroghan. 

52.  Traverses. — The  absence  of  walls  to  embarrass  any  assailant  who 
gained  the  interior  of  the  fort  has  been  noticed  in  Scotland  and  other 
countries.  Many  of  the  Irish  cahers,  however,  have  an  elaborate  and 
confusing  system  of  radiating  walls,  small  enclosures,  and  other  impedi- 
ments; some  of  these  maybe  of  modern  date  ("  folds,"  &c.),  but  many 
command  or  obstruct  the  entrance  in  a  way  suggestive  of  defence.  The 
gateway  of  Caherconor  (the  so-called  "Fort  of  the  Wolves")  in  Kerry 
opened  into  a  small  court,  whence  a  narrow  passage  ran  between  two 
huts  into  a  maze  of  other  passages  and  open  spaces.  In  Cahermurphy, 
not  far  away,  a  successful  capture  of  the  gateway  would  have  left  the 

*  "  Pagan  Ireland,"  p.  186.     Col.  Wood-Martin  doubts  this  theory. 

t  "  Book  of  Lecan,"  p.  17.  %  Dr.  Christison,  "  Early  Fortifications  of  Scotland,''  p.  13. 


86  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

enemy  hampered  in  another  deathtrap.  Cahercommaun,  in  Clare,*  has  a 
most  curious  arrangement  of  radiating  walls  and  a  long  passage.  Caher- 
connell,  Ballyallaban,  and  Caherscrebeen  have  cross  walls.  Ballykinvarga, 
Clare  (like  Castle  Chun  in  Cornwall),  has  a  close  row  of  small  enclosures 
projecting  from  the  wall  and  one  loop  beside  the  gate.  Dun  Oghil,  in 
Aran,  seems  to  have  had  ancient  radiating  walls,  and  sucli  occur  at 
Cahershaughnessy  and  Cahercalla,  near  Quin ;  Cashel,  in  Cork ;  Mogliane 
and  the  Grianan  Aileach ;  while  the  earthen  fort  near  Sliannid,  Limerick, 
has  cross  mounds  populai-ly  said  to  have  been  made  for  cannon. 

53.  Streets  and  Greens. — Cormac's  Glossaryf  mentions  a  ramhat, 
"an  open  space  or  street,  before  the  forts  of  Kings  every  neighbour 
whose  land  comes  up  to  it  is  bound  to  clear  it."  The  green  was  a 
sufficiently  important  feature  in  tribal  life  to  be  regulated  by  the  ancient 
laws ;  so  we  find  the  Book  of  AicillJ  alluding  to  rules  for  hurling  on  the 
green  of  a  chief  cathair,  and  for  preventing  the  erection  of  structures  on 
it,  save  when  connected  with  the  games.  In  some  cases  the  green  was 
elaborately  fenced,  if  we  may  trust  the  "  Mesca  Ulad,"§  which  names 
"  chains  firmly  fastened  to  the  seven  pillars  that  are  on  the  green  outside" 
the  fort.  We  do  not  know  any  example  of  an  enclosed  or  marked  green, 
but  at  Caheraneden,  near  Ballyganner,  Clare,  a  broad  roadway  leads 
southward  from  the  fort  for  about  500  feet,  as  far  as  a  fallen  dolmen. 
It  was  evidently  formed  by  removing  the  uneven  upper  surface  of  the 
rock,  leaving  the  lower  and  less  weathered  layer  to  form  a  pavement. 
The  traces  of  another  ancient  road  at  Usnach  is  well  marked ;  another 
roadway  connected  with  the  legend  of  the  Black  Pig  remains  in  Kildare, 
running  from  a  fort  to  a  mote,  and  straight  for  Dun  Ailinn,  and  an  ancient 
paved  road  adjoins  Knockra  Caher  in  Donegal.  It  has  been  suggested, 
but  perhaps  doubtfully,  that  the  lower  enclosures^  of  motes  may  represent 
such  "greens." 

*  See  plan,  section  96. 

f  Quoted  in  the  Introduction  to  the  "  Book  of  Rights."  It  is  noteworthy  that  "  Raw  "  in 
Scotch  and  English  names  is  '  straight  street '  or  '  row.' 

\  "Book  of  Aicill,"  (Senchus  Mor,  vol.  iii.),  p.  253.  §  "Mesca  Iliad,"  p.  43. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  87 

54.  Outworks. — We  may  class  outworks  as  bastions,  annexes,  bauns, 
fosses,  earthworks  and  sunken  ways.  The  loop  of  wall,  forming  a  side  en- 
closure to  so  many  of  our  forts,  and  rising  to  no  little  size  and  importance, 
at  Dun  Conor,  in  Aran,  is  nearly  always  less  thick  and  lofty  than  the  main 
fort.  Ithas  equivalent  enclosures  in  earthen  forts  and  probably  was  used  as 
a  baun,  and  marks  an  advance  in  comfort  and  cleanliness.  The  presence  of 
thin-walled,  circular,  or  straight-sided  enclosures,  without  steps,  terraces  or 
hut-sites,  near  several  cahers  in  Clare  and  Kerry  {e.g.  Cahernaspekee,  Cash- 
laun  Gar  and  Cahercullaun)  are  also  very  probably  for  cattle,  as  wolves  and 
marauders  must  have  abounded  in  those  wild  j^laces  and  times.  We  must, 
it  is  true,  regard  DuNoyer's  "  Fort  of  the  Wolves"— Cahernamactirech— as  a 
misreading  of  "  Cahernamartinech  "  the  name  of  a  neighbouring  fort;  but 
there  was  a  "  Cahernam'^tire  "  in  Clare  in  Elizabethan  times,  which  is  pro- 
bably the  fort  still  named  Cahermacateer ;  and  the  many  places  (with  forts) 
called  Breffy  tell  of  the  presence  of  "the  grey  beast"  near  human  settle- 
ments. Near  the  massive  stone  fort  of  Cahermacrea,  Clare,  we  find  a  thin- 
walled  oval  ring-wall  enclosing  a  space  three  times  the  diameter  of  the  caher  ; 
it  was  very  probably  a  baun,  and  is  called  Cahermacrea  on  the  maps. 
Smaller  forts  are  sometimes  embedded  in  the  ramparts  of  larger  ring-walls 
in  Scotland,  Wales,  and  Ireland,  Moghane  being  the  most  noteworthy 
Irish  example.  They  could  scarcely  have  preceded  the  great  walls,  as 
these  are  far  more  defaced  and  of  different  and  ruder  blocks.  We  might 
regard  them  as  precursors  of  the  bastions  and  towers  in  later  fortresses  ;  but 
it  is  equally  possible  that  they  were  built  upon  and  out  of  the  main  walls, 
because  the  latter  had  fallen,  and  were  too  extensive  for  the  wants  of  the 
later  iudwellers.  We  see  forts,  one  on  a  rock,  included  in  the  lines  of  the 
huge  "Dane's  Cast"  in  Down,  and  of  the  "Worm-ditch"  in  Cavan,  but 
not  (so  far  as  I  know)  in  the  extensive  lines  of  Duncladh  in  Longford, 
which  has  forts  lying  near  it,  but  never  seems  to  have  joined  them  or  had 
any  such  constructions  in  its  own  earthworks. 

Sometimes  a  stone  fort  had  a  trench  round  it,  like  Staigue,  or  a 
rock-cut  fosse,  like  the  forts  of  Doon  (Clare),  Tara,  and  the  great  Mote  of 
Slane  (Meath).  The  Doon  fosse  is  a  beautiful  work  curved  and  sloped 
most  regularly,  with  a  square  projection  for  a  drawbridge  or  foot-plank 
and  rock-cut  steps.     There  is  a  rock-cutting  faced  with  a  dry-stone  wall 


88  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

before  the  gate  of  Ballyallaban  calier,  Clare.  Sunken  ways  are  found 
leading  from  some  motes  to  rivers  ;  they  are  found  in  several  British 
forts,  e.g.  Linhope  in  Yorkshire  and  also  at  the  great  motes  of  Dromore, 
Down,  and  Dundermot,  Antrim,  Dunbought  rock  fort  near  the  last,  and 
MuHacreevagh,  Westmeath.  Tlie  covered  way  at  Mycenae  vnll  be  re- 
membered as  leading  to  a  well  outside  the  fortress.  The  walled  sunken 
way  through  the  abattis  of  Ballyldnvarga,  and  the  long  souterrain  under 
the  raised  entrance  mound  of  Dunbeg  (at  any  rate,  in  the  latter  case) 
more  propei'ly  belong  to  defences  unconnected  with  the  water-supply. 
The  trenches,  concentric  or  otherwise,  girding  so  many  of  our  forts,  will 
be  noted  in  the  section  treating  of  the  typical  examples. 

55.  Souterrains  and  Cells  in  Ramparts. — The  subject  of  souterrains, 
"  caves,"  "  ooans,"  &c.,  is  of  sufficient  inde^Dendent  importance  to 
form  the  subject  of  a  separate  essay,  but  a  brief  notice  of  those 
forming  essential  features  in  forts  is  necessary  for  the  greater 
completeness  of  our  studies.  Caesar,  in  his  Commentaries,  notes  the 
skill  of  the  Gauls  in  making  subterranean  retreats.  Souterrains  a^^jjear 
in  Irish  works,  and  one  Irish  "earth-house"  is  recorded  in  the  Landna- 
mabok.  Leif,  the  first  Norwegian  settler  in  Ireland,  found  a  great  under- 
ground house  (lardhus),  nearly  dark,  and  inhabited  by  an  Irishman 
whom  he  slew,  and  took  his  goods  and  sword,  being  ever  after  called 
Hiorleif,  or  "Leif  of  the  Sword."*  The  Dindsenchas,t  in  its  legend 
of  Tipra  Sengarman,  tells  how  Finn  (after  the  avengers  of  his  victim 
Cuirech  had  wrecked  Croch,  Dun,  Cathair  Comfossad,  and  Caisil 
Gannain)  found  that  the  raiders  were  hidden  in  an  underground  cave  at 
Carn  daim  derg,  and  dug  them  out;  only  one  escaped,  "for  there  is  no 
destruction  without  at  least  one  fugitive."  The  spirit  of  Chuchullin,  in  the 
legend  of  the  "Demon  Chariot,"  tells  King  Laoghaire  of  his  plundering 
raid  to  the  horrible  fort  of  Dunsciath,  which  had  iron  ramparts,  doors,  and 
souterrain.  In  "  Cormac's  Glossar)^,"J  Nede  pursues  Caier  with  dogs  into 
a  fort,  and  finds  him  hidden  under  the  flagstone  behind  it.§ 

*  "Landnamabok,"  Parti.,  chap.  v.  f  Revue  Celtiqtie,  1894,  p.  447. 

X  "  Coi-mac's  Glossary,"  p.  xxxix. 

§  The  previous  papers  on  fort  souterrains  are  given  in  the  excellent  list  in  Col.  Wood-Martin's 
"  I'agan  Ireland,"  pp.  204-212  and  p.  647. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


89 


The  simplest  form  of  souterrain  is  walled  with  dry  masonry,  and 
covered  with  long  slabs  or  pillars.  Several  of  these  "  caves"  have  yielded 
ogham  inscriptions,  on  roof-stones  which  had  been  taken  from  some  old 
burial-place,  as  at  Drumloghan  in  Waterford,  Dunloe,  near  Killarney, 
the  "cave"  at  Rathcroghan  in  Roscommon,  and  one  at  Carncomb,  near 
Connor  in  Antrim.  The  last  had  a  side  passage,  and  varied  from  5  feet 
3  inches  to  2  feet  9  inches  wide,  tapering  upwards.     The  souterrains  in 


"T^'-'-^M 


Him,, 


Fig.  18. — Soutorrain  in  Gurteen  Fort,  Westmeath, 


cahers  in  the  Burren  are  usually  a  natui'al  cleft  or  a  quarried  passage  in 
he  rock,  the  sides  built  with  small  stones,  and  a  roof  of  slabs,  hut  no 
pillars.  These  passages  are  straight,  "  C  "  curved  or  "  S  "  curved,  or  "  L  " 
shaped  in  plan,  and  are  seldom  more  than  3  feet  wide,  though  some  are 
6  feet  high  ;  they  sometimes  lead  outside  the  fort  passing  under  the  wall. 
One  in  Cahermacnole,  near  Carran,  is  of  considerable  length,  close  on 


From  UL.  lu.  acad.  tuans.,  vol.  xxxi. — pari  xiv. 


IS" 


90  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

100  feet,  but  with  that  exception  the  longest  measured  in  that  district 
seldom  exceeded  20  feet.  The  curved  souterrain  in  the  western  caher 
at  Ballyganner  South  is  6  feet  8  inches  wide  and  5  feet  high  ;  the  roof 
slabs  rest  on  cornices  projecting  12  inches  on  either  side. 

A  more  elaborate  form  has  got  boat-shaped  or  bee-hive  cells  with 
corbelled  roofs  ;  these  seem  widespread  from  Meath  to  Kerry.  A  beautiful 
example  has  been  described  by  Rev.  W.  Falkiner  in  the  Proceedings  of 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy.*  It  is  in  the  inner  earthwork  of  a  rath  at 
Gurteen  (Westmeath),  and  has  three  domed  chambers ;  the  most  note- 
worthy feature  is  a  shelf  across  the  under  passage  giving  access  to  the 
main  gallery. 

A  very  fine  souterrain  over  50  feet  long  lies  under  the  graveyard  to  the 
S.E.  of  Killala  Cathedral  (Mayo).  In  digging  a  grave,  the  roof  of  a  bee- 
hive cell  was  broken  in,  and  by  this  means  only  access  is  given  to  the 
structure.  From  the  circular  cell  which  is  6  feet  in  diameter,  narrow 
passages  about  2  feet  wide  run  east  and  west,  and  from  the  eastern  side  wing, 
which  is  25  feet  long,  but  is  partly  stopped,  a  similar  passage  leads  south- 
ward ;  while  a  larger  opening  to  the  north  gives  entrance  to  three  oblong 
chambers,  two  6  feet  wide  by  18  feet  and  8  feet  6  inches  long,  and  4  feet 
high  ;  and  a  thii'd  5  by  15  feet,  which  has  an  opening  to  a  chamber  of 
equal  size  to  the  east.  The  shape  of  the  ground,  and  a  considerable  bank 
show  that  this  was  the  souterrain  of  a  large  rath  in  which  the  church  was 
founded,  t  The  church  of  Glencolumbkill  (Donegal)  has  near  it  a  souter- 
rain, and  is  in  the  ambit  of  another  rath. 

Meath  abounds  in  such  structures ;  they  are  frequently  disclosed,  like 
that  of  Killala,  by  a  collapse  of  a  domed  cell ;  we  need  only  cite  a  good 
example  with  two  cells  near  Clady  Church,  and  others  at  Blackcastle  and 
Slane,  but  in  many  instances  there  is  no  evidence  to  connect  them  with 
forts.  The  most  remarkable  feature  in  any  souterrain  connected  with  a 
fort  in  Meath  is  at  Crossdrum,  near  Oldcastle,  where  Mr.  E.  C.  Rotheram 
discovered  two   "ventilating"  shafts,  one  in  the  innermost  cell.     This 

*  Vol.  v.,  ser.  iii.,  p.  211.     We  utilise  the  accompanjing  plan. 
t  Explored  by  Mr.  R.  Cochi'ane,  Journ.  R.S.A.I.,  1898,  p.  292. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  91 

"cave"  had  also  an  excellent  example  of  an  "obstacle"  entrance  from 
the  outer  passage  through  the  floor  of  the  inner  one.* 

Perhaps  some  of  the  most  curious  in  western  Ireland  are  those  near 
Mortyclough  (Clare),  at  the  S.E.  corner  of  Galway  Bay.  One  lies  in  Park- 
more  rath,  a  double  ringed,  circular  fort,  120  feet  internally,  and  214  feet 
over  the  fosses,  the  ramparts  being  stone-faced.  The  souterrain  is  about 
6  feet  square ;  it  opens  in  the  middle  of  the  fort,  and  runs  S.W.  for  20  feet 

6  inches,  being  built  with  fair-sized  stones,  and  roofed  with  slabs.  The 
passage  ends  in  a  wall ;  but  an  opening  in  the  roof  gives  access  to  a  chamber 

7  feet  by  6  feet  by  4  feet,  and  a  second  trap-door  leads  down  to  another 
chamber  at  right  angles  to  the  first,  14  feet  by  10  feet  by  6  feet,  whence, 
from  the  end  farthest  from  the  entrance,  another  small  passage  leads  out 
through  the  rampart ;  its  opening  was  closed  by  a  slab  4  feet  square. 

A  somewliat  similar  "  cave "  remains  in  Mortyclogh  fort ;  and  lesser 
but  equally  complex  passages  are  found  in  the  angle  of  Clare  near  Kilkee 
and  Carrigaholt.  One  passage  in  the  stone  fort  of  Cahermaclancy,  near 
Lisdoonvarna,  ended  in  a  very  deep  pit  leading  down  to  water  at  an 
unknown  depth,  and  another  in  the  neighbouring  fort  of  Caherglasha 
had  side  cells.  The  Kerry  "caves"  are  numerous,  and  of  great  interest. 
Those  under  the  gateway  of  Dunbeg,  and  in  the  caher  of  Ballynave- 
nooragh,  are  noted  elsewhere,  and  we  need  only  allude  to  those  connected, 
not  only  with  forts,  but  even  with  detached  huts,  at  Fahan.  Many  are 
only  straight,  without  side  cells;  but  we  meet  exami)les,  "dumbbell  shaped" 
in  plan,  and  one  "wine-glass  shaped"  in  plan  lies  in  Cahernuadh.f 
Cooslughoga  "cave,"  Mayo,  has  cup-marks  on  its  pillars. J 

Closely  cognate  with  the  souterrain,  and  also  with  the  passages  in  the 
Scottish  brochs,  are  the  passages  and  cells  in  the  thickness  of  the  walls  of 
certain  cahers.  We  have  noted  the  strange  recesses  in  the  great  rampart 
of  Dunbeg.     The  entrance  to  a  cell  (but  no  chamber)  is  found  in  the  inner 

*  Jouriiiil  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxvii.,  p.  426.  For  other  information  by  the  same  author,  see 
"  Caves  in  tlie  Slieve  na  Callighe  district,"  Proc.  R.I. A.,  ser.  iii.,  vol.  iii. ;  and  "  Ballinvally  Stone 
Fort,"  Journal  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxix.,  p.  259.     Ventilating  shafts  also  occiu-  at  Ardflnnan  Rath. 

t  See  Mr.  R.  Maoalistcr's  plans  in  Trans.  R.I. A.,  vol.  xxxi.,  plates  xxi.  and  xxii. 

\  Sir  W.  Wilde's  "Lough  Corrib,"  p.  206. 

N  2 


92  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

wall  of  Dun  Aenghus,  and  tradition  told  of  others,  not  now  discoverable, 
in  Dun  Conor  and  Dubh  Cathair.  A  passage  "  high  enough  for  a  man  to 
stand  up  in,"  but  now  inaccessible,  occurs  inside  the  rampart  of  the  caher  of 
Kilcashel  (Maj-o)  for  about  20  feet.  A  small  oblong  chamber  remains  in  the 
monastic  casliel  round  the  cells  and  oratory  on  Illaunatannig,  but  the  most 
striking  examples  are  in  the  forts  of  Grianan  Aileach  and  Caherconor("  the 
Fort  of  the  Wolves")  at  Fahan.  From  the  plans  of  these  forts,  as  given 
by  DuNoyer,  it  would  appear  that  (as  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  case  in 
some  of  the  Dartmoor  "pounds,"  where  walls  with  hollow  centres  remain) 
these  passages  ran  tln-ough  the  greater  part  (if  not  all)  of  the  wall.  The 
detached  passage,  in  the  southern  segment  of  Caherconor,  was  probably 
continuous  with  the  N.W.  segment,  and  it  should  seem  that  the  builders  of 
the  large  hut  (marked  "h"  by  DuNoyer,  and  "b"  by  Mr.  Macalister*) 
broke  into  and  closed  the  passage;  the  northern  section  has  now  nearly  dis- 
appeared, and  the  other  reaches  are  inaccessible.  But  as  Mr.  Macalister's 
researches  do  not  bear  this  out,  we  write  with  every  reserve. 

The  recesses  in  the  entrance  of  Grianan  Aileach  (if  not  for  doors)  may 
be  built-up  portions  of  the  passages  remaining  in  the  walls  to  either  side  of 
the  gate.  A  passage  remains  in  the  eastern  segment  of  Cahernamairtin- 
each  (DuNoyer's  caher,  No.  8,  Windele's  Caherdonnell),  which,  strange  to 
say,  is  (like  the  fort-name)  overlooked  in  DuNoyer's  plan,  though  Windelef 
mentions  its  existence,  and  it  is  now  sufficiently  visible.  DuNoyer's  plan 
of  this  caher,  and  indeed  all  the  plans  in  his  paper  on  Fahan  are  very  far 
from  accurate. 

Cells  in  the  wall  occur  in  several  Kerry  forts  beside  Dunbeg.  Staigue 
has  two,  neatly  domed  and  with  low  doors ;  defaced  cells  occur  in  the 
wall  of  Ballynavenooragh,  as  given  in  a  plan  in  Dr.  Frazer's  collection  ;% 
there  is  also  a  fine  souterrain  15  or  20  feet  long,  10  feet  high,  and  5  feet 
wide,  with  a  lateral  chamber  in  the  middle  of  the  fort,  and  within  a  hut- 
site.  A  cell  is  shown  in  the  wall  of  a  nameless  clifE-fort  in  a  plan  in  the 
same  collection.    So  far  as  we  can  identify  it,  it  is  on  Dromaville  Mountain, 

*  Archaeological  Journal,  xv.,  1858,  pp.  9-10.     Trans.  R.I. A.,  vol.  xxsi.,  Plate  xii. 
f  Mss.  R.I. A.,  Windele's  Sketches,  vol.  2,  p.  238,  Supplement. 
%  See  figure  2 1 . 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  93 

2  or  3  miles  north  of  Annascaul  (Kerry),  at  Carrig-na-Spania,  and  is  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  ruin  or  house  locally  attributed  to  Cuchullin. 
That  hero  is  said  to  have  carried  off  a  Spanish  lady  who,  endeavouring 
to  escape  down  the  cliff,  fell  and  was  killed,  giving  her  name  to  the  rocks 
on  the  summit  of  which  the  caher  is  placed.  A  cell  (not  noticed  by  Mr. 
Wakeman)  is  traceable  in  the  wall  of  Dunnamoe,  Mayo. 

56.  Wardens'  Huts. — Wardens'  huts  present  a  difficult  subject ;  although 
a  "  seat"  before  the  fort  is  mentioned,  and  in  some  cases  watch  was  kept 
therefrom,  there  is  little,  if  anything,  in  the  ruins  which  even  externally 
resembles  a  guard-house.  The  most  authentic  case  is  Dunbeg  (Kerry),  where 
we  have  two  cells  with  "squints"  and  straight  opes  commanding  the  entrance 
passage.  If  the  galleries  in  the  wall  at  Grianan  Aileach,  Caherconor 
(Fahan),  and  Cahernamairtineach,  ever  opened  into  the  door-passage,  we 
might  put  them  into  the  category.  Huts  frequently  remain  inside  the  forts 
near  the  gateway ;  but  then  others  existed  in  other  places  in  the  garth. 
At  the  time  of  the  first  Ordnance  Survey  there  were  two  huts  (one  to  each 
side  of  the  gateway)  outside  the  wall  of  Dunnamoe  (Mayo)  ;  but  these  are 
not  shown  in  Mr.  Wakeman's  plan.  DuNoyer  shows  a  small  cell  in  the 
wall  as  opening  outwards  beside  the  gate  of  Caherconor  ("  the  Fort  of  the 
Wolves ") ;  but  we  could  not  find  it  in  the  ruin  or  any  other  examples 
except  of  the  most  doubtful  nature  in  some  hundreds  of  cahers  which  we 
have  been  able  to  examine  in  the  west  of  Munster  and  Connaught. 

57.  Holed  Stones,  Bullauns,  Oghams,  and  Carvings. — Holed  stones 
were  found  at  CahercuUaun  and  Dunbeg,  and  bullauns  near  a  nameless 
caher  in  Tullycommaun,  Clare.  Natural  basins,  closely  resembling  the 
worked  bullauns,  appear  near  other  forts  in  Clare  and  Galway ;  but,  as 
similar  examples  are  found  in  the  crags  far  from  any  fort,  and  numbers 
of  artificial  basins  are  found  near  dolmens  and  in  old  "  killeens,"  we 
may  regard  their  appearance  near  forts  as  accidental. 

Stones,  with  Ogham  inscriptions,  have  been  found  in  forts,  for  exanijjle, 
the  Dunbell  raths  and  the  remarkable  pillar  in  Dunmore,  near  Slea  Head 
(Kerry) ;  their  consideration  lies  outside  the  present  essay.  As  for  non- 
religious  (Christian)  carvings,    Mr.    Macalister  has    figured  some  curious 


94  Wkstropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

ones  of  uncertain  age,  but  probably  post-Christian,  from  the  Fahan  group  ; 
those  at  Clochan-bothair-an-trasnuig  display  crosses,  stars,  and  nondescript 
scorings  and  figures.  One  at  Catbairmurphy  (Caber  of  Glenfaban) 
has  Maltese  and  other  crosses,  spirals,  and  waved  lines,  forming  a  rude 
guilloche,  and  ruder  interlacings,  a  conventional  human  figure,  and  a 
cryptic  Ogham  stem,  "lmcbtm",  perhaps  a  mere  charm.  Another, 
from  Cahernamairtineacb,  has  "O+Vre."  We  have  found  among  the 
Clare  forts  a  scribing  at  Cahercommaun  resembling  "yoc§-|-"  ;  and  one,  a 
line  with  five  cross-strokes,  in  the  caber  near  Newmarket  House,  Clare. 
A  few  rude  circles  and  crosses  occur  on  stones  in  forts  at  Ballyganner 
and  Caberfenagh.  The  Cahercommaun  stone  seems  to  be  worked  by  some 
idler,  who  scraped  the  mark  of  a  weathered-out  fossil  brachiopod  into  an 
"  (•,"  and  by  some  other  cuttings  joined  and  made  shapely  tlie  natural 
weatber-cracks.  Indeed  we  may  question  whether  any  purpose,  deeper  or 
more  intellectual  than  the  idler's  natural  love  for  scribbling  and  whittling, 
underlies  these  mysterious  markings.  It  is  much  more  wonderful  that  a 
people  with  so  exquisite  a  taste  for  ornament  in  metal,  &c.,  and  who,  even 
in  a  remoter  past,  could  cover  the  graves  of  their  chieftains  with  elaborate 
ornaments  and  hide  their  work  in  darkness  and  "  long  night,"  could  not 
(or  would  not)  spend  some  of  their  abundant  leisure  by  carving,  were  it 
ever  so  rudely,  the  door-posts,  lintels  and  pillar-stones  of  their  ancient 
fortresses. 

58.  Remains  of  Dwellings. — The  timber  structures  in  our  forts  have 
of  course  perished  without  leaving  a  trace,  and  we  can  only  replace  them 
doubtfully  from  our  literature,  which  is  often  very  rhetorical  and  exagger- 
ated in  such  matters.  Of  those  buildings,  in  which  stone  was  only  partly 
used,  we  cannot  speak  with  very  much  confidence ;  but  of  the  stone  huts 
numbers  remain  in  such  excellent  preservation  that  the  difficulty  lies  rather 
in  selecting  and  condensing  than  in  procuring  the  material. 

Connuught. — The  huts  in  the  Sligo  forts  have  left  little  trace  ;*  those 
in  the  Cashel  of  Innismurray  are  very  probabl}^  entirely  monastic.  At 
Dunnamoe  (we  learn)  that  tbe  circular  clochauns  before  the  door  have 

*  The  building-  within  Grianan  Aileach  was  mortar-liiiilt,  ;ind  is  said  to  have  been  a  late  chapel. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  95 

vanished  ;  but  three  huts  remain  against  the  inner  face  of  the  main 
rampart.  Tliey  are  built  against  the  wall  near  the  entrance,  and  form 
semicircles ;  they  are  beehive  huts,  averaging  9  feet  across,  and  4  feet 
6  inches  the  height  from  the  ground  to  the  spring  of  the  roof ;  the 
doorway  of  the  more  eastern  remains,  facing  the  north.*  The  huts,  if  any, 
have  entirely  vanished  from  Dun  Aenghus,  and  were  reduced  to  almost 
untraceable  rings  of  foundation  in  Dubh  Cathair.  In  Dun  Conor  a  very 
interesting  group  remains  at  the  southern  end  of  the  garth  which  strongly 
suggests  a  group  in  Tre  Ceiri.  It  has  been  largely  rebuilt ;  but,  so  far  as 
we  can  judge,  it  preserves  the  plan  of  the  foundations  as  we  saw  them  in 
1878,  long  before  the  wholesale  rebuilding  was  inaugurated. 

Clare. — The  Clare  forts  are  not  rich  in  huts,  and  those  that  remain,  from 
the  small  amount  of  debris  and  other  indications,  were  probably  roofed  with 
timber  and  "  scraws"  of  sod,  like  the  "  booley  huts,"  put  up  by  herdsmen 
in  summer  in  the  Connemara  district,  which  consist  of  low,  dry-stone 
walls,  and  are  covered  with  a  "tent"  of  "  scraws."  A  hut-site,  D-shaped 
in  plan,  and  18  feet  internally,  remains  in  the  garth  of  Lismacsheedy  cliff 
fort,  near  Ballyvaughan.  A  group  of  five  conjoined  cells  abut  against  the 
rampart  of  Mohernacartan,  on  Slievenaglasha.  There  is  a  souterrain  in 
the  same  fort.  The  four  neighbouring  forts  of  Cahercommaun,  Cashlaun- 
gar,  Knockaun,  and  Mohernaglasha,  all  exhibit  huts,  but  of  somewhat 
doubtful  age.  Cahercommaun  had  five  small  huts  inside  its  outer  wall ; 
three  were  oblong ;  two  of  these  adjoin  radius  walls,  and  two  were  semi- 
circles, a  third  semicircular  hut  is  against  the  outer  face  of  the  second  wall, 
and  a  round  hut  is  embedded  in  the  line  of  the  central  radius  wall,  just 
within  the  foundation  of  the  second  ring.  The  only  hut  of  any  size,  27  feet 
by  18  feet,  lies  about  50  feet  outside  the  fort.  The  ruins  of  four  round 
huts,  two  conjoined,  remain  in  Cashlaun  Gar,  also  one  beehive  hut,  the 
dome  of  which  has  collapsed  ;  another  remains  in  Mohernaglasha  ;  its  low, 
lintelled  door  was  on  the  point  of  falling  five  years  ago.  The  structure 
does  not  appear  to  be  very  ancient.  In  Knockaun  Fort  is  a  much  more 
curious  structm-e.     The  fort  itself  is  a  thin-walled,  rude  rectangle,  and 

*  Mr.  W.  F.  Wakeman,  in  Joui'iial  R.S.A.I.,  1889,  p.  182. 


96  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

within  it  lies  a  straight-sided  enclosure  of  slabs  set  on  end.  There  was  a 
doorway  in  the  middle  of  the  southern  line,  and  it  had  a  flat  block  on 
either  side,  most  probably  for  a  seat.*  On  the  north  side  a  jjassage  ran 
under  the  blocks  to  a  short  souterrain  covered  by  one  large  slab,  7  feet 
square ;  the  enclosure  is  about  20  feet  each  way,  and  is  not  square.  In  the 
Glensleade  group,  we  only  recall  one  well-marked  hut-site,  a  semicircle, 
inside  the  wall  and  adjoining  the  gateway  of  Cahernamweela.  Ballyallaban 
Caher  has  the  foundation  of  a  circular  hut  and  an  oblong  building,  36  feet 
by  15  feet,  with  sloped  walls.  In  the  Ballyganner  forts  there  are  no 
apparent  foundations  of  circular  huts ;  but  one  enclosure  of  thin  walls 
faced  with  slabs  surrounds  a  small  oblong  foundation  of  slabs  set  on  end 
— a  more  perfect  example,  illustrated  in  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Society 
of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland, f  lies  a  short  distance  outside  the  wall  of 
Caheraneden,  and  rings  of  slabs  set  on  end  remain  in  Ballyganner 
South,  near  the  forts  on  the  hill ;  near  the  walled  cromlech  in  Ballyganner 
North,  and  near  Cahercuttine,  in  the  latter  townland,  where  one  encloses 
the  entrance  of  a  small  souterrain. 

Three  small  round  huts  lay  in  the  middle  of  the  garth  of  Ballykinvarga 
caher,  and  a  large  oval  hut  in  the  neighbouring  Caherlahertagh  ;  and 
except  three  of  those  very  small  huts  (usually  considered  to  be  kennels) 
in  the  upper  Cahei-bullog,  one  in  the  Ballyelly  group,  and  traces  of  three 
in  Cahershaughnessy,  the  remains  in  the  other  forts  are  doubtful,  while 
all  have  suffered  the  extreme  of  overthrow  and  nearly  the  extreme  of 
demolition. 

Kerry. — Kerry,  undoubtedly,  holds  the  key  to  the  study  of  Irish 
Clochauns  in  forts ;  they  exist  in  hundreds,  and  many  are  quite  perfect. 
We  will  only  note  a  few  of  the  more  typical,  none  the  less  that,  in  a 
previous  part  of  Transactions  R.I. A.,  Mr.  R.  A.  S.  Macalister  has  most  fully 
examined  and  given  many  plans  of  the  magnificent  group  at  and  near 
Fahan.  We  have  as  yet  noted  only  two  huts  consisting  of  a  group  of 
cells,  namely,  those  at  Dun  Conor  and  Mohernacartan ;  groups  of  cells, 
now  become  common  enough,  and  are  as  a  rule  well  preserved. 

*  See  figure  13.     A  seat  also  occurs  in  a  recess  of  the  passage  in  Grianan  Ailcach. 
t  Journal,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  120. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  97 

We  find  in  Ballyheabought  caher  not  only  a  semicircular  hut  against 
the  wall  but  a  round  clochaun  divided  into  two  by  a  later  wall  and  opening 
into  a  "  bedchamber  or  small  semicircular  annexed  liut,"  a  passage  of 
flags  set  on  end  leads  from  the  door  round  the  northern  side  of  the  main 
clochaun  into  an  oblong  hut,  now  much  demolished.  The  clochaun  in 
Caher  Gel  is  8  feet  high,  the  wall  5  feet  thick.  In  Cahirdorgan,  near  the 
deeply  interesting  church  of  Kilmalkedar,  is  a  group  of  beehive  huts ;  the 
north-western  is  about  15  feet  diameter,  and  9  feet  high ;  the  south  door 
oblong  and  lintelled  ;  the  north-eastern  is  the  same  size,  the  door  facing  the 
east ;  south  of  it  is  a  large  cell ;  its  top,  as  usual  in  the  Smerwick  forts,  has 
collapsed;  it  measures  12  feet  in  diameter,  and  is  about  10 feet  high  ;  the 
door  facing  the  S.W.  is  lintelled,  and  measures  2  feet  4  inches  by  4  feet. 
Attached  to  the  south  side  of  the  last  is  a  small  hut,  which  is  11  feet  9  inches 
long  and  5  feet  wide;  the  ridge  is  of  7  flags,  and  the  door  faces  N.  W., 
2  feet  10  inches  high,  and  1  foot  4  inches  wide,  the  wall  being  2  feet  thick. 
Near  the  gate,  if  indeed  the  gap  be  a  gate,  is  a  very  small  oval  hut  or 
kennel.  A  souterrain  is  said  to  reach  from  this  fort  to  the  village ;  the  fort 
has  a  wall  from  9  feet  to  13  feet  thick,  and  the  garth  is  nearly  90  feet 
across. 

Six  huts  adjoin  the  inner  face  of  the  wall  at  Carrig-na-Spania  fort,  and 
three  lie  outside.  A  fort  at  Ballynavenooragh,  near  Dingle,  is  noteworthy 
for  its  souterrain,  and  also  has  two  conjoined  cells,  the  eastern  21  feet 
in  diameter,  the  walls  from  3  feet  9  inches  to  4  feet  6  inches  thick;  it 
has  doors  to  the  east  and  west,  the  former  3  feet  wide,  and  has  a  paved 
and  kerbed  path  to  the  eastern  gateway  which  is  4  feet  wide  with  sideposts 
of  slabs  set  in  the  centre  of  the  wall,  as  at  Fahan  and  the  Keiss  brochs.  The 
western  door  4  feet  9  inches  wide  opens  into  a  second  cell  9  feet  wide,  and 
over  the  souterrain ;  it  has  a  second  door  to  the  north  2  feet  6  inches  wide. 
There  are  some  of  those  small  slabs  set  on  end  in  the  floors  of  huts  such 
as  are  found  at  Fahan  and  Holyhead  in  Anglesea ;  the  ope  or  trap-door 
leading  to  the  souterrain  is  3  feet  wide ;  as  already  noted,  there  are  defaced 
chambers  or  passages  in  the  wall  which  is  1 1  feet  thick  and  had  steps  and 
tkree  terraces. 

To  deal  with  the  Fahan  huts  (such  as  lie  in  cahers)  would  be  going  over 

From  EL.   IE.  ACAD.  TEANS.,   VOL.  SS.\I. —  PABT  XIV.  0 


98  Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

well-worked  ground  ;  Caheruamairtineacli  has  a  "  warden's  hut "  in  the 
gateway  ;  it  looks  into  the  passage  in  the  wall ;  north  of  this  are  two  oval 
foundations  and  the  remains  of  two  curious  cells  conjoined,  and  almost 
B-shaped  in  plan ;  farther  westward  is  a  fairly  perfect  hut  forming  one  of 
a  conjoined  group  of  three  ;  the  southern  portion  of  the  middle  room  was 
screened  ofif  by  a  curved  wall ;  the  third,  a  southern  hut,  is  rudely  rect- 
angular, with  rounded  corners  ;  in  Du  Noyer's  time  a  very  small  round 
"kennel"  remained  to  the  north  of  the  main  door.  Behind  this  triple  hut 
are  two  other  sites,  one  irregular  in  plan,  but  perfect,  and  6  feet  high ;  the 
other  was  circular  and  nearly  levelled.* 

Sometimes  circular  pits  occur  in  or  round  forts  of  sufficient  regularity 
to  suggest  "  dug-out"  huts.  We  have  found  them  round  a  fort  in  Caher- 
minane ;  numerous  circular  hollows  down  the  green  slope  on  which  the 
caher  stands.  They  possibly  resembled  one  we  noted  a  few  years  ago  at 
Mweenish  in  Connemara.  It  was  dug  out  of  a  sandhill,  the  roof  resting 
like  a  cover  over  it,  and  was  sheltered  by  a  low  wall.f   It  is  of  modern  date. 

59.  Water  Supply. — So  far  from  endeavouring  to  secure  an  unfailing- 
supply  of  water  within  their  walls,  the  fort-builders  were  careful  rather 
to  exclude  any  well  or  spring  that  rose  near  the  site  selected  for  their 
enclosure.  Strange  to  say,  this  curious  fact  was  not  confined  to  Ireland ; 
it  has  left  its  mark  on  the  greatest  literatures  of  the  world.  We  recall 
the  pathetic  incident  of  the  well  at  the  gate  of  Bethlehem  whence  intruders, 
though  with  risk  of  bloodshed,  could  draw  water;  or  those  springs  before 
the  gates  of  Ilium,  where  the  ladies  had  washed  their  robes  in  peace 
before  the  Achaeans  came,  and  to  which  the  fated  Hector  ran,  pursued 
by  his  deadly  foe.  Schliemann  found  two  springs  400  yards  from  the 
citadel  of  Hissarlik,J  and  Tsountas  mentions  a  spring  325  feet  east  from 
Mycenae,  which  fortress  had  to  trust  to  water-supply  outside  its    walls. 

*  Fully  described,  Trans.  R.I.A.,  xxsi.,  p.  247. 

f  An  illustration  appears  in  a  paper  by  Charles  Browne,  M.U.,  in  Proe.  K.  I.  A.,  ser.  iii., 
vol.  vi.,  p.  524,  Plate. 

J  Scliliemami,  "  Troy  and  its  remains,"  p.  194.  "  Mycense  and  Tiryns,"  p.  40.  Tsountas, 
"Mycenaean  Age,"  p.  40. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  99 

Hirtius  also  records  how  Uxellodunum  was  reduced  by  the  Romans, 
because  its  only  spring  lay  outside  the  walls.*  The  same  fact  appears 
in  Irish  Literature.  Columba,  Adamnan  tells  us,  j^rophesied  that  the 
well  near  the  fort  Dun  Ceithern  (The  Giant's  Sconce)  should  be  defiled 
with  human  blood.  "The  Colloquy  of  the  Ancients"  mentions  "a 
hidden  well  to  the  south  side  of  a  fort "  which  is  suggestive  of  the 
spring  hidden  in  the  abattis  to  the  south  of  Ballykinvarga  caher.f  The 
"Voyage  of  Maelduin"J  also  tells  of  a  "fountain  flowing  past  a  fortress," 
and  apparently  filling  its  fosse. 

This  peculiarity  probably  sprang  from  a  wish  to  avoid  the  pollution 
of  the  water  supply ;  there  was,  too,  comparatively  little  risk  of  blockade. 

Lack  of  water  in  the  "Celtic"  forts  seems  the  rule  everywhere. 
We  find  no  example  of  an  included  well  in  any  description  of  a  fort  in 
Bosnia  or  Bohemia.  The  Schlossberg,  in  Alsace,  has  a  spring  a  short  dis- 
tance from  its  wall.  Dr.  Christison  notes  that  nineteen  out  of  twenty  forts 
in  Pembrokeshire  have  no  water-supply,  and  that  the  same  is  generally  true 
of  Scottish  forts. §  Caerconing,  in  Cornwall,  has  a  well  40  or  50  yards 
distant  from  its  rampart.  St.  Margaret's  Well,  in  Kirkcudbright,  lies  near 
the  promontory  fort  called  Raehurn  Castle.  While  Stokesleigh  Camp,  near 
Clifton  Suspension  Bridge,  on  the  Avon,  has  an  ancient  pool  outside  its 
enclosure, II  and  the  promontory  fort  of  Llanunwas,  in  Pembrokeshire,  has 
a  well  and  stream  before  its  outer  mound. 

Among  Irish  forts  we  may  note  that  the  wells  Neamhneach  and  Laegh 
lie  respectively  70  and  230  yards  from  the  nearest  forts  at  Tara.  The 
Mote  of  Slane  is  160  yards  from  the  Abbey  well.  The  nearest  water 
to  Dun  Aenghus  is  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant.  Cahercommaun 
is  730  yards  from  the  streams  of  Teeskagh  ;5|   while  at  Innismurray  the 

*  "  De  Bello  Gallico"  (appendix  by  Aldus  Hirtius),  Lib.  vui.,  cap.  xli. 

t  Adamnan's  "  Life  of  St.  Columba  "  (Ed.  Eeeves),  pp.  93-96.      "  Silva  Gadelica,"  vol  ii., 
p.  195;  see  also  pp.  103-131. 

\  "Voyage  of  Maelduin"  {Revue  Celtique,  vol.  ix.,  1898),  section  xvii. 

§  Dr.  Christison,  "  Early  Fortifications  of  Scotland,"  pp.  227,  228. 

II  "  Bristol,  Past  and  Present"  (Nicbolls  and  Taylor),  vol.  i.,  p.  7. 

^  There  may  have  been  a  nearer  spring,  but,  if  so,  it  lay  some  distance  down  a  steep  crevice 
path  called  Scalpduff  leading  down  the  precipice  to  the  east. 

0  2 


100  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

wall  of  the  Cashel  actually  bends  from  the  circle  to  exclude  a  spring. 
The  promontory  forts  are  usually  waterless,  but  the  motes  are  fre- 
quently on  or  near  a  stream,  and  sometimes  had  a  sunken  way  leading 
to  the  water. 

Occasionally,  however,  a  well  is  found  in  a  "Celtic"  fort.  We  hear 
of  a  well  with  three  pillars  in  the  fort  of  Duntrileague  in  Limerick,*  and 
of  the  "  lowly  fort  in  which  is  a  little  well."t  Grimspound,  on  Dartmoor, 
has  a  well  in  its  rampart.  Chun  Castle  stone  fort  in  Cornwall  has  one  in 
its  garth  ;  and  Berry  Hill  fort,  near  Winterbourne,  not  very  far  from 
Bristol,  has  a  well  inside.  In  Ireland,  Cahercrovdearg,  Kerry,  has  an 
undoubted  holy  well  with  a  rude  altar  and  stations ;  while  Cahermackerrila, 
in  Killeany  parish,  Clare,  is  said  to  enclose  another  well  dedicated  to  St. 
Colman  Mac  Duach.  We  do  not  recall  other  examples  in  the  fort-abound- 
ing districts  along  the  Atlantic,  but  a  few  inland  raths  have  springs  in  their 
fosses  or  in  the  outer  rings. 

60.  Places  of  Assembly.  — Both  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  as  was  to  be 
expected,  assemblies  were  held  at  or  in  forts.  This  was  especially  the 
case  with  the  motes,  and  is  maintained  to  this  day  at  the  Tyndwall  in  the 
Isle  of  Man.  Most  unfortunately  the  ancient  Thingmote  of  the  Norsemen 
of  Dublin  (which  stood  between  St.  Andrew's  Church  and  Trinity  College, 
on  the  site  occupied  by  a  block  of  houses)  was  levelled  to  fill  up  the  lower 
edge  of  the  College  Park  when  the  present  Nassau-street  was  made.  The 
Thingmote  was  a  large  terraced  mound,  apparently  without  a  fosse.  At 
Greenmount  mote  in  Louth,  and  several  motes  in  Wicklow  and 
Wexford,  similar  traditions  of  assembly  or  "  jDarliament "  exist.  The 
mote  of  Magh  Adhair  was  the  actual  mound  used  for  the  inauguration 
of  the  Dalcassian  Kings  and  as  such  was  used  down  to  the  reign  of 
Elizabeth.  In  it  we  apparently  find  a  good  example  of  the  sepulchral 
mound  becoming  the  place  of  an  assembly  or  fair,  and  thence  for  its 
publicity  becoming  the  place  of  installation  for  the  local  kings.     Professor 

*  "  Silva  Gadelica,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  130,  "  a  good  caher,  in  the  midst  was  a  well." 
t  Cormac's  "  Glossary"  (Ed.  W.  Stokes),  p.  liii. 


Wksteopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  101 

Sullivan  cites  a  case  of  a  king  using  a  sepulchral  mound  as  a  place 
of  council.*  The  "  Annals  of  Ulster,"  in  a.d.  803,  tell  how  "  the  senators 
of  the  Qi  Neill  met  in  Dun  Cuair." 

The  place  of  inauguration  of  Hy  Fiachra  Aidne,  in  southern  Galway, 
consisted  of  a  stone  fort  enclosing  a  venerated  birch  tree,  the 
"  Rovehagh."  It  was  destroyed,  as  already  related,  in  1143,  but  has 
left  its  name  to  our  davs. 

61.  The  Question  of  the  Heights  of  the  Forts  above  the  Sea.— 
This  has,  perhaps,  been  made  too  weighty  a  question.  On  our  mild 
western  coast,  a  fort  on  the  sheltered  side  of  a  mountain,  1000  feet  above 
the  sea,  would  have  been  a  more  comfortable,  if  not  also  a  safer  and 
healthier,  residence  than  on  a  bleak  inland  plain  or  a  stormy  valley ;  and 
how  a  valley  can  concentrate  a  fierce  and  bitter  storm  into  an  intensity 
unknown  even  on  the  plateaux  above  it,  those  best  can  know  who  have 
worked  in  the  field  as  well  as  in  the  study.  The  following  are  the  heights 
of  a  few  of  our  most  loftily-seated  forts: — Mac  Art's  fort,  Antrim,  1181 
feet  above  the  sea;  Caherconree,  on  Slieve  Mish,  Kerry,  2050  feet; 
Aghaglinny,  near  Black  Head,  Clare,  1045  feet;  Rathcoran,  Wicklow, 
1256  feet;  Cuchullin's  House,  Kerry,  about  1700  f  ee't ;  Caherbla,  Kerry, 
about  1926  feet.  At  Fahan  and  in  the  Burren,  the  forts  and  clochauns 
seldom  lie  farther  up  the  hillsides  than  700  or  800  feet. 

62.  Forts  lie  across  the  Country  in  line  with  each  other. — Many  ex- 
amples might  be  given  in  Ireland,  and  some  in  Scotland  and  Hungary  ;  but 
we  need  only  consider  the  very  striking  cross-lines  of  forts  near  Kilfenora, 
Clare— the  one  begins  at  Caherkyletaan,  running  southward  through  Caher- 
cuttine,  a  dolmen,  Caherawalsh,  Cahernaspekee,  a  nameless  square  "moher," 
and  the  fort  of  Ballyganner  south,  to  the  great  dolmen  on  the  hill  above 
Bally ganner  Castle.  The  cross-line  commences  at  the  "  moher,"  above 
the  wall-circled  dolmen  in  Ballyganner  north,  and  passes  through  Caher- 
aneden,  a  ring-wall  with  a  slab-hut,  Cahernaspekee  and  the  lesser  and 
greater  cahers  of  Ballykinvarga,  to  the  prominent  hill  fort  of  Doon. 

*  "  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Ancient  Irish,"  p.  638. 


102  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

63.  The  occurrence  of  Forts  close  to  Dolmens,  Pillars,  and  Circles,  is 
a  very  equivocal  fact.  Whether  one  of  them,  or,  if  so,  which  object,  was 
first  constructed  is  hard  to  say.  In  some  cases  we  may  presume  that  the 
pillars  and  smaller  cists  and  cairns  were  later  than  the  fort ;  but  the 
comparative  ages  have  yet  to  be  fixed.* 

64.  Selection  of  a  Sloping  Site  for  a  Fort. — This  was  recognised 
by  the  ancient  Irish  in  such  names  as  Claen  rath,  and  is  a  phenomenon 
of  very  common  occurrence  among  both  Irish  and  Scotch  forts.  The 
selection,  apart  from  questions  of  drainage,  may  have  arisen  from  a 
wish  to  secure  a  situation  at  once  lifted  above  the  mists  of  the  plain,  and 
yet  sheltered  from  some  prevailing  wind,  which  would  have  been  violent 
on  the  more  level  summit.  Strange  to  say.  however,  the  garth  is  not  as  a 
rule  "  terraced-up  "  to  a  level,  as  could  very  easily  have  been  done ;  but  a 
similar  carelessness  of  an  uneven  garth  appears  in  many  cahers  whose 
interior  has  rough  outcrops  of  rock,  and  is  often  more  uneven  than  the 
fields  outside  the  walls. 

VI. — Distribution  of  Types. 

This  section  is  intended  to  describe  briefly  the  distribution  of  various 
kinds  of  forts  in  Ireland  with  typical  examples  of  each  kind.  In  order  to 
minimise  the  risk  of  losing  sight  of  the  common  type  by  only  studying 
the  more  remarkable  forts,  it  is  endeavoured  to  collect  examples  from 
various  districts.  Reference  is  also  made  to  any  full  descriptions  already 
published.  A  few  of  the  districts  in  which  the  stone  forts  exceptionally 
abound  are  described  as  groups ;  but  of  course  there  are  many  other  parts 
of  the  country,  as,  for  example,  the  Curragh  of  Kildare,  where  the  less 
interesting  earth-forts  are  equally  abundant,  and  we  cannot  refrain  from 
mention  of  one  group  in  Tipperary. 

65.  Groups. — Corcaguiny.  Kerry  (Ordnance  Survey  Maps,  six  inches  to 
one  mile.  Kerry,  Sheets  Nos.  33,  34,  42,  43,  52,  54).— Without  doubt,  the 
most  important  group  in  Ireland  of  210  forts,  56  gallauns,  Ogham  pillars, 

*  Noteworthy  groups  of  forts,  pillars,  and  dolmens  occur,  as  for  example  :  at  Feenagh, 
Leitrim ;  Deerpark,  SUgo  ;  Ballyganner,  Cluru  ;  and  Itallynabortagh,  Cork. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  103 

509  clochauns,  souterrains,  and  promontory  forts,  besides  15  churches  and 
3  castles,  lies  in  the  barony  of  Corcaguiny,  at  the  end  of  that  great 
peninsula,  and  to  the  west  of  a  line  from  Miuard  Head  to  Brandon 
Head.  The  beauty  of  the  surroundings  and  interest  to  naturalists, 
botanists,  and  geologists  add  to  its  attractions ;  and  yet,  as  a  "  pleasure 
resort "  of  the  first-class  for  scientific  people  it  is  known  to  compara- 
tively few.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that,  by  the  imprudence  of  tourists, 
the  younger  population  of  tlie  Fahan  townlands  (as  in  Inishere  and 
elsewhere),  is  deteriorating  into  what  must  soon  prove  to  be  very  little 
better  than  a  band  of  persecutors,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  visitors  to 
that  group  of  ruins.  Elsewhere  the  peasantry  usually  retain  their  old 
courtesy,  kindness,  and  self-respect.  The  district  covers  about  twelve 
by  seven  miles. 

The  Coreaguiny  group  may  be  divided  into  sub-districts.  Only  one  group  has  been  successfully 
worked  out  by  the  industry  of  the  late  John  Windele,  George  DuNoyer,  and  Mr.  R.  A.  S. 
Maoalister.  This  is  the  Fahan  group  of  460  remains,  including  the  important  ring-forts  of 
Caherconor,  Cahernuadh,  Cahernamairtineach,  and  27  others,  the  promontory  forts  of  Doonbeg 
and  Doonmore,  414  clochauns,  18  pillars,  and  2  Ogham  inscriptions,  besides,  doubtless,  some 
other  antiquities  as  yet  unrecorded. 

The  Smerwich  group,  round  the  pictui-esque  bay  of  that  name,  comprises  some  33  forts,  1 1 
clochauns,  12  gallauns,  and  the  probable  remains  of  a  promontory  fort  at  Doon  Point,  now  occupied 
by  Ferriter's  Castle.  Among  the  forts  are  included  the  two  called  Cahcrdorgan,  the  two  called 
Cahernagat,  and  those  of  Ulligadi-evil  and  Eahinnane ;  the  latter  occupied  by  a  late  castle,  and 
figuring  in  the  legend  of  "  the  Battle  of  Ventry." 

The  BallyheaboiigU  group,  some  51  forts,  49  clochauns,  and  18  gallauns;  some  of  unusual  interest. 
The  Ventry  and  Dingle  shore  groups,  49  forts,  including  the  great  ringed  cliil  fort  of  Doon,  on  a 
headland  of  the  small  peninsula  south  of  Dingle  bay  (it  encloses  a  giant's  grave) ;  also  a 
dolmen,  6  gaUauns,  and  the  extensive  group  of  Ogham  monuments  in  the  fuchsia-planted  fort  of 
BaUintaggart. 

The  Bally navenooragh  group,  on  the  western  slopes  of  Mount  Brandon,  some  9  forts,  24  cloghauns, 
2  calluraghs. 

From  Minard  Head  to  BulVs  Head  and  Anascaul,  some  40  forts,  1 1  cloghauns,  and  7  gallauns. 

66.  The  South  Burren  Group,  Clare  (0.  S.  Maps,  Nos.  5,  9,  10,  16,  17).— 
Inferior  to  Corcaguiny  alone,  stands  the  great  group  of  prehistoric  remains 
on  the  limestone  slopes  of  Burren.  The  chief  group  extends,  roughly 
speaking,  as  an  isosceles  triangle,  with  a  base  of  six  miles  and  a  height 
of  seven,  from  Kilfenora  and  Leanna  to  the  hill  above  Ballyallaban.     It 


104  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

comprises  in  all  189  forts,  3  tumuli,  3  large  cairns,  47  dolmens,  3  pillars, 
6  churches,  4  castles,  and  smaller  cairns  and  hut-sites  innumerable,  and 
has  been  described  (though  much  is  briefly  and  imperfectly  treated)  by  the 
author  of  this  paper.* 

It,  too,  can  be  classed  into  lesser  groups,  though  by  a  some-what  arbitrary  division,  as  there  is 
no  absolutely  isolated  collection  of  ruius  anywhere  in  the  main  dish'ict.  Kilfenora-Ballyganner 
group  with  the  important  cahers  of  Bally kinvai'ga,  Caherlahertagh,  Caherminane,  Ballyshanny, 
two  in  Ballyganiier  North,  one  with  a  small  ring- wall,  which  once  was  of  unusual  height,  the 
other  encloses  a  dolmen  partly  embedded  in  its  wall.  The  fine  fort  of  Cahercuttine,  Caherwalsh, 
Caherkyletaan,  Cahernaspekee,  and  thirty-eight  others,  ten  dolmens,  several  souterrains  and 
countless  eaims,  three  of  some  size,  hut-sites,  slab-huts,  a  rock-eut  road,  etc.,  etc. 

The  district  from  Lemancagh  to  Kilcomey,  with  Cahermore,  Sheshy,  Caheraclarig,  and  sixteen 
other  forts,  and  two  dolmens.  The  Slievenaglaslia  group  (from  Parknabinnia  to  Castletown  and 
Cappaghkennedy)  with  the  forts  of  Cahermore-Roughan,  Cahennore-Glenquin,  the  great  triple 
fort  of  Cahercommaun,  the  rock-fort  of  Cashlaun  Gar,  Mohemacartan,  Knockans  Fort,  the 
lake  fort  of  Cahersavaim,  and  thirty-six  others,  two  great  cairns  and  many  lesser  ones,  seventeen 
dolmens  and  a  tumulus.  The  group  of  Eanty,  Potdacarran  and  the  plateau  of  Commons  with 
the  forts  of  Poulacarran,  Poulcaragharush,  Cahermacnole  (Cahermacldrilla),  Cahergrillaun, 
Moheramoylan  and  forty-six  others,  two  tumuli,  four  dolmens,  three  pillai's,  and  niunerous  catms. 

The  Kilcorney  and  Glensleade  group,  with  the  forts  of  Caherconnell,  Cragballyconoal,  Caher- 
cashlaun  and  Caheranardurrish  and  forty-four  others,  eight  dolmens,  the  cairn  of  Poulawack,  and 
many  other  lesser  cairns.  The  Gleninshen  and  BuUyallahan  group  with  the  fort  of  Cahermore- 
BaUyallaban,  and  six  others,  five  dolmens,  and  uncounted  cairns. 

67.  Lough  Hackett  Group ^  Galway  (O.  S.,  Nos.  42,  53,  56). — The  great 
group  to  the  north-east  of  Lough  Corrib  covers  a  district  7  by  14  miles  in 
extent.  It  lies  round  Lough  Hackett,  the  ancient  Lough  Cime,  connected 
traditionally  with  Cimbe  Cetharcenn,  one  of  the  sons  of  Huamore.  It  is 
as  yet  undescribed,  save  Cahergel.  It  consists  of  ninety-one  foi'ts  and 
numerous  other  remains. 

It  contains  Caherman,  a  triple  fort,  Cahernaheeny,  Caherachoola,  Caherconnaught,  Cahermore, 
Caherlustraun,  Caherkeeny,  Cahergortmore,  Cahereenard,  Caherduff,  CaherbaUycolgan,  Caherbo- 
hercuUl,  Cahii'ebrick,  Carheenard,  Caherabeg,  Lisheenacama,  Caherhugh,  Cashlaunfeekul,  Caher- 


*  Journal  U.S.A. I.,  xxvi.,  1896,  pp.  142,  363;  xxvii.,  1897,  p.  116;  xxviii.,  1898,  p.  353; 
xxix.,  1899,  p.  367;  xxx.,  1900,  p.  400;  xxxi.,  1901,  pp.  1,  273.  Proceedings  R.I. A.,  vol.  v., 
ser.  iii.,  p.  544. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  105 

biggora,  Cahermoneonkirka,  Lisnabrock,  Cahermacanally.  Southward,  towards  Lough  Corrib,  lie 
Cahemagat,  Cahermon-is,  Lisheen,  Caheranairgid,  Caheranorc,  C'aheranane,  Caherhughy,  a 
large  fort  with  high  ivied  walls  ;  and  further  westward,  Milla  fort,  Cahergel,  a  fine  stone  fort 
with  steps,  &c.  (section  93,  infra),  Cahernadane  and  the  fortified  island  of  Illaunacarbry. 

68.  The  Dunkellin  Group,  Galioaij  (0.  S.,  Nos.  83-85,  96-98,  103, 
104,  113).— The  district  is  about  10  miles  by  7  miles  in  extent,  and  lies  at 
the  eastern  end  of  Gal  way  Bay  from  Oranmore  to  Craughwell,  and  south- 
ward to  Ardrahan  and  Finvarra.  It  is  connected  traditionally  with  Taman 
and  Beara,  the  sons  of  Huamore,  and  possesses  over  50  cahers,  beside  other 
remains.  The  district  of  Roevehagh  contained  a  venerated  birch  tree  and 
was  a  place  of  inauguration.  The  forts  of  Caheradrineen,*  Cahercugeola, 
and  a  neighbouring  fort  have  been  described ;  it  may  be  remembered  that 
in  the  Caher  of  Knockgarranebane  were  found  stone-moulds  for  casting 
two-looped  bronze  spears.     Caherpeak  is  a  large  fort  enclosing  a  church. 

It  includes  Caherroe,  CaheraciiUin,  Caheradrine,  Cahernalee,  Caherfinesker  or  Cahermore, 
Carheenascovoge,  Cahercrin,  Caheraphuca,  Caherlisdacus,  Carheenadiveane,  Caherfiu'vaus,  Cahcr- 
caltragh,  Cahernanoole,  Caher,  Cahcrybrogan,  Cahermore,  Caherbeg,  Cahershanbacky,  Cuheraloggy, 
Cahei-more,  near  Eoevehagh,  Lachtloughlin  fort,  Caherlissagunna,  Caherbeg,  Caherpheepa, 
Cahergorman,  Caheririllaun,  Caherweelter,  Caheryrory,  Cahercuildoish,  Cahergalloon,  Cahershaney- 
kelly,  Cahernalinsky,  Caherateigc,  Caherdaly,  and  the  large  earth-fort  of  Rathmonissy. 

69.  The  Aranmore  Group,  Galway  (0.  S.,  Nos.  110,  119).— The  group 
in  the  North  Isle  of  Aran,  though  numerically  small,  is  of  great  import- 
ance, and  was  of  still  greater  value  to  archaeology  in  recent  memory,  but 
within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  the  defacement  of  the  village  ruins 
at  lararna  and  Ballynasean,  and  the  rebuilding  of  so  much  of  the 
interiors  and  tops  of  several  of  the  cahers  not  a  little  diminished  the  value 
of  many  of  the  remains.  It  possessed  9  cahers,  2  dolmens  (at  least),  about 
50  clochauns,  with  pillars  and  other  remains,  beside  two  castles,  a  round 
tower,  twelve  churches,  and  two  high  crosses. 

It  comprises  the  great  forts  of  Dun  Aenghus,  Muirbheach  Mil,  Dun  Onacut,  Dun  Oghil,  Dubh 
Cathair,  four  defaced  cahers  near  Dun  Oghil  and  Cowroogh,  besides  other  remains. 


*  Caheradrine  on  maps,  see  section  95,  inj'ra. 

From  EL.  IE.  ACAD.  TKANS.,   VOL.   XXXl. PART  XIV. 


106  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

70.  The  Cooleagh  Group,  Tipperary  (0.  S.,  62). — This  is  as  yet  unde- 
scribed,  and  we  may  ho^ie  that  ere  long  this  omission  may  be  made 
good  by  local  archaeologists,  who  would  find  in  Cooleagh  and  the  district 
near  Cash  el  a  subject  for  several  valuable  papers. 

It  consists  of  tkree  small  ring-forts  and  a  curious  village  site  in  Mortlestown  Castle  demesne  ; 
a  straight-sided  fort  named  Lismortlagh,  a  rath,  a  rath  in  an  in-egular  straight- sided  enclosure  ; 
a  four-ringed-fort  with  a  bastion  at  the  enti'ance ;  two  douhle-ringed-forts  in  Grangeharry,  eight 
lesser  ring-forts  in  Coolbaun  and  Cooleagh  ;  near  one  is  a  "  diamond  "  fort,  and  close  to  it  a 
double-ringed-fort  350  feet  across,  with  curious  enclosures  adjoining  it.  A  large  fort  550  feet  by 
500  feet  in  Shanakyle,  and  two  ling-forts.  Three  double-iinged-forts  and  ancient  roads  in 
St.  Johnstown  and  Higginstown. 

As  for  the  distribution  of  the  various  t3'pes  of  forts  we  may  briefly  note 
that  the  ring-forts  abound  all  over  the  country  and  do  not  seem  to  have  any 
marked  racial  peculiarities  or  bearing.  The  square  forts,  though  much  less 
plentiful,  are  equally  widely  distributed ;  they  seem  to  be  most  abundant  in 
county  Wexford.  The  promontory  forts  abound  all  round  the  coast 
wherever  the  builder  could  find  a  suitable  headland  :  in  many  cases  they 
have  been  nearly  defaced,  and  the  name  Doon  often  attaches  to  heads 
where  no  trace  is  now  discoverable.  The  motes,  whether  simple  or  complex, 
are  most  plentiful  in  the  eastern  half  of  Ireland,  and  few  are  found  in 
Munster  or  beyond  the  Shannon  and  Lagan.  The  rock-forts  and  walled 
islands  are  only  varieties  of  the  ring-fort,  and  are  practically  confined  to  the 
northern  and  western  coast  counties.  Long  entreuclimeuts  occur  chiefly  in 
Ulster,  those  in  Munster  not  being  well  mai-ked. 

The  succeeding  notes  are  to  be  understood  as  rather  forming  an  excursus 
or  appendix,  not  being  in  the  least  degree  intended  to  supply  full  descrip- 
tions, but  rather  to  bring  together  the  more  instructive  facts  about  the 
structures,  and  to  supply  a  partial  bibliography  of  the  forts. 

Ring  Forts. — Royal  Residences  : — 

71.  Emania,  Armagh  (0.  S.,  Ko.  12). — Chief  in  importance  among  the  royal  residences  of  the 
old  Ii-ish  mythology  and  legend  stands  Emauia.  The  great  Tltonian  rath  lies  on  a  hill  slope  not 
far  to  the  west  of  the  Axchiepiscopal  city  of  Armagh.  The  legend  of  how  Queen  Macha  marked 
out  its  plan  with  her  broach  and  its  connexion  with  the  heroes  of  the  Red  Branch  (still  recalled  by 


DUN  AENGHUS 


ARANMORE  ,  CALWAY 


"^F'Jtfl^tUlV^l^t^Q, 


Fig.  19.— typical  IRISH  FORTS. 


108  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

the  townland  name  of  Creeveroe,  near  it)  are  well-known.  It  was  devastated  in  a.d.  322  in  the 
"Wars  of  the  Collas.  The  ancient  name  has  ever  since  clung  to  the  site,  "  Emhain  of  the  Fairs  " 
in  the  Annals  in  a.d.  898,  and  (as  Bishop  Reeves  has  shown  from  various  Latin  and  Irish  docu- 
ments) Hewynna  1374,  Eawayn  1524,  Eawyn  1609,  and  "The  Navan  fort,"  its  present  name, 
1633.  It  is  possible  that  it  is  the  more  northern  "  Rigia"  of  Ptolemy,"  the  word  being  possibly 
connected  with  the  term  "  Eamhain  of  Kings." 

It  was  probably  at  one  time  a  stone  fort,  for  the  Calendar  of  Oengus,  when  contrasting  the  fates 
of  the  pious  and  theu-  cities  with  those  of  "  the  Princes  of  the  world  that  have  come  to  nought," 
records  that — "Eman's  burgh  has  perished  save  that  the  stones  remain."*  It  is  not  wonder- 
ful that  no  trace  of  the  stonework  exists  in  our  day  for,  in  1 145,  "  a  limekiln,  60  feet  every  way, 
was  erected  opposite  Eamhain  Maohaby  Patrick's  successor."  The  eastern  segment  and  one  of  the 
inner  forts  were  levelled  even  since  the  date  of  the  first  Ordnance  Sm'vey  maps. 

The  fort  consists  of  a  great  earthwork  forming  an  irregular  circle  850  feet  across,  perhaps 
at  one  time  consisting  of  two  mounds.  Within  the  garth  were  a  mote  and  fort,  the  latter 
remains — an  oval  rath  on  the  higher  slope.  Descriptions — "Ancient  Churches  of  Armagh," 
Dr.  (afterwards  Bishop)  "W.  Reeves  (1860).  Journal  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xvi.,  1884,  p.  '^09.— Revue 
CeUique,  vol.  xviii.  Emania,  M.  D'Arbois  de  Jubainvillc,  fi-om  notes  by  Rev.  Maxwell  Close. 
View,  plan  and  section.     See  figure  19,  supra. 

72.  Tara,  Meath  (0.  S.,  No.  31,  37). — This  deeply  interesting  group  of  forts,  the  residence 
of  the  Ardi'ighs  of  Ireland,  subsisted  from  prehistoric  times  as  a  most  important  social  and  political 
centre.  Having  been  cursed  by  Ruadhan  of  Lorrha  in  consequence  of  a  quarrel  with  King  Deimot, 
it  became  deserted  on  the  death  of  that  monarch  a.d.  567.  The  Dindsenchas  gives  elaborate  de- 
scriptions of  the  names  and  positions  of  the  various  forts,  wells,  and  monuments.  The  whole  having 
been  treated  at  great  length  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  we  must  confine 
ourselves  to  brief  notes  of  the  existing  remains  alone.  Cathair  Crofinn  or  Rath  na  Riogh,  a  large, 
nearly  oval  earthwork  853  feet  across,  but  much  levelled,  consisting  of  a  fosse  and  mound  ;  inside 
it  are  two  conjoined  high  raths,  the  Forradh,  276  feet  in  diameter  and  Teach  Cormaic,  244  feet 
in  diameter.  Towards  the  northern  segment  of  the  great  enclosm-e  were  two  tumuli,  the  Dumha 
na  nGiall  and  the  Dumha  na  mBo  ;  the  former  was  crowned  by  the  pillar-stone  now  set  on  the 
Forradh.  Rath  Laoghaire,  the  latest  of  the  forts,  and  dating  from  the  first  half  of  the  fifth 
century,  is  a  largo  defaced  ring  on  the  hill  slope  south  of  Cahercrofinn.  It  was  made  by  the 
Ardrigh  Laoghaii-e,  son  of  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages,  and  is  300  feet  in  diameter.  Its  builder 
was  buried  in  its  rampart  to  the  south.  A  triple  ringed,  circulai-,  low  fort,  the  "King's  Chair,"  or 
the  "  Rath  of  the  Synods,"  lies  to  the  north ;  it  has  been  recklessly  out  into  and  defaced  in  the  ill- 
eonceived  search  for  the  "Ark  of  the  Covenant"  (1899).  Nothing  was  found  but  animals'  bones, 
rusted  iron,  and  one  burial;  the  trenches  were  cut  into  the  rock.  There  were  two  tumuli  towards 
the  N.W.,  and  Teach  Mairiseo  (built  in  the  3rd  century  by  the  Ardi-igh  Cormac  Mac  Au't)  to  the 
S.'V^''.,  but  they  are  now  entirely  defaced,  though  traces  of  the  tumuli  were  extant  when  the  first 
Ordnance  Siu-vey  took  place.     The  Protestant  Church  stands  in  another  rath  ;  near  it  is  a  sand- 


'  Calendar  of  Oengus."     Ed.  "W.  Stokes,  p.  18. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  109 

stone  pillar  Trith  a  sheelanagig  cut  in  relief.  Teach  Miodtchuarta,  the  banquetting  hall,  lies 
down  the  northern  slope.  The  great  side  mounds  remain  with  foiu-teen  entrances,  and  enclose  a 
space  760  feet  long  and  46  feet  wide.  To  the  west  lies  another  group  of  raths,  the  northern, 
Eathgrania,  lies  on  the  steep  edge  of  the  hill,  its  deep  fosse  dipping  boldly  down  the  slope  ;  it  is 
260  feet  in  diameter.  Close  to  it,  on  the  south  and  east,  are  two  more  forts,  Fothath  Eatha 
Graine  and  Eathcaelchon  ;  the  latter  is  a  commonplace  rath  with  a  fosse  and  mound,  and  is 
220  feet  in  diameter.  The  well  of  Laoc  lay  near  Eathgrania  and  is  stopped,  but  the  site  is 
known ;  the  same  remark  applies  to  the  well  Laegh.  The  well  Neamhneach  is  still  flowing  down 
the  slope  to  the  east  of  Cahercrofinn. 

The  large  group  of  forts  down  the  northern  slope  has  perished ;  it  included  Treduma  Nesi 
and  the  Eaths  of  Conor  MacFessa  and  Cuchullin,  the  monument  over  the  latter  waii-ior's 
head  and  neck  and  many  other  remains.  Descriptions — The  standard  work  is  of  course 
Dr.  Petrie's  essay  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Eoyal  Irish  Academy,  vol.  svii.  Some  smaller 
additions  appear  in  a  paper  by  Eev.  Denis  Mui-phy  and  T.  J.  "Westropp  in  the  Journal  E.S.A.I. 
(xxiv.),  1894,  p.  232.  No  scientific  account  of  the  recent  unfortunate  excavations  has  as  yet 
been  published.     See  figure  19,  supra. 

73.  Rathcroghan,  Roscommon  (0.  S.,  No.  22). — The  palace  of  Ailill  and  ilaeve,  which  figm-es 
conspicuously  in  the  legend  of  the  Tain  bo  Cuailgne.  "Were  it  not  for  this  fact  the  remains  of  the 
forts  would  have  attracted  but  little  notice.  Eathcroghan  itself  is  a  large,  flat-topped,  earthen 
fort  (225  feet  by  170  feet,  and  995  feet  round  the  base  ;  it  is  35  feet  high).  It  has  no  fosse,  and 
still  preserves  it  sancient  name.  O'Donovan,  in  his  notes  for  the  Ordnance  Survey,  1837,  thinks 
that  it  had  formerly  an  outer  circumvallation.  A  large  prostrate  pillar  9  feet  by  2^  inches  by 
2  feet  2i  inches  called  Misgaun  Meva,  and  another  large  block  called  Milleen  Meva  preserve  the 
memoiy  of  the  Amazonian  Queen,  and  lie  to  the  N."W.  and  N.E.  of  the  rath. 

There  are  five  other  forts  scattered  around  it,  Eathnascreg,  Eathmore,  Eathnadarv  and  two 
others.  Fui'therto  the  south  are  Cahernabavalady  (the  caher  of  the  feasting  party),  the  grave  of 
Ceat  Mac  Magach,  and  the  remarkable  bui-ial-places  and  souterrains  of  KJnockaunagoi-p ;  the  Cair- 
the  dhearg,  or  red  sandstone  pillar  of  the  Ardrigh  Dathi  (died  a.d.  428),  a  stone  6  feet  high  and 
from  5  feet  to  2  feet  8  inches  wide  ;*  Eelig  na  ree  and  Owneynagat.  The  Ogham  inscription 
"Fhaicci  M£DFri,"or,  "Feaicci  Mengfi,"  formerly  attributed  to  a  son  of  Queen  Maeve,  was 
found  on  a  roof  support  of  the  latter  souterrain.  The  "  cave"  exists  in  the  remains  of  an  ancient 
tumulus  50  feet  or  60  feet  in  diameter ;  there  are  fallen  cists.  There  ai-e  slight  traces  of  the 
Cashel  of  Mannanan,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  S.W.  of  Eathcroghan.  The  Eelig  na  Eee 
is  an  irregular  ring  enelosui-e,  with  stone  facing,  800  yards  south  of  the  rath,  336  feet  in 
diameter:  touching  its  northern  segment  is  a  smaU  circular  enclosure  100  feet  in  diameter; 
another  low  wall  crosses  the  Eelig,  and  there  is  a  "  cave  "  in  its  garth.  Description — Eelig  na 
Eee  and  Dathi's  Pillar  are  figured  and  described  by  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson,  Proceedings  E.I. A., 
vol.  i.,  Series  ii.,  p.  114.  The  Eath,  by  E.  E.  Brash  "Ogham  Inscribed  Monuments,"  chapter 
xiii.,  p.  299. 


See  supra,  section  44. 


no 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


74.  Umach,  IVestmeafh  (0.  S.,  No.  24).  —A  remarkable  hill-towu,  four-  miles  north-west 
from  Castletown  railway  station.  The  hill  is  grassy,  and  has  two  low  summits  ;  an  ancient  road 
led  lip  the  southern  slope  to  the  enclosures.  The  cemetery  is  an  irregular  circular  earthwork, 
250  feet  across,  with  a  lesser  enclosure,  180  feet  across,  to  the  west.  The  main  division  (like  the 
Relig  na  ree  at  Ruthcroghan)  has  five  enclosures,  with  tumuli  and  chambers.  A  "  cave "  and 
other  collapsed  chambers  remain  in  the  western  division.  The  "Cat  Stone"  (a  singular  and 
cromlech-like  group  of  stones,  but  probably  a  natural  out-crop  of  rock)  and  an  enclosure  of  stones 
set  on  edge,  called  "  St.  Patrick's  bed,"  lie  near  the  fort.  TJsnach  is  attributed  to  Tuathal 
Techtmar,  c.  a.d.  80.  Description — Sii-  Samuel  Ferguson,  in  Proceedings  R.I.A.,  vol.  i..  Second 
Series,  p.  140. 

75.  Kincora,  Clare  (0.  S.,  No.  36). — Only  two  forts  remain  to  represent  the  dwellings  of 
the  early  Dalcassian  princes  near  Killaloe.  G-rianan  Lachtna  occupies  a  noble  position  on  a 
shordder  of  Craglea  overlooking  the  lower  end  of  Lough  Derg,  the  Shannon,  and  Silver-Mine  hills, 


■''ininivv^ 


li:ir.ui..«in'ir:r"''"'. 


„%«»'«sS:s'i 


»^ 


f  i".  20. — Usnacli,  Westmealh. 


to  Slieve  Kimalta,  the  Keeper  Hill.  It  is  an  oval  fort,  134  feet  to  116  feet  in  diameter,  with 
a  fosse,  17  feet  wide,  and  an  earthwork.  In  the  centre  rises  an  oblong  heap  of  stones,  80  feet  by 
50  feet.  The  fort  was  built  by  Lachtna  (great-gi'andfather  of  Brian  Boru,  circa,  a.d.  840).* 
Beal  Boru  derived  its  name  from  the  ford  "  Bcal  atha  Boroimhe,"  or  "Borama."  Mahon, 
King  of  Munster  (brother  of  Brian),  is  called  "fiery  King  of  Boroimhe";  and  it  is  most 
probable  that  from  it,  and  not  from  the  alleged  re-imposition  of  the  Leinster  tribute,  that  Brian 
received  his  surname.  The  >rt  is  a  high  earthwork,  20  feet  high,  with  ramparts  and  a  fosse, 
now  nearly  filled  up ;  it  measures  380  feet  round  the  top,  and  650  feet  round  the  base.     It  is  dug 


*  See  its  history  from  ancient  MSS.  in  the  "  Book  of  Munster,"  in  Journal  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  .\xii. 
(1892),  p.  892,  and  "  Story  of  an  Irish  Sept,"  by  Dr.  Nottidge  Macnamara,  p.  74. 


WicsTROPP — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  Ill 

at  the  end  of  a  natui'al  spur,  near  the  Shannon,  at  the  end  of  Lougli  Derg.  Kincora  lay  at  the 
head  of  the  weir  and  bridge  of  Killaloe,  probably  where  the  chapel  stands.  It  was  entirely 
destroyed  in  1118,  and  its  timber  and  stone- work  thi-own  into  the  river;  but  it  was  again  rebuilt. 
It  had  stone  enclosures  and  a  well  with  two  salmon  in  it.  Bescription — T.  J.  "Westropp,  Journal 
R.  8.  A.  I.,  xxii.  (1892),  pp.  191-193. 

76.  Grianan  Aileach,  Donegal  (0.  S.,  No.  47) — A  strong  fort  on  a  hill,*  commanding  a  fine 
view  over  Lough  Swilly.  There  are  remains  of  foiu-  ramparts,  but  it  once  possessed  five,  accord- 
ing to  the  "  Book  of  Lccan  "  (p.  255) :— "  Dim,  to  which  led  horse-roads  through  five  ramparts." 
The  innermost  enclosure  is  a  dry  stone  wall,  largely  rebuilt  by  Dr.  Bernard ;  but  he  carefully 
preserved  and  marked  the  limit  of  all  the  ancient  work.  As  it  existed,  when  Petrie  described  it 
for  the  Ordnance  Survey,  it  consisted  of  a  strong  ring-wall,  6  feet  high,  enclosing  a  nearly  circular 
garth,  77  feet  6  inches  across.  The  wall  was  15  feet  thick  at  the  base.  There  was  a  gateway  to 
the  south  ;  the  lintels  had  fallen  ;  the  sides  were  of  coursed  masonry,  less  worn  than  the  outer 
facing  of  the  rampart ;  the  opening  was  6  feet  7  inches  high,  and  from  3  feet  10  inches  to  3  feet 
1  inch  wide.  Inside  the  wall,  to  the  right  hand  as  one  entered  the  fort,  were  considerable 
remains  of  the  lowest  ten-ace  and  a  wedge-like  flight  of  steps,  widening  upward  in  the  face  of 
the  wall,  and  2  feet  6  inches  at  the  widest.  Farther  to  the  right  was  the  entrance  to  a  long 
passage  in  the  wall,  like  the  passages  in  certain  forts  at  Fahan,  Kerry;  beyond  this  was  a  double 
flight  of  steps.  Another  double  flight  and  the  entrance  to  another  passage  in  the  wall  lay  to  the 
left  of  the  gateway,  and,  farther  roimd,  there  was  another  flight  of  steps.  The  rampart  had  a 
batter  of  1  in  6,  and  there  was  a  dr-ain  under  it  to  the  north,  and  remains  of  a  midden  and  of  a 
late  mortar-built  foundation  in  the  garth.  The  whole  was  nearly  buiied  in  the  fallen  stones. 
The  fort  makes  some  flgure  in  pre-historio  tradition,  and  was  an  important  residence  of  the  local 
princes ;  it  was  deserted  a.d.  675,  despite  of  which  it  was  fui-ther  ruined  by  Mui-chad  O'Brien 
titular  King  of  Ireland,  in  1102.  Bescriptions—Iir.  Qeovge  Petrie,  "Parish  of  Templemore 
Ordnance  Sm-vey  of  the  County  of  Londondeny  "  (1837),  vol.  i.,  pp.  214,  &c.  ;  Richard  Eolt 
Brash,  "  Ecclesiastical  Architectui-e  of  Ireland,"  p.  4 ;  Dr.  Walter  Bernard,  Proceedings 
R.  I.  A.,  vol.  i.,  series  ii.  (1879),  p.  415.     Plans  in  all,  and  illustrations  in  the  fii-st. 

The  Largest  Ring  Forts  : — 

A  large  structure  seldom  fails  to  be  an  exceptional  one,  for  reasons 
apart  from  that  of  mere  size,  so  much  so,  that  the  tendency  to  give  such 
works  a  prominent  place  in  all  descriptions,  though  natural,  frequently 
gives  a  most  misleading  impression  of  the  characteristic  types  prevailing 
in  the  country.  For  convenience  of  reference  we  have  collected  the  largest 
of  our  Irish  forts  in  this  section.  Although  there  is  nothing  abnormal  in 
the   large   raths   of   Dun    Ailinn,    Cashel,    and   Rathcoran,    still  Dorsey, 

*  Figure  21,  infra.     The  reference  letters  are  :  u  entrance,  I  passages,  c  steps,  d  drain. 


112  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Moghaue,  Langough,   and    Dun   Aenghus   demand  exceptional    attention 
in  these  notes. 

77.  Borsey  Dmi,  Armagh  (0.  S.,  No.  59). — A  large  and  remarkable  ring  earthwork,  of 
iiTegxilar  plan,  in  the  barony  of  Upper  Fews.  It  measirres  about  a  mile  fi'om  east  to  west,  and 
600  yai'ds  across.  The  west  end  is  nearly  semicircular ;  the  north-east  forms  nearly  a  right 
angle.  The  fortifications  consist  of  an  earthwork,  with  deep  fosses  on  each  side  and  lesser  mounds 
outside.  The  site  is  intersected  by  two  streams,  and,  in  the  marshy  parts,  the  rampart  rested  on 
piling,  as  in  the  earthworks  of  northern  Germany  and  the  fort  of  Diingorkin.*  To  the  west  side 
of  the  marsh,  in  the  centi'e  of  the  Dun,  are  two  small  knolls  of  rock,  fortified  with  diy-stone  ling- 
walls,  and  to  the  south-west,  inside  the  earthworks,  on  a  rising  gi'ound,  is  a  stone  pillar,  "the 
white  stone  of  Calliagh  Beri,"  Description — Rev.  "W.  H.  Lett,  Journal  E.  S.  A.  I.,  xxvni. 
(1898),  pp.  1-14.     Plan,  sections,  and  illustrations.     See  figm-e  21,  itifra. 

78.  Bun  Ailinn,  Kildare  (0.  S.,  No.  21). — A  large  but  injiu'ed  earthen  ring-fort  on  a  hill, 
about  500  feet  high,  near  Kilcullen.  The  fortification  consists  of  a  fosse  and  earthwork  faced 
with  small  stones  in  some  places;  it  measures  about  1600  feet  north  and  south,  and  1350  feet 
east  and  west,  enclosing  a  well,  dedicated  to  St.  John,  in  the  north-west  segment.  The  summit 
of  the  hill  was  capped  with  a  small  low  fort  and  oblong  enclosure  about  100  feet  in  diameter. 
The  A. P.M.,  A.D.  904,  quote  a  poem  which  names  Almhain  and  Aillinn  as  separate  places ;  so  the 
the  latter  is  not  the  legendary  palace  of  Finn.     See  figure  19,  supra. 

79.  Moghane,  Caher,  Clare  (0.  S.,  No.  42). — A  large  triple  stone  fort,  possibly  the  Cathyr- 
nachyne  of  De  Clare's  rental,  1287,  and  Cahcrmoghna,  1655.  The  fort  and  hill  are  shown  in  two 
Elizabethan  maps  in  the  Hardiman  Collection.!  [Like  Dun  Ailinn,  it  girds  a  gently  rising 
ground,  263  feet  high,  and  commanding  a  view  over  the  estuaiy  of  the  Fergus  and  the  plains  of 
Clare,  to  Bm-ron  and  Aughty.  The  three  walls  are  nearly  entirely  overthi'own,  and  amount  to 
7850  feet  long,  enclosing  about  27  acres.  The  central  ring-wall  is  350  to  380  feet  in  diameter, 
and  was  from  17  to  21  feet  thick,  J  with  entrances  to  the  east  and  west.  The  second  is  650  feet 
across,  and  embodies  a  better  preserved  circidar  fort,  100  feet  in  diameter  in  its  southern  segment. 
The  outer  wall  conf onus  to  the  steepest  faces  of  the  hill,  enclosing  a  space  over  1 500  feet  north 
and  south,  and  1 100  feet  east  and  west.  It  also  embodies  a  cu'cular  fort  to  the  west.  There  are 
traces  of  radiating  walls  and  circular  enclosures  between  the  middle  and  outer  ramparts.  Two 
defaced  oval  cahers  and  the  complex  caher  of  Langough  lie  at  no  great  distance  from  the  walls. 
Bescription — T.  J.  "Westropp,  Jom-nal  R.  S.  A.  I.,  xxiu.  (1893),  p.  281,  and  Proceedings  R.  I.  A., 
vol.  VI.,  series  iii.,  p.  440.     Plans.     See  figure  19,  swpra. 


*  The  piling  at  both  Dungorkin  and  Dorsey  had  cross  beams  and  mortices.  On  the  plan, 
A.  D,  E,  G  show  the  rampart,  B  piling,  C  the  pillar  of  CalHagh  Beri,  F  Stone  forts. 

t  MSS.,  Trinity  CoUege,  DubUn. 

\  The  faces  are  exposed  by  the  removal  of  the  debris,  and  in  the  outer  wall,  to  the  west, 
where  the  foundations  are  laid  bare,  they  are  headers  with  small  filling. 


ARMAGH 


_  Hi  \v^  \vv  \X\v 


Fig.  21.— typical  IRISH  FORTS. 


114  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

80.  Rathcoran,  WicMow  (0.  S.,  No.  27).— This  fine  earthwork  girds  a  lofty  hill,  1256  feet 
high,  overlooking  Baltinglass.  It  consists  of  a  small  circular  fort  on  the  very  summit,  and  a  large 
irregular  ring  of  two  mounds  and  a  fosse  about  80  feet  lower,  and  running  nearly  on  a  level 
(1181  to  1187  feet)  round  the  lull.  This  encloses  a  space,  1400  feet  north  and  south,  and  900  feet 
east  and  west.  In  the  upper  fort  is  a  kistvaen,  or  "  cave,"  which,  when  opened,  contained  pottery 
and  human  bones.     The  upper  fort  is  reduced  to  a  cairn-like  heap  of  stones. 

Near  this  rath,  on  a  slope  to  the  north  lies  Eathnageee,  another  large  fort  of  two  ring  mounds, 
the  inner  400  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  outer  600  feet ;  in  it,  eai-ly  in  the  late  century,  was  found 
a  hoard  of  golden  coins.* 

81.  Bun  Aenghcs,  Aran  Islands,  Galway  (0.  S.,  No.  110.) — This  well-known  fortf  lies  on  the 
summit  of  a  hUl  and  edge  of  a  precipitous  sea-cliff  300  feet  high.  It  was  known  as  Dun  Inees  in  1 839. 
It  is  the  only  identified  fortress,  named  in.  the  legend  of  the  Huamorian  Firbolgs,  in  connexion  with 
the  chieftaia  Aenghus.  It  has  been  assumed  that  (like  Moghane)  it  consisted  of  thi-ee  rings,  but 
it  is  equally  probable  (as  already  pointed  out)  that  it  rather  resembled  certain  inland  forts  by 
having  a  ring- wall  in  the  centre  and  crescent-walls  outside,  abutting  on  the  cliff.  Of  the  central 
fort  only  a  crescent-ring  remains  150  feet  in  diameter,  the  wall  12  feet  9  inches  thick,  and  18  feet 
high.  It  was  bmlt  in  three  sections,  the  outer  in  parts  rose  7  feet  above  the  inner,  forming  a  sort 
of  walled  path.  This  remained  in  1839,  but  had  disappeared  in  1878,  portions  of  the  outer  facing 
having  by  that  time  fallen  displaying  the  face  of  the  inner  layer.  To  the  south-east  is  a  perfect 
gateway,  with  bmlt  sides  and  heavy  lintel,  rising.  Like  reversed  steps,  inward.  The  ope  is  over 
6  feet  high,  or  only  5  feet  3  inches  if  we  subtract  the  "step  lintel,"  and  3  feet  4  inches  to 
3  feet  5  inches  wide,  as  the  jambs  slightly  incline  ;  beside  it  are  upright  joints.  The  second 
wall  is  less  regular  in  plan ;  the  enclosure  now  measui-es  over  all  400  feet  east  and  west, 
and  300  north  and  south.  It  has  a  gate  to  the  north-east  and  a  sort  of  bastion  to  the 
north-west.  Outside  this  is  a  remarkable  abattis  of  pillar-stones  3  or  4  feet  high  over  a 
space  30  feet  to  60  feet  wide;  the  tops  are  channelled  with  age,  and  they  are  set  "slope- 
wise  "  in  the  ground  ;  many  have  fallen.  The  third,  and  outer  wall,  is  thin  and  of  irregular  plan, 
manifestly  an  afterthought  later  than  the  abattis.  Its  enclosui'c  measures  over  all  1174  feet  east 
and  west,  and  650  feet  north  and  south.  The  whole  fort  underwent  extensive  and  in  parts  injui-ious 
repair  during  its  conservation  as  a  "National  Monument "  in  1881,  and  many  of  the  flights  of  steps 
date  from  that  time.  iJ^cnjaf/ows— Roderic  O'Flahcrty  (1686),  "  Ogygia,"  p.  75,  and  "  H-Iar 
Connaught,"  p.  76.  C.  C.  Babbington,  "  Fii-bolg  forts  on  the  South  Isles  of  Aran,"  Archfeologia 
Cambrensis,  1858.  Lord  Duni-aven,  "Notes  on  Irish  Architecture,"  vol.  i.,  p.  1.  Dr.  CoUey 
March,  "The  Age  of  Dun  Aenghus,"  Society  of  Antiquaries  (London),  1894.  T.  J.  Westropp, 
Journal  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxv.  (1895),  p.  256. 

82.  Cashel,  Cork  (0.  S.,  No.  96). — This  fort  lies  in  the  townland  of  Clashinimid.  It  is  a  fine 
fort,  measuring  1140  feet  east  and  west,  and  900  feet  north  and  south,  and  has  an  inner  oval  ring- 
wall  about  850  feet  north  and  south,  and  650  feet  cast  and  west,  on  a  commanding  ridge,  with  a 


'  Topographical  Dictionary  of  Ireland,"  s.v.  Baltinglas.  f  Plates  II-III.  and  fig.  19. 


Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  115 

fine  view  arouBcl,  Six  traverses  radiate  between  the  rings  at  regular  intervals.  Description — 
Richard  Caulfield,  Gentleman's  Magazine,  1865,  part  i.,  pp.  707,  710  (Eepiints,  Archaeology), 
vol.  i.,  p.  292. 

83.  Langough  Caher,  Clare  (0.  S.,  No.  42). — This  fort  has  been  already  noticed  (§  47,  supra) 
for  its  cmious  traces  of  rebuilding  in  early  times.  It  appears  to  have  consisted  of  a  ring-wall, 
100  feet  in  diameter,  still  extant,  on  the  edge  of  a  low  cliff,  and  a  large  annexe,  garth  600  feet 
by  300  feet,  surrounding  the  remainder  of  the  pear-shaped  knoll  of  rock  on  which  it  stands. 
Two  long  walls  ran  southward  down  the  slope  enclosing  a  space  400  feet  by  300  feet.  In 
later  times,  a  second  enclosure,  crescent-shaped  in  plan,  was  made  across  the  pear-shaped 
enclosm'c,  and  the  rest,  with  the  exception  of  the  central  ring-wall,  was  levelled.  It  measures 
450  feet  long  and  250  feet  wide.  The  fort  lies  500  yards  south  from  Moghanc  Caher. 
Descriptions — T.  J.  Westropp,  Joiu-nal  R. S.A.I,,  vol.  xxiii.,  p.  284,  and  Proceedings  R.I. A., 
vol.  vi.,  ser.  iii.,  p.  442. 

84.  Cahersliattghnessy,  Clare  (0.  S.,  No.  34.) — This  ciu-ious  fort  occupies  a  low  marshy  site, 
overhung  by  a  hill,  topped  with  a  rath,  in  whose  fosse,  on  the  side  next  the  caher,  stands  a  low 
pillar-stone.  The  caher  has  two  ring- walls.  The  inner  is  166  feet  to  148  feet  across  the  garth  ; 
it  has  a  defaced  gateway  to  the  north-west;  this  wall  is  12  feet  thick,  and  reduced  to  6  feet  in 
height,  with  large  facing  blocks  and  filling.  In  the  gai'th  are  several  enclosiu'es  and  hut-sites, 
with  the  foundation  of  an  oblong,  di'y-stonebuilding.  The  outer  ring  is  not  concentric  ;  it 
measures  567  feet  over  all,  and  several  radiating  "traverses"  cross  its  area.  Descriptions — 
Arthur  Gethin  Creagh  and  H.  B.  Harris,  with  plans  and  drawings  by  T,  J.  Westropp,  Joui'nal 
R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxiii.,  p.  287.     Proceedings  R.I. A.,  vol.  vi.,  ser.  iii.,  p.  438. 

85.  Other  large  Forts. — Tlw  Giants^  Ring,  Down  (given  below),  Cahermore,  Eilskeagh,  Galway 
(0.  S.  No.  71),  600  to  650  feet  diameter;  Batinmore,  Cork  (15),  750  by  600  feet;  Sillagh, 
Kildare  (24),  820  feet;   Rathgal,  WicUo^v  (37),  two  rings,  950  to  1050  feet,  and  450  feet. 

Other  typical  Ring  Forts  : — 

86.  Innisynurray ,  Sligo  (0.  S.,  No.  1.)  has  been  described  at  considerable  length  and  carefully 
illustrated.  It  is,  roughly  speaking,  pear-shaped  in  plan.  The  wall  being  from  7  to  15  feet  thick 
at  the  base,  from  7 A-  feet  to  13  feet  high,  of  fine,  di'y  masonry  with  V-shaped  flights  of  rude  steps, 
and  no  trace  of  terraces.  The  fort  is  175  feet  to  135  feet  across.  It  has  the  unusual  featiu-e  of 
four,  or  perhaps  five,  entrances.  The  north-east  is  called  the  water-gate,  and  from  it  a  covered  way 
runs  round  the  inner  base  of  the  wall.  There  are  at  least  two  cells  in  the  wall,  one  circular,  one 
oblong.  The  water-gate  is  perfect,  6  feet  3  inches  high,  and  from  3  feet  5  inches  below  to  3  feet 
at  top,  with  a  massive  Untel.  The  southern  gate,  with  the  wall  near  it,  was  entirely  built  by 
the  workmen  when  it  was  conserved  as  a  national  monument  in  1880.  The  low  entrances 
are  of  a  type  unusual  in  forts,  though  not  uncommon  in  souterrains,  the  passage  rises  abruptly 
under  a  domed  cell  ;  the  outer  door  is  2  feet  8  inches  high  and  2  feet  wide,  the  jambs  being 
inclined.     The  other  entrances  are  similar  in  chai-acter,  and  only  differ  by  a  few  inches.*     They 


*  See  section  50. 

Q2 


116 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


are  about  80  feet  or  90  feet  apart,  and  run  througt  the  thickest  portion  of  the  wall.  The  restorers, 
most  unhappily,  mistook  the  character  of  the  steps,  and  built  them  up  into  straight-sided  niches, 
extending  to  the  summit  of  the  wall.  The  inner  enclosures  and  early  monastic  buildings  do  not 
concern  the  present  paper.  The  well  lies  outside,  but  almost  under  the  wall,  and  at  some  distance 
from  the  gateway.  Descriptions— Lord  Dunraven,  "  Notes  on  Irish  Architecture,"  vol.  i.,  p.  47, 
and  Wm.  F.  Wakeman,  in  an  exceptionally  complete  and  careful  description,  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  xvii. 
(1885-1886),  p.  185.     Republished  as  an  "Annual  Volume"  by  same  Society. 

87.   Giatifs   Sconce,  Londonderry   (0.  S.  No.  6,  but  fort  is  not  shown).— A  cliff-fort  on  a 
bold  rock    above  the  pass  from  Dunboe    to  Lai'gantea,  and    about    800  feet    above    the    sea. 


A^-as^^MB^Mk^ 


Fig.  22. — Principal  Gateway,  Innismurray,  Sligo. 


It  is  the  ancient  Dun  Ceithern,  the"Munitio  Cetherni"  of  Adamnan's  "  Life  of  St.  Columba," 
near  which  lay  the  well  which  the  saint  prophesied  would  be  defiled  with  blood,*  which  was  ful- 
filled in  a  fierce  battle.  The  rock  is  difficult  of  access,  save  fi'om  the  south-east,  where  there  is  a 
gateway  5  feet  wide,  and  it  is  fortified  by  a  wall  of  massive  rocks  ;  the  interior  has  been  hollowed, 
and  a  passage  2  feet  wide  and  40  feet  long  constructed  thi'ough  it  to  the  N.E.,  with  inclined  sides, 
and  roofed  with  large  slabs.     The  entrance  is  5  feet  wide,  with  rough  steps  up  to  it.     The  ruin 


*Adamnan  (Ed.  Bishop  Reeves),  pp.  93-96.     The  well  is  to  the  north-east. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  117 

commands  a  fine  view  from  the  Bann  nearly  to  the  Giant's  Causeway.     The  rampart  was  defaced 
about  1808  by  people  looking  for  "  a  cove  of  money." 

88.  Moneygashel  "  Cashel"  Cavern  (0.  S.,  No.  4).— Four  miles  fi-om  Black  Lion.  The  fort 
lies  on  a  hill  sloping  towards  the  south.  It  is  nearly  circular,  and  84  feet  in  diameter,  the  wall 
being  10  feet  thick,  and  about  8  feet  high.  Inside  four  flights  of  steps  remain,  two  to  the  east 
and  two  to  the  north,  in  V-shaped  pairs.*  Only  the  foundation  of  the  gateway  remains  ;  it  was 
3  feet  9  inches  wide.  On  the  southern,  or  lowest  side,  a  drain  runs  under  the  wall,  14  inches  by 
18  inches.  Description — S.  F.  Milligan,  "  Ancient  forts  in  County  Sligo"  (and  Cavan),  R.S.A.I., 
Journal,  vol.  xxi.,  p.  580.     Illustration. 

89.  Gianfs  Ring,  Down  (0.  S.  No.  9). — An  enormous  earthen  ring  580  feet  in  diameter, 
with  five  gaps ;  the  ramparts  high,  and  80  feet  thick  at  the  base  ;  a  dolmen  lies  in  the  middle. 
Its  use  was  probably  sepulchral,  and  not  defensive.  It  seems  to  have  a  trace  of  a  terrace. 
Description — Wm.  C.  Borlase,  "  Dolmens  of  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  p.  275.     Illustrations. 

90.  Caherspeenaun,  Mayo  (not  marked  on  maps). — A  double-ringed  caher  near  Cong.  The 
inner  garth  is  130  feet  across,  the  walls  are  of  small  stones,  and  are  10  feet  thick  and  6  feet 
high.  At  a  distance  of  48  feet  from  the  inner  ring  are  some  remains  of  a  second  wall,  which 
was  probably  about  250  feet  across.  When  this  wall  was  demolished  quern  stones  and  iron 
axes  were  found  built  up  in  it.  Similar  discoveries  were  also  made  in  the  neighbouring  fort 
of  Caherbiel  on  its  demolition.  Description — Sir  "W.  "Wilde,  "  Lough  Corrib,"  pp.  230,  238. 
Illustration. 

91.  Cashel  of  Moyne,  Mayo  (0.  S.  123). — There  seems  reason  to  believe  with  Mr.  H.  T. 
Knox  (from  whose  notes  this  section  is  derived)  that  the  Cashel  is  of  much  earlier  date  than  the 
foundation  of  the  chm-ch.  It  is  an  oval  ring-waU,  380  feet  east  and  west,  and  330  north  and 
south.  The  wall  is  8  feet  thick,  and  high,  the  outer  face  being  of  much  larger  masonry  than  the 
inner,  but  more  dilapidated.  The  church  has  two  pillar-stones  near  its  western  end,  and  opposite 
the  present  gateway  in  the  Cashel  wall.  Coffins  are  always  carried  between  them,  and  they  pro- 
bably represent  the  gateway  of  an  ancient  enclosm'e :  there  are  several  foimdations  of  dividing 
walls  apparent  in  the  garth.     It  lies  not  far  to  the  north  of  Headford. 

92.  Eilcashel  Caher,  Mayo  (0.  S.  No.  73). — This  fine  ring-waU  is  locally  named  Coolcashel 
or  Coolcastle.  It  is  nearly  circular  in  plan,  and  measures  100  feet  internally ;  the  top  is  sodded  and 
covered  with  heath.  The  masonry  is  largest  to  the  north-east,  and  where  this  ends  there  is  a 
patch  of  small  stone-work  as  if  a  breach  had  been  repaired.  The  rampart  is  13  feet  wide  at  the 
base,  and  12  feet  at  the  top,  much  of  it  being  9  feet  high.  It  is  built  in  two  sections,  the  outer 
7  feet  wide,  the  inner  5  feet.  The  latter  forms  a  sort  of  terrace,  being  slightly  lower  than  the 
outer  section.     There  is  a  high  plinth  round  the  foot  of  the  wall. 

The  gateway  is  well  preserved;!  the  jambs  slightly  incUne,  and  the  lintel  rests  on 
corbels.  It  is  4  feet  9  inches  wide,  the  passage  naiTowing  to  4  feet  in  the  centre  of  the 
waU.  The  inner  angles  are  rounded,  and  near  the  right-hand  jamb  a  flight  of  small  steps 
leads   up   to  the  waU. 


See  section  49,  supra.     Figure  19.  t  Kate  V. 


118  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Opposite  the  entrance,  at  the  west  side,  is  a  small  oilset,  and  two  small  opes  1 8  feet  9  inches 
apart,  and  measuring  2  feet  8  inches  wide  and  1  foot  8  inches  high.  It  is  said  that  they  lead  to  a 
passage  "  nearly  high  enough  for  a  man  to  stand  upright  in  it."  This  passage  extends  fi'om  the 
southern  to  a  few  feet  past  the  northern  one.  In  the  south-west  side  of  the  garth  are  two  ruined 
souterrains,  and  there  are  traces  of  other  enclosures,  but  not  of  circular  huts.* 

93.  Cahergel,  Gahcaij  (0.  S.  No.  55). — This  fort  lies  in  Killm-sa  parish,  two  miles  from 
Lough  Corrib.  It  is  a  circular  ring-wall  of  large  masonry,  and  117  feet  internal  and  137  feet 
external  diameter.  The  wall  is  from  7  feet  7  inches  to  9  feet  4  inches  thick,  and  was  from  16  to 
20  feet  high  when  Dr.  O'Donoyan  visited  the  place,  but  is  now  reduced  to  half  that  height  for 
the  fort  was  used  for  a  quarry  to  supply  building  material  for  the  Headford  Barrack.  There  are 
steps  of  large  blocks  projecting  from  the  face  of  the  wall  like  those  of  a  modem  stile.  The  gate- 
way faced  the  south-east,  and  is  7  feet  6  inches  wide,  with  jamb-stones  5  feet  8  inches  high,  5  feet 
wide,  and  21  inches  thick.  Descriptions — Sir  "W.  Wilde,  "  Lough  Corrib,"  p.  95  ;  Lord  Dun- 
raven,  "Ancient  Architecture,"  i.,  p.  15. 

94.  Bun  Conor,  Inishere,  County  Galwaij  (0.  S.  No.  119). — This  fort  is  called  the  "Down 
of  Conquovar"  by  Eoderick  O'Flaherty.  It  occupies  a  commanding  position  overlooking  aU  the 
island,  and  visible  fi'om  the  mainland  of  Galway  and  Clare.  The  supposed  founder  of  the  fort  is 
called  Concraid  in  the  poem  of  Mac  Liag.  "  Concraid  obtained  his  just  portion  at  the  sea  on 
Inismaan."f  The  ruin  was  called  Dooncraggadoo  when  Petrie  visited*  Aran.  J:  It  measures 
227  feet  north  and  south,  and  115  east  and  west  internally,  being  a  long  oval  fortification  on  the 
edge  of  a  low  ridge  20  feet  high  above  a  valley.  The  wall  is  in  three  sections,  18  feet  7  inches 
thick  and  20  feet  high,  with  little,  if  any,  batter,  and  with  several  upright  joints.  The  gateway 
was  2  feet  5  inches  to  3  feet  6  inches,  widening  inwards  ;  it  is  defaced,  and  lies  to  the  east ;  a 
terrace  ran  round  the  waU,  and,  before  the  unfortunate  "restoration"  of  the  fort,  presented  a 
terrace  and  several  flights  of  steps.  The  north  flight  was  steep  and  ran  straight  up  the  platform, 
and  thence  tiuTied  to  the  right  up  to  the  top  of  the  rampart.  Another  flight  lay  near  to  and  to 
the  right  of  the  gateway ;  there  were  others  to  the  west  and  south,  and  some  lesser  ones,  but  the 
present  interior  is  greatly  altered,  and  portions  rebuilt  where,  in  1878,  it  had  fallen  to  such  a 
degree  as  to  afford  no  authority  for  the  modem  steps  and  upper  work  of  the  restoration.  A 
curious  group  of  huts  at  the  southern  end  has  been  partly  rebuilt,  but  on  the  old  foundations. 
A  crescent  enclosure  adjoius  the  central  caher,  looping  into  its  wall  to  the  north-west  and  south- 
west, and  being  about  100  feet  out  from  it  at  its  farthest  point  to  the  south-east.  Another 
bastion  of  unusual  plan  projects  from  the  second  wall  at  about  50  feet  from  the  main  gate  of  the 
inner  fort;  it  measures  51  feet  by  73  feet,  and  has  external  and  internal  gateways,  now  defaced; 
it  is  15  feet  high.  Description — Lord  Dunraven,  "Notes,"  vol.  i.,  p.  6,  with  plan  and  illus- 
trations. Journal  U.S.A. I.,  vol.  xxv.  (1895),  p.  267.     See  Plate  iv.     Figs.  13  and  23. 


*  This  description  and  the  illustration  (Plate  V.)  are  kindly  given  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Knox, 
f  Ossianic  Society,  v.,  p.  287. 

%  "Militaiy  Architecture  of  Ireland,"  MSS.  R.I. A.,  p.  145.     In  the  repairs  on  the  fort,  a 
doubled-up  skeleton  was  discovered  in  it. 


INNISMURRAY. 


SLICO 


ATHNADRINNAGH.       TIPPERARY 


DONNAMOC. 


MAYO 


CAHIRCCNREE,.  KERRY 


^■'vwLlw'       9        ipo      too  f  I 


DUN  CONOR. 


INISHCRC 


lOon 


CAHERMOYGUAR. 

/"'ft: 


CORK 


,,r;<;<;^^^v*W,„„^J^ 


"iniimuiili^ 
50  Fi 


CASHELORE. 


mmm 


ELICO 


CAHERCUTT!NE.  CLARE  STANALAN 


LONDONDERRY 


'"^''^'inliiS^        9       10     "     30fT 


WESTTOWN 


C  WATERFORD 
0     100  100 


Fig.  23.— typical  IRISH  FORTS. 


120 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


jixiijiWi-'"^ 


95.  Caheradrine,  Galway  (0.  S.  No.  95). — A  large  caher  on  the  roadside  north  of  Clarin- 
hridge.  It  is  an  unusually  massiTe  ring  of  masonry  over  500  feet  across,  and  ahout  1850  feet 
round.  The  walls  are  6  to  8  feet  thick,  and  for  the  most  part  7  feet  high  iu  the  faces  away  from 
the  road.  The  hlocks  of  the  facing  measure,  as  a  rule,  3  feet  hy  2  feet  to  6  feet  by  2  feet,  there 
is  a  very  doubtful  example  of  an  upright  joint.  The  gate  faces  the  south,  and  is  7  feet  wide,  with 
side-blocks  6  feet  wide  and  5  feet  3  inches  high ;  the  lintels  are  gone.  There  is  smaller  stonework 
about  6  feet  to  the  east  of  the  gateway. 

In  the  centre  of  the  garth  is  a  mortar-built  featureless  wall  from  which  radiate  a  series  of 
field  walls,  the  fort  being  used  for  meadowing.  The  fort  is  said  to  derive  its  name  from  the 
O'Drinans,  whose  duty  it  was  to  "  distribute  justice  to  the  tribes  "*  of  Hy  Fiachra  Aidne.  Their 
ofB.cial  residence  was  in  later  times  at  Ardnagree  near  Kinvarra.  The  name  as  given  by  local 
wi'iters  is  Caherdrineen.     See  Plate  vi. 

96.  Cahercomtnaim,  Clare  (0.  S.  No.  10). — This  fort  is  not  named,  though  it  is  roughly  indi- 
cated on  the  1839  maps.  Lord  Dunraven 
describes  it,  but  did  not  fiud  its  name, 
which  is  known  to  the  neighbouring 
peasantry  over  middle  age,  and  is  found 
in  leases  and  gi-ants  of  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  centuries,  and  Petty's  Survey. 
It  is  a  massive  caher  of  very  rude  masonry, 
130  feet  to  157  feet  over  aU  ;  the  wall  14 
feet  high  and  21  feet  thick  on  the  edge 
of  a  high  cliff  over  the  GlencuiTaim 
valley  ;  there  are  traces  of  a  terrace  and 
one  flight  of  steps  to  the  south-west,  and 
of  a  gateway  or  rock-cut  drain  3  feet 
wide  on  the  cliffi  edge.  A  waU  of  good 
masonry  (much  demolished  in  early  times, 
and  huts  built  upon  and  against  it)  is 
equidistant  from  the  central  caher,  out- 
side is  a  more  iiTegular  wall,  320  feet  by  245  feet  across.  It  is  built  in  sections  of  masoni-y 
similar  to  the  main  fort,  4  feet  thick  and  8  feet  high,  forming,  like  the  second  wall,  a 
half-moon  and  abutting  on  the  clifE.  In  the  outer  enclosure  are  two  radiating  walls  with 
huts  at  the  end,  several  hut-sites  and  a  sunken  passage,  not  leading  to  a  gateway  but 
abutting  on  the  solid  outer  waU.  Descriptions — Lord  Dunraven  "Notes,"  vol.  i.,  p.  18: 
no  dimensions  or  plan,  only  called  a  "fort  between  Clifden  and  Tennon,"  T.  J.  Westropp, 
Journal  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxvi.,  p.  153,  with  plan  and  illustrations;  Proceedings  K.I.A.,  vol.  vi., 
ser.  iii.,  p.  430. 


Fig.  '24. — Cahercommaun,  Clare. 


*  Thus  a  fort  in  Clare  is  called  Cahennaclanchy  fi-om  the  family  of  Mac  Flanchada,  a  race  of 
Brehons. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  121 

97.  Cashlaun  Gar,  Clare  (0.  S.  No.  10). — Occupies  the  summit  of  a  lofty  isolated  rock 
rising  from  the  GlencuiTaun  Valley.  It  is  i-udely  oval,  about  160  feet  north  and  south,  and  105  feet 
east  and  west,  with  salient  angles  clinging  to  the  projections  of  the  cliff.  The  gateway  was  pro- 
bably corbelled  ;  it  opens  upon  a  ledge  10  feet  high,  and  must  hare  been  reached  by  a  ladder.  The 
wall  is  10  feet  thick  and  13i  feet  high,  with  upright  joints.  There  are  four  hut  sites.  Descrip- 
tions— Journal  E. S.A.I. ,  xxvi.,  p.  152.     Plan  and  Illustrations.     Proo.  E.I. A.,  vol.  vi.,  ser.  iii. 

98.  Ballijlcinvarga,  Caher,  Clare  (0.  S.  No.  9). — CaherloughUn,  in  the  Book  of  Distribu- 
tion, 1655,  perhaps  the  Cathair  Fhionnabhrach  of  the  Book  of  Eights.*  It  lies  on  a  gently  rising 
ground  near  Kilfenora,  and  consists  of  a  strong  wall,  135  feet  by  155  feet  across  the  garth,  built 
with  two  terraces,  and  14  feet  thick  and  over  15  feet  high,  with  batter  and  upright  joints,  enclosing 
a  garth  with  huts  and  enclosures. f  The  gateway  to  the  south,  with  side-posts  and  a  lintel  7  feet 
long.  A  sunken  way  leads  through  an  abattis  of  sharp  stone  inllars,  from  50  to  100  feet  wide,  with 
an  edge  of  low  earthwork  and  large  slabs,  one  7  feet  high.  A  spring  wells  out  of  the  slabs  not 
far  fi-om  the  entrance.  Description — T.  J.  Westropp,  Joiu-nal  E.S.A.I.,  xxvii.  (1897),  p.  121, 
with  plans  and  views  ;  Proc.  R.I.  A.,  vol.  vi.,  ser.  iii.,  p.  429. 

99.  Caher croviea/rg,  Kerry  (0.  S.  No.  68).— A  large  ring-wall  110  feet  in  diameter;  the 
rampart  is  massive,  but  much  ruined,  8  feet  to  10  feet  6  inches  thick,  and  in  places  12  feet 
high  outside  and  6  feet  inside.  It  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  in  later  times.  There  is  a  rude 
altar  with  three  stones  forming  a  cross,  to  the  east  end.  A  pattern  was  held  on  May  1st;  the 
nameless  patroness  was  said  to  be  sometimes  visible  bleaching  clothes  at  the  holy  well.  The  well 
lies  to  the  west  side,  and  seems  to  have  been  an  undergi'oimd  passage,  now  filled  with  water ; 
cattle  were  di-iven  into  the  fort  to  drink  as  a  precaution  against  contagious  diseases.  The  stations 
are  marked  by  small  stones  scribed  with  crosses. 

1 00.  Cahergel,  Balhjcarbery,  Kerry, — (Not  on  0.  S.  map).  A  remarkable  stone  fort,  86  feet  inter- 
nally, having  X  arrangements  of  flights  of  steps,  seven  in  number,  leading  to  a  terrace  2  feet  wide, 
above  which  the  wall  rises  for  a  few  feet.  The  wall  is  12  feet  thick  at  the  top  and  13  feet  below, 
13  feet  high  outside,  and  11  feet  inside,  the  wall  ha^-ing  a  batter  of  1  in  13.  In  the  garth, 
which  is  104  feet  in  diameter,  is  a  broken-topped  cloghaun  32  feet  in  internal  diameter,  the 
walls  8  feet  high  and  thick.  The  gateway  had  imposts  and  lintels,  one  8  feet  long,  and  faced 
south-east,  but  it  has  collapsed  with  much  of  the  adjacent  wall,  and  the  steps  are  now  much 
injm-ed.  Descriptions — Lady  Chatterton,  "Eamhles  in  the  South  of  Ireland";  G.  Wilkinson, 
"  Practical  Geology  and  Ancient  Architecture  of  Ireland"  (1848),  p.  57  ;  E.  E.  Brash,  "  Eccle- 
siastical Architectui-e  of  Ireland"  (1875);  Lord  Dum-aven,  "Notes  on  Irish  Architecture," 
vol.  i.,  p.  24.     Views  and  sections. 

101.  Cahereullaun  '^  Boen"  Kerry  (0.  S.  No.  43). — This  is  a  strong  circular  caher,  enclosing 
a  clochaun  and  standing  at  the  comer  of  a  large  rectangular  enclosm-e  of  di-y-stone  walls.  The 
walls  of  the  caher  are  9  feet  thick,  12  feet  high,  and  show  traces  of  steps  leading  to  the  top, 


*  "Book  of  Eights"  (Ed.  J.  O'Donovan),  pp.  87-89. 

f  Plate  VII.    Plan  in  section  51,  «?<j9;v(.    The  references  in  plan  are — A,  Huts;  B,  Terraces; 
C,  Gate  ;  D,  Sunken  way ;  E,  Monolith  ;  E,  Spring. 

From  KL.  IK.   ACAB.   XKAJSS.,   VOL.  XXXI. I'AiiT  XIV.  R 


122  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

and  have  a  marked  external  batter.  Miicli  was  pulled  do-mi  by  a  farmer  in  1798.  Perforated 
door-posts  lay  in  the  defaced  gateway,  and  in  the  garth  which  measures  70  feet  in  diameter  ai'e 
the  horseshoe-shaped  foundations  of  a  clochaun.  The  oblong  area  measures  78  paces  from  east  to 
west  and  45  from  north  to  south  ;  its  walls  are  only  3  feet  6  inches  thick  and  10  feet  high ;  on 
the  east  side  were  some  remains  of  a  strong  peel  tower.  Description — Lady  Chatterton, 
"  E ambles  in  the  south  of  Ireland,"   vol.  i.,  p.  184. 

102.  Fahan,  Kerry  (0.  S.  No.  52). — This  most  important  gi'oup  of  forts  receives  notice  in 
other  parts  of  this  paper.  Doonbeg  in  section  50  :  Caherconor  (DuNoyer's  "  Fort  of  the  "Wolves") 
in  fig.  21,  supra;  and  Doonmore  in  section  125.  The  other  important  forts,  both  of  earth 
and  stone,  have  been  fully  described  by  DuNoyer  and  Mi'.  E.  Macalister  in  the  accounts  so 
often  cited  above. 

103.  Staigue  "Pound"  Kerry  (0.  S.  No.  99). — This  fort  is  too  well-known  to  need  more 
than  a  brief  notice.*  It  is  89  feet  in  internal  diameter,  the  walls  18  feet  high,  and  fi-om  13  feet 
t«  11  feet  thick,  with  an  external  batter  and  upright  joints.  Inside  is  a  remai-kable  an-angement 
of  steps  crossing  each  other  in  ten  bays  of  X  design,  with  platforms  at  the  intersections.  There 
are  two  chambers  in  the  wall,  and  it  once  possessed  a  cornice  of  large  blocks.  The  gateway  is 
entii'e  with  built  sides  and  a  reveal  in  the  passage ;  it  faces  the  south,  and  is  6  feet  2  inches 
high,  tapering  fi-om  5  feet  2  inches  to  4  feet  3  inches.  The  wall  is  girt  by  a  shallow  fosse. 
Descriptions — General  C.  VaUancey,  "Account  of  the  ancient  stone  Amphitheati-e  (1787)"; 
F.  C.  Bland,  Transactions,  E.I. A.  (1821),  vol.  xiv.,  p.  17,  an  admirable  paper  with  plan  and 
sections;  and  Lord  Dunraven,  "  Notes."  vol.  i.  p.  24,  with  fine  photographs.  See  Plate  vin., 
section  49. 

104.  CahermoygilUar  ("  Cathair  Maigh  Liadh  Gliar"),  Cork  (0.  S.  No.  94).— Two  miles  from 
Kinneigh  in  the  townland  of  Cahir.f  A  circular  earthwork  with  stone  facings  like  the  southern 
Caherdorgan  in  Keny.  The  outer  facing  is  now  4  feet  high  ;  the  fort  measures  90  feet  internal 
and  120  feet  external  diameter.  The  rampart  is  8  feet  high,  and  about  12  feet  thick;  the  inner 
face  low  and  destroyed.  It  has  a  remarkable  gateway  25  feet  4  inches  long  with  a  coveiing  of 
seven  slabs,  the  outer  impost  being  placed  on  edge.  This  passage  is  7  feet  3  inches  to  6  feet  high. 
In  the  garth  are  a  partially  explored  souterraLn  lying  to  the  south-east,  and  near  it  a  eaii'n,  or 
perhaps  fallen  Cloghan,  8  feet  high  and  70  feet  round.  It  is  suirounded  by  two  fosses  and  rings, 
the  inner  fosse  9  feet,  and  the  outer  12  feet  wide.  It  was  first  explored  in  1856,  and  described  by 
John  AVindele,  who,  most  unfortunately  for  Iiish  field  survey,  did  not  publish  his  notes. 

105.  Keel  Aodh,  Cork  (0.  S.  No.  30).  —In  Drominagh,  near  Belathanire  on  the  BaUy- 
hooly  road,  half  a  mile  north-east  fi'om  Ballinabortagh,  where  is  a  square  fort  with  a  dallan 
and  a  defaced  dolmen.  It  was  explored  by  Windele,  1841.  The  fort  is  circular  and 
much  defaced.  The  rampart  8  feet  high  outside,  and  3  feet  to  6  feet  high  inside.  Within  it 
is   an  oblong,  nearly  rectangular,  enclosui-e,   86  feet   north   and   south,  and  80  feet  east  and 


*  "Our  Ancient  Monuments"  (C.  P.  Kains  Jackson),  p.  89,  is  inclined  to  attribute  Staigue 
to  a  date  a  little  later  than  a.d.  1000. 
t  Figure  23. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  123 

west,  mucli  broken.  Near  the  north-west  angle  is  a  cairn  of  rude  stones  covered  with  a 
coating  of  quartz  blocks,  and  only  3  feet  high,  18  feet  north  and  south,  and  12  feet  east  and  west ; 
in  the  south  east  angle  is  a  grave,  oval  or  boat  shaped,  fonned  of  stones  set  on  edge.  It  probably 
represents  a  residential  fort  utilised  as  a  burial-place  in  early  times. 

106.  Zissrahiennid  (Lios  ratha  Diarmuid),  Cork  (0.  S.  Nos.  25  and  26),  near  BallygaiTane 
(Feimoy). — An  earthwork  90  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  fosse  and  ring.  The  ring  4  feet,  and  the 
fort  18  feet,  above  the  field;  the  fosse,  5  feet  below.  It  has  a  soutcrrain  built  of  rough  stones 
and  covered  by  flags  4  feet  across. 

107.  Casket,  Knockd/run,  Cork  (0.  S.  No.  142). — A  stone  fort  300  feet  in  circumference  on 
a  bold  hill.  The  wall  5  or  6  feet  high,  and  10  feet  or  11  feet  thick.  Near  the  gateway  are  a 
recess  in  the  waU  and  a  pillar  with  a  rude  cross.  The  foundations  of  a  clochaun,  18  feet  long  and 
with  a  rounded  end,  lies  in  the  garth  ;  also  several  souterrains  6  feet  to  12  feet  long  and  3  feet  high. 
Description — Canon  J.  Brougham,  Cork  Historical  and  Archasological  Society,  vol.  ii.,  p.  154. 

108.  Kilhradran  Rath,  Limerick  (0.  S.  No.  19). — An  earthwork  on  a  hill  to  the  south-east 
of  Foynes,  near  Old  Abbey.  The  vallum  is  8  feet  high  outside,  and  2  feet  high  inside,  and 
consists  of  two  rings,  the  inner  about  150  feet  across,  the  outer  56  feet  distant  from  the  inner. 
It  has  an  entrance  gap  to  the  south,  and  a  shallow  fosse.     See  fig.  23. 

Marsh  and  Lake  Forts. — The  walled  islands,  as  we  pointed  out,  are 
constantly  alluded  to  in  the  voyage  of  Maelduin.  In  most  cases  they  are 
like  the  weaker  cahers,  and  seldom  possess  structural  features  of  interest. 
We  may  dismiss  the  principal  of  them  with  a  few  brief  notes  :* — 

109.  Bungorkin,  Londonderry  (0.  S.  No.  23). — This  fort  is  in  low  marshy  land,  and  possibly 
occupied  an  island  in  a  shallow  lake.  It  has  an  oval  mound,  186  feet  by  129  feet,  and  inside  it 
is  a  circle,  45  feet  in  diameter ;  outside  the  whole  is  a  large  elliptical  fosse,  84  feet  wide.  A 
causeway  of  piles,  with  transverse  beams  over  them,  and  cross  beams,  above  the  upper  timbers 
lead  to  it  across  the  marsh.     Description — "  Statistical  Survey  of  County  Down,"  p.  499. 

110.  Lough  Nacrannagh,  Antrim  (0.  S.  No.  26). — In  the  lake  on  the  plateau  above  Fair 
Head.  A  well-built  oval  fort,  6  feet  by  4  feet  high,  the  garth  paved  and  measuring  126  feet  by 
80  feet.  It  has  a  landing-place  6  feet  wide  to  the  north-east,  and  steps  to  south  and  east. 
Description — A.  M'Henry,  Proe.  R.I.  A.,  vol.  ii.,  ser.  ii.,  p.  462  ;  "  Ulster  Journal  of  Archjeology," 
vol.  vm.,  p.  238. 

111.  Innis  Mac  Creaiva,  or  Illaun  Carhery,  Galwag  (O.  S.  No.  55).' — An  island  in  Lough 
Corrib.     It   has  a  circular   caher   of   small   dry-stone    masonry ;    the  wall,    6  feet   thick   and 


*  To  mention  a  few  others: — A  lake  fort  remains  at  Lough  na  Crannoge,  Tyrone;  a  marsh 
tort,  with  strong  earthwork  and  fosse,  in  Attyflin,  Limerick,  near  the  railway  ;  Caherkinallia, 
Clare,  a  stone  fort  in  a  knoll  in  a  marshy  hollow,  &c.  The  Annals  of  Ulster  record  the  building 
of  one,  Oilen  Daingcn,  in  a.d.  703,  and  its  destruction  three  years  later. 

R2 


124  "Westropp — The  Ancient  Foi-ts  of  Ireland. 

10  feet  6  inches  high,  and  about  HO  feet  across,  occupying  most  of  the  island.  A  slight  fosse 
appears  round  the  wall,  save  at  the  entrance  gateway,  where  is  a  level  crossing.  Description 
and  illustration— Sir  W.  Wilde,  "Lough  Corrib,"  &c.  (1867),  p.  89. 

112.  Lough  Skannive,  Galway  (0.  S.  No.  77),  near  Cama. — The  fort*  is  locally  called  "the 
Castle."  The  islet  is  overgrown  and  girt,  save  at  some  abrupt  rocks,  by  an  irregular  wall,  with 
regular  facing  and  fiUing,  3  or  4  feet  thick,  and  enclosing  a  space,  70  feet  by  50  feet,  and  about 
220  feet  round.  There  is  a  small  dock  for  boats  on  the  side  farthest  from  the  shore  ;  the  wall  has 
a  slight  batter.  There  is  another  walled  island  in  the  same,  and  a  third  in  Lough  Bola,  not  far 
away.  Descriptions — "Lough  Skannive,"  General  Edgar  Layard,  Joiu'nal  U.S. A. I.,  vol.  xxvir., 
p.  273  ;  "Lough  Bola,"  Mr.  George  Kinahan,  Ibid.  (1872-3),  p.  11.     Illustrations  in  both. 

113.  Cahersavaun,  Clare  (0.  S.  IsTo.  10). — A  strong  caher,  with  large  masonry,  the  featiu-es 
defaced,  on  a  rocky  knoll  in  the  temporary  Lake  of  Castletown.  There  seem  to  be  remains  of  a 
curved  causeway  leading  to  the  shore.     Description  and  illustration — R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xwi.,  p.  364. 

114.  Loughadoon,  Donegal  (0.  S.  ISo.  64.) — An  oval  fort  on  an  island,  giving  its  name  to 
Loughadoon,  two  miles  from  Portnoo ;  it  measui'es  118  feet  by  87  feet  internally.  The  wall 
varies  fi-om  14  feet  to  lOA-  feet  thick,  and  is  very  well  built  of  di-y-stone  work.  One  gateway 
remains,  and  a  fight  of  steps  at  each  end  of  the  oval  going  to  the  top  of  the  wall ;  traces  of  a 
passage  remain  inside  the  wall.  Description — Very  Eev.  Archdeacon  Baillie,  Journal  E.S.A.I., 
vol.  XXX.,  p.  148. 

115.  Rectilinear  Forts. — As  already  noted,  the  square  fort,  wliether 
of  earth  or  stone,  differs  in  no  structural  particular  from  the  ring  wall  or 
rath.  As  regards  age,  antiquities  of  the  Bronze  Age  have  been  found  in 
a  few  ;  but  the  popular  idea  that  the  straight-walled  fort  is  later  than  the 
curvilinear  has  probability  on  its  side,  at  least  in  many  Irish  cases.  These 
forts  in  Ireland  have  also  an  important  bearing  on  the  archseology  of 
Great  Britain  and  the  Continent,  as  showing  that  a  straight-walled  early 
fort  is  not  necessarily  Roman. f  They  occur,  we  believe,  in  every  Irish 
county ;  Ijut  are  most  common  in  Leinster,  especially  Wexford  with  over 
fifty,  and  Kilkenny  with  at  least  twenty-eight,  as  shown  on  the  map. 
Tliey  occur,  with  surrounding  ring-walls,  in  Galway,  Cork,  and  Clare 
counties.  There  is  a  fine  example  near  Tuam,  with  lofty  stone  walls 
forming  a  rectangular  central  enclosure,  and  a  second  wall  circular  in 

*  Plate  VI. 

+  The  question  is  outside  this  essay,  and  the  instances  given  by  George  Chalmers  ("  Caledonia," 
i.,  p.  92)  and  others  of  square  and  ring  forts  occurring  together  in  Scotland  and  TTales,  being  a 
Celtic  fort  with  a  Roman  camp  holding  the  natives  in  check,  lose  much  weight  from  the  Irish 
instances. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  125 

plan ;  and  another,  with  a  small  central  ring-wall  and  large  straight-walled 
outer  enclosure,  lies  on  the  ridge  of  Cahermackirilla,  in  Clare.  It  is  at 
present  impossible  to  state,  even  approximately,  their  total  number.  Of 
course  it  is  more  than  probable  that  many  are  omitted  on  the  maps ;  and, 
without  a  personal  visit,  one  cannot  be  sure  that  the  circular  forts  shown 
on  the  older  Ordnance  Survey  maps  are  not,  in  some  cases,  rectilinear, 
while,  on  the  new  maps,  many  rectilinear  forts  are  not  distinguished  from 
late  enclosures.  The  earthworks  of  this  plan  are  of  very  little  interest ; 
so  we  will  only  illustrate  this  section  by  a  few  of  the  more  striking 
examples  of  rectilinear-walled  stone  forts : — 

116.  Caherrihert,  Oalwmj  (not  on  0.  S.  120).— It  is  ca  straight-sided  fort,  with  dry-stone 
walls,  6  feet  high  and  2^  feet  thick.  In  the  western  side  is  a  gate,  with  sloping  jambs  and  lintels, 
4  feet  10  inches  high,  and  3  feet  2  inches  to  2  feet  10  inches  wide.  Wilde  considers  it  much  later 
than  the  neighbouring  ring-walls.     BescripfionSir  W.  Wilde,  "  Lough  Corrib,"  p.  244. 

117.  Eiwckimn  Fort,  Clare  (0.  S.  No.  10).— In  the  townland  of  Tullycommaun,  not  far 
from  the  dolmen  on  its  northern  ridge,  is  a  straight-walled  stone  fort,  now  greatly  levelled.  It  is 
of  irregular  "diamond  shaped"  plan,  but  is  shown  on  the  old  Ordnance  maps  as  a  circular  fort. 
It  is  of  fair  masomy,  and  in  its  garth  lies  a  very  curious  slab  enclosure,  formed  of  large  blocks  of 
limestone  set  on  edge.  There  were  two  flat  stones,  probably  for  seats,  one  on  either  side  of  the 
door,  which  was  towards  the  south  ;  while  a  souterrain  under  a  block  long  led  under  the  side  slabs 
into  the  enclosure  from  the  north.     The  garth  measiu-es  about  130  feet  across. 

118.  Faiisrath,  Kilhnny  {not  on  0.  S.  36  and  40).— This  fort  lies  near  Kilbeacon  and  is 
oblong.  It  measures  210  feet  by  165  feet  and  has  a  fosse  and  earth  bank  20  feet  high,  once 
faced  with  dry  stone  work  now  almost  removed.  Description. — W.  Tighe,  "  Statistical  Survey 
of  Kilkenny,"  p.  629. 

119.  Munymeskar,  Fermanagh  (0.  S.  No.  27).— As  shown  on  the  map,  this  earthwork  is 
X-shaped  in  pLan  ;  and,  if  this  is  correct,  it  is  a  very  exceptional  structm-e,  and  should  be  carefully 
planned  and  described.     It  lies  near  the  "  Ring  HiU,"  to  the  east  of  Enniskillen. 

120.  Promontory  Forts.— The  second  most  important  type  is  the  cliff 
fort  or,  perhaps,  as  a  better  term,  the  "  promontory  fort,"  for  (unlike  such 
forts  as  Doon  Aenghus)  it  depends  for  most  of  its  defence  on  natural  cliffs 
or  steep  slopes,  whether  of  a  promontory  or  inland  spur.*  So  well  chosen 
were  these  ancient  strongholds  that  (as  shall  be  seen  in  many  cases)  castles 
were  built  and  ramparts  raised  across  the  neck  upon  or  within  the  old  fosses 

*  Csesar  mentions  a  fortress  of  the  Aduatici,  formed  by  constructing  two  walls  and  a  fosse, 
200  feet  long,  across  the  neck  of  a  long  precipitous  ridge  ("  De  Bello  Gallico,"  Lib.  ir.,  c.  xxix.). 


126  Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

and  earthworks.  In  some  cases  the  name  Doon  attaches  to  a  bold  head- 
land on  which  no  trace  of  fosse  or  mound  is  now  visible ;  but  the  ease  with 
which  a  stone  wall  was  removed  or  a  ditch  entirely  filled  with  tlie  mound 
is  so  evident  that  we  may  be  allowed  (noting  the  fact)  to  enumerate  sucli 
suitable  places  as  still  bear  the  name  "  doon."  As  Mr.  R.  A.  S.  Macalister 
points  out,  "  doon"  is  the  usual  term  for  a  promontory  fort  ;  but  here  and 
there  "  caher"  appears,  and  stone  walls  are  not  unknown.  Uunbeg,  near 
Fahan,  and  "  Balor's  Prison,"  have  at  least  fom*  earthworks. 

Commencing  at  County  Dublin,  and  going  soutli-ward  round  the  coast,  we  find  a  cliff  fort  at 
Lambay  Island  called  the  "  Garden  Fort"  (a  curved  earth-work  across  Gouge  Point),  Dun  Criffan,  at 
the  gi-eat  Bailey,  on  Howth;  where  a  natural  valley  narrowed  the  neck,  and  a  fosse  and  earthwork 
were  thrown  across.  It  is  greatly  defaced,  but  some  traces  remain,  and  a  midden  of  periwinkle  and 
limpet  shells  is  visible  on  the  north  side ;  no  water-supply  is  apparent.*  Baginbun,  in  Wexford, 
has  earthworks,  attributed  to  Strongbow,  but  probably  ancient.  In  TTaterford  we  find  an  interest- 
ing group.  The  fort  of  Shanooan,  above  Doonmore  Harboui- (0.  S.  No.  27);  Swine  Head  Fort, 
at  Stonycove  (No.  27) ;  Coolum  Fort  (No.  27),  near  Brownstown  Head  at  Tramore  Bay.  The 
"  encampment  "  at  West  town,  Illaimacollia  Fort,  in  Gan-arus,  and  Islandikane,  or  Sheep  Island, 
with  an  ancient  dwelling,  lie  along  the  cliffs  (No.  26) ;  "Woodstown,  near  Green  Island  Fort, 
Dunbrattin  Headland  (No.  25),  and  BallynaiTid  Fort  lie  farther  westward.  In  Cork  we  find  a 
Knockadoon  point,  west  of  Toughal  Bay  (No.  78) ;  the  Big  and  Little  Doon,  near  Kinsale 
(No.  125) ;  Dooneen  Point  (No.  127) ;  the  Old  Head  of  Kinsale,  with  its  Castle,  and  the  earth- 
works of  Dunceammna,  which  the  Triads  reckon  as  one  of  the  three  oldest  forts  in  Ireland,  and 
Dooneen  Head  (No.  127);  Dunmanus  Head  (No.  138);  Dun worly  Castle,  at  the  Seven  Heads 
(No.  145) ;  Dunlough,  or  Three  Castle  Head  and  Castles  (No.  146) ;  Dunowen  Castle  (No.  144) ; 
Dunnycove  Castle,  Dundeady  Castle,  and  Dunoure  Castle,  all  on  Galley  Head  (No.  144)  ;  Coos- 
dergadoona  and  Dooneendennot  Fort,  at  Toe  Head  (No.  151);  Doonlea  (No.  147);  Dooneen 
(No.  138) ;  Doonbeg,  on  Beare  Island  (No.  128).  In  Kerry — Doonave  cliff,  near  a  headland,  with 
gaUans  across  the  neck  (No.  78) ;  Reenacaheragh  Castle  and  Fort,  on  Doon  Point  (No.  87)  ; 
Dunbeg  and  Dunmore,  within  one  earthwork,  in  Doonsheane  (No.  53);  Doonywealaun  Fort,  Doon 
Fort,  south  of  Dingle  Bay,  enclosing  a  "giant's  grave"  (No.  53);  Dunbeg  Fort,  the  well-known 
stone  fort  and  fosses  near  Fahan,  and  Doonmore  (enclosing  an  Ogham  pillar),  near  Slca  Head 
(No.  52) ;  Doon  Fort,  with  Feniter's  Castle  (No.  42) ;  Cahercarbery  more  and  beg  Forts  (No.  13); 
Doon  Point  and  Castle,  near  Ballybunion  (No.  4).  In  Clare — Dunmore,  an  unusual  type  described 
below  (No.  71)  ;  Doondoillroe,  curved  earthworks  and  deep  fosse  (No.  65) ;  Dunlicka  Castle  and 
Fort  (No.  55) ;  lUaimadoon,  a  detached  but  not  isolated  crag  (No.  55) ;  Doonaunroe  Fort,  Foohagh 
Point  (No.  56) ;  Donegal  Point  (No.  46) ;  Moher  Fort  (No.  14).     In  Galway—^u\y\i  Cathair,  Aran 


*  It  is  named  in  the  Chronicon  Scotorum,  a.b.  647.     In  the  subsequent  names  we  follow  the 
local  usage  in  spelling — the  pronunciation  is  always  "  Doon." 


WicSTROPP — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  127 

(No.  119).  In  Mayo — a  supposed  walled  headland  on  Caher  Island  (No.  94);*  Doonty  and 
Gubadoon,  in  Achill  (No.  54) ;  Doonaneanir  isolated  rock  and  Dunnamoe  stone  Fort,  Spinkadoon 
stone  Fort,  and  Dim  Fiachra  earthen  Fort,  all  in  the  Mullet  (Nos.  2  and  9)  ;  Doonvinalla  Fort, 
Portnacloy  (No.  1) ;  Doonbristy,  detached  rock.  In  Donegal — Dunhalor  Fort,  with  Balor's  Prison, 
Portadown,  on  Tory  Island  (No.  6) ;  Duncap  (No.  16) ;  Dooan,  or  Green  Fort,  Duni-ee  headland 
with  modern  battery,  and  DunafE  Head,  in  Lough  Swilly;  Dunakbagh  (No.  1);  Dunargus, 
Dungolgan  Head  (No.  2) ;  Dunmore  Head  (No.  5).  In  Antrim — CliS  forts  rather  than  promontory 
forts  may  have  been  on  the  sites  occupied  by  the  late  castles  of  Dunluce,  Dunseverick,  Dunneney, 
and  Kenbane  (Nos.  2,  3,  4) ;  Dtmseverick  shares  -with  Dunceammna  the  repute  of  being  one  of 
the  oldest  forts  in  Ireland.  Carravindoon  or  Doon  Point,  on  Eathlin  Island  (No.  1),  Dunsoghey 
(No.  4).     In  all  over  seventy  probable  sites,  at  least  thirty-four  having  actual  remains. 

We  may  describe  a  few  typical  examples. 

121.  Bunfiachra,  Mayo  (0.  S.  No.  2). — At  Aghadoon,  at  the  N.W.  corner  of  Mayo,  a  cliff 
fort  overhangs  the  sea.  It  consists  of  a  strong  earth  mound  with  a  fosse  across  the  neck  of  a 
precipitous  and  even  overhanging  promontory.  The  founder  is  said  to  have  possessed  a  famous 
sea-horse  on  which  he  was  able  to  leap  across  the  narrow  part  of  the  creek.  At  a  short  distance 
to  the  north  are  two  more  long  and  bold  headlands,  the  northern  of  which  is  named  Spinkadoon, 
and  was  defended  by  a  massive  dry-stone  rampart  now  nearly  levelled  to  its  foundation. 

122.  Dunnamoe,]  County  Mayo  (0.  S.  No.  9). — A  promontory  to  the  N.W.  of  Belmullet  is 
defended  by  a  massive  but  rudely-built  stone  wall,  210  feet  long,  18  feet  high,  8  feet  thick,  and 
much  injured.  The  defaced  gateway  is  in  the  centre  facing  the  S.E.  It  was  3  feet  8  inches 
wide,  and  had  a  fenced  passage  leading  across  a  shallow  fosse  14  feet  wide.  To  each  side  of  this 
fosse  the  Ordnance  Survey  maps  showed  a  hut-site,  but  these  structures  have  been  entirely 
removed.  Before  the  fosse  to  the  right  hand  a  number  of  small  stones  are  set  in  the  ground, 
forming  a  very  slight  abattis.  Inside  the  wall  are  thi-ee  dilapidated  huts  about  9  feet  by  4  feet 
G  inches,  and  4  feet  6  inches  high,  the  roofs  having  coUapsed.  On  the  headland  inside  the  wall  and 
fosse,  was  a  strong  cu'cular  fort  101  feet  in  diameter,  the  gateway  to  the  S.W.,  all  being  much 
defaced  and  now  indeed  only  resembles  a  circular  patch  of  tumbled  blocks.  Description — 
W.  F.  Wakeman,  Jom-nal,  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xix.  (1889),  p.  182,  plan  and  illustration.  Dr.  C. 
Browne,  "Ethnography  of  the  Mullet,  &c.,"  Proc.  R.I. A.,  vol.  iii.,  ser.  iii.,  p.  640.  See  plan 
herewith.     Figtu-e  23. 

123.  Dtihh  Cathnir,  or  Doonaghard,  Aranmore,  County  Galway  (0.  S.  No.  119). — Now  called 
"Doon  doo  'hair,"   and  consists  of  a  strong  dry-stone  wall  built  across  a  long  headland  and 


*  See  paper  by  Mr.  Rolleston,  Jom-nal,  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxx.,  p.  358.  There  are  two  islets, 
DoonalUa  and  Doontraneen,  at  the  cliffs  of  Clare  Island,  which  may  represent  sea-wrecked 
promontories  and  forts. 

f  O'Donovan  renders  its  name  Dim  modha  after  the  Firbolg  chieftain  Mod  of  the  sons 
of  Huamore. 


128 


Wesi'ropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


220  feet  long,  20  feet  high,  and.  16  to  18  feet  thick.  It  was  protected  on  the  land  side 
by  an  abattis.  Inside  were  two  rows  of  stone  huts,  one  along  the  wall;  another  for  170 
feet  along  the  cliff.  These  are  now  nearly  swept  away.  In  1878  the  inner  face  of  the 
wall  was  desti'oyed,  but  when  the  fort  was  restored  as  a  national  momiment,  modern 
ten'aces  and  steps  were  introduced.  The  gateway  was  extant  near  the  northern  end  when 
Petrie  saw  it.  Several  hut-sites  and  a  midden  lie  before  the  wall  on  the  outside,  and  a 
somewhat  similar  but  nearly  levelled  fort  lies  to  the  N.W.  Descriptions— JjOI'A  Duni'aven, 
Notes,  vol.  i.,  p.  9,  with  plan  and  photographs;  T.  J.  Westropp,  Journal,  R.S.A.I.,  xxv. 
(1895),  p.  266.     See  Plate  iiv. 

124.  Bunmore,  Clare  (0.  S.  No.  71). — A  very  remarkable  cliff  fort  on  a  peninsula  joined  to 
the   land   by   a  long  bank   of  di'ift  artificially   scarped.     The  upturned  strata  of  the  landward' 

cliff  formed  the  base  of  a  dry-stone 
wall  backed  with  an  earthen  mound. 
There  are  middens  of  limpet  shells 
and  polished  pebbles.  Description — 
T.  J.  "Westropp,  Proo.  R.I.A.,  vol.  vi., 
series  iii.,  p.  446,  plan  and  section. 

125.  Dunmore,  Kerrij  (0.  S.  No. 
52). — Near  Slea  Head,  the  largest 
promontory  fort  in  Ireland.  It  is 
fenced  by  a  fosse  and  two  mounds 
1570  feet  long,  and  nearly  straight, 
running  N.N.W.  and  S.S.E.  across 
the  headland.  The  outer  mound  is 
only  2  feet  6  inches  high,  the  fosse  is 
11  feet  6  inches  wide,  and  the  inner 
bank  5  feet  high.  A  souten'ain  with  a  cross  scribed  on  a  stone,  and  containing  bones,  was 
found  on  the  headland,  and  it  also  contains  the  "  Dovinia  "  ogam-scribed  pillar-stone. 
Description — R.  A.   S.  Macalister,  Trans.  R.I.A.,  vol.  xxxi.,  p.  279. 

126.  Dunbeg,  Comity  Kerry  (0.  S.  No.  52). — This  noteworthy  fortification,*  though  not  one  of 
the  largest,  is  certainly  the  most  remarkable  of  our  promontoiy  forts.  It  nins  across  the  neck  of 
a  triangular  headland.  Four  fosses  and  as  many  earthworks  crossed  the  neck.  The  first  two  are 
now  much  curtailed  to  the  east.  A  raised  gangway  crosses  the  others,  leading  to  a  gateway  in  a 
strong  rampart  of  diy  stone.  There  are  slabs  in  each  bank  as  if  there  had  been  stone  gateways, 
and  a  souterrain  runs  under  the  main  entrance  and  for  some  distance  under  the  gangway.  The 
main  wall  is  of  two  sections.  The  older  part  is  139  feet  6  inches  long,  and  from  8  feet  to  11  feet 
thick.  On  the  inner  face  are  low  terraces  or  steps,  and  oiitside  a  section,  I  foot  6  inches  lower,  has 
been  built  along  the  landward  face  and  resting  on  a  plinth.     Poi-tions  of  this  work  have  fallen. 


HANNON 


5. — Dunmore  promontory  fort,  Clare. 


AB. 
C. 


-Middens  and  earthwork. 
-Earthwork  on  detached  rock. 


n. — Raised  pathway. 
EF. — .Section. 


*  Figures   13,   21.     Reference   letters   on   latter:     a  steps,    h  guard  room,    c  paved  way 
d  souterrain,   e  clochaun,  /  drain,   y  mounds,    h  gateways,   /  kerbiug,    m  modern  walls. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  129 

The  remarkable  gateway  and  passage,  side  chambers,  recesses,  and  loop-holes  are  described  among 
the  fort  gateways,  supra,  section  50.  "We  need  only  note  that  a  clochaun  with  a  surrounding 
drain,  the  site  of  another  hut,  and  traces  of  a  wall  round  the  edges  of  the  clifi  are  found  in 
the  enclosui-e.  It  has  suffered,  like  Grianan  Aileach  and  the  Aran  forts,  fi'om  too  complete 
restoration  when  conserved  as  a  national  monument,  and  now  diifers  gi-eatly  from  the  fort  seen 
and  described  by  Windele  in  1848,  and  described  and  planned  by  DuNoyer  ten  years  later. 
Descriptions — George  DuNoyer,  1858,  Ai'choeological  Journal,  vol.  xv.,  p.  1.  Lord  Dimraven, 
"Notes,"  vol.  i.,  p.  19.  R.  A.  S.  Macalister,  Trans.  R.I. A.,  vol.  xxxi.,  p.  220.  All  have  plans 
and  iUustrations ;  those  of  the  latter  elaborate  and  careful,  the  other  plans  very  inaccurate. 

127.  Caherconree,  Counti/  Kerry  (0.  S.  Nos.  37  and  46)  (locally  "Been  Cahii-ach.")— A 
projecting  spur-  fenced  by  high  eMs  (nearly  200  feet  high)  on  two  sides  S.  and  N.E.,  fenced  on 
the  third  side  by  a  waU  of  moderate-sized  stones  350  feet  long,  straight  along  the  centre,*  but 
curving  inwards  at  the  ends,  14  feet  to  15  feet  9  inches  thick,  10  feet  6  inches  high,  with  two 
terraces  inside,  3  feet  3  inches  and  3  feet  wide.  The  faces  are  of  headers,  and  the  wall  is  in  one 
piece  and  has  no  batter.  There  are  some  equivocal  traces  of  huts  against  the  wall.  The  entrance 
passage  was  7  feet  6  inches  wide.  Outside  is  a  low  earthwork.  Descriptions — John  "Windele, 
Ulster  Joiu-nal  of  Archoeology,  viii.  (1860).  P.  J.  Lynch,  Journal,  R.S.A.I.,  xxix.,  p.  5,  plans, 
sections,  and  illustrations.     Both  are  most  careful  and  valuable  descriptions. f 

128.  Motes  (Simple). — There  are  two  kinds  of  this  type  of  structure  ; 
the  simple  mote,  usually  a  conical  earth  mound  20  feet  to  50  feet  high, 
with  a  flat  or  rounded  summit  and  with  a  fosse  and  earthwork  round  the 
base,  the  other  a  more  complex  kind,  with  a  lower  platform  and  girt  with 
a  fosse.  The  simpler  form  occurs  in  Central  and  Northern  Europe  and  in 
Great  Britain.  In  Ireland  few  examples  exist  west  of  the  Shannon  and 
Lagan  or  in  Western  Munster,  though  several  ordinary  raths  are  called 
locally  motes.  The  simple  mote  is  most  abundant  in  county  Kildare.  It 
is  very  easy  to  confuse  this  form  with  tumuli,  but  the  mistake  is  of  the 
less  moment  that  certain  defensive  motes  contain  burials,  and  certain 
sepulchral  mounds  have  been  evidently  adapted  for  fortification,  as  at 
Durrow  and  Grreenmount.  The  early  mote  has  often  been  utilized  as  the 
base  of  a  mediaeval  keep ;   in  other  instances  the  castle  has  been  built 

*  Plate  I.     Figure  23. 

t  "  Cahir  Conri,"  by  Rev.  M.  Horgan,  Cork,  1860,  attempts  to  show  that  the  real  fort  named 
in  the  CuchuUin  legend  is  Cathair  Conri,  near  Lough  Curraun,  where,  he  states,  that  a  similar 
legend  prevails,  and  that  the  stream  is  named  Fion  glaisse.  However,  the  traditional  fort  was 
located  on  Slieve  Mish  by  a  poem  of  Flan  {c.  a.d.  1086).  Professor  Rhys  (R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xx., 
1891,  p.  654),  following  O'Donovan,  doubts  the  existence  of  the  fort.     See  Plate  I. 

From  EL.  IE.  ACAD.  TRANS.,  VOL.  XXXI, PART  XIY.  S 


130  Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

beside  the  mote  in  the  lower  enclosure.  Early  tradition  attributes  several 
of  these  forts  to  the  opening  centui'ies  of  our  era.  The  mote  of  Magh 
Adhair,  for  example,  to  Adar  son  of  Huamore  ;  Downpatrick  to  the  Red 
Branch  hero  Celchtar ;  Naas  to  Lughdech  Eithlenn,  circa  a.d.  277 ;  while 
Mainham  is  possibly  the  traditional  tomb  of  Buan,  wife  of  Mesgegra,  who 
died  of  grief  at  seeing  her  husband's  head  carried  by  Connal  Carnech. 
It  is  hard  to  deal  with  these  mounds  in  any  detail,  so  we  will  endeavour 
to  collect  a  list  of  some  of  the  principal  motes  in  Ireland,  as  an  attempt  at 
more  woidd  be  necessarily  imperfect  in  the  absence  of  field  lists. 

Antrim. — Donegore,  40  feet  high  (0.  S.  No.  50).  Dromfane  (0.  S.  No.  42).  Uunamoy, 
50  feet  high,  with  flat  top  and  50  feet  across. 

Longford. — Granard  (0.  S.  No.  10).  The  largest  simple  mote  in  Ireland.  It  has  chambers 
and  traces  of  the  strong  mortar-built  walls  of  some  late  defence.*  Aidowlan  (0.  S.  No.  14)  with 
one  terrace. 

Monaghan. — Clones  (0.  S.  No.  11).  It  is  nearly  70  feet  up  the  slope,  and  has  three  ledges 
or  terraces  on  the  sides,  The  fosses  had  been  filled  up  before  the  Ordnance  Sun-ey  of  1835, 
when  0' Donovan  examined  it. 

Louth. — Louth  (0.  S.  No.  11),  a  small  mote.  Dawson's  mote  near  Ai'dee  (0,  S.  No.  17). 
Faughart  (0.  S.  No.  4),  chiefly  made  of  stones,  and  about  32  feet  high.  Mount  Ash  (0.  S.  No.  6). 
Mount  Bagnal  (0.  S.  No.  8),  with  one  fosse  and  ring.  Castlegard,  90  feet  up  the  slope,  600  feet 
circumference.  Eosskeagh  has  a  small  platform  on  the  south  flank,  and  is  girt  with  fosses  and 
a  triple  mound,  one  being  of  stone  (0.  S.,  No.  4). 

Meath. — Slane  (0.  S.  No  19),  described  below.  Navan  (0.  S.  No.  25),  a  smaU  rounded 
mote,  with  a  fosse  and  bank  cut  out  of  a  low  gravel  hill,  and  now  undermined.  Nobber 
(0.  S.  No.  5).      Dunsany  (0.  S.  No.  37),  very  large;  defaced  by  later  buildings. 

Westmeath. — Moate,  a  fine  rounded  moundf  (0.  S.  No.  30).  Rathcreevagh,  near-  Brook- 
miUs,  with  high  ring.  Rahugh  (0.  S.  No.  38),  a  large  mote  with  fosse  and  bank,  cut  out  of  the 
escar.     Ballylochloe,  a  rounded  mote.     Tiuode  (0.  S.  No.  2). 

Duhlin. — Dunsoghly  (0.  S.  No.  14),  near  it  two  lesser  motes.  Ballymount  (0.  S.  No.  21), 
defaced  by  later  buildings. 

King's  County. — Durrow  (O.  S.  No.  9),  defaced  by  later  castle. 

Queen's  County.— M.ote  Castle  (0.  S.  No.  30).  Killeshin  (0.  S.  No.  32).  Skii-k  (0.  S. 
No.  21),  noted  below. 

Kildare. — Clane  (0.  S.,  No.  14),  a  fine  mote,  with  a  fosse  and  ring,  on  the  Liffey.  Mainham 
(0.    S.    No.    14),    a   large    flat-topped   mound,    with   fosse    and   ring,    the    supposed  tomb    of 


*  Wilkinson,  "Practical  treology  and  Ancient  Architecture  of  Ireland"  (1845),  p.  56. 
t  See  "  Irish  Names  of  Places"  (Dr.  Joyce,  vol.  i.,  p.  281). 


If 

UJ 

a. 

a. 


X 

o 


3 
O 


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<. 

UJ 

z 


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a: 

i 

I 

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o 
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o 


132  Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Buan.*  Jfaas(0.  S.  No.  19),  destroyed  by  Cormac  MacAirt.  Great  Do-vdenstown  (0.  S.  No.  24), 
37  feet  high,  with  a  side  terrace,  fosse,  and  ring.  Kilkea(0.  S.  No  37).  Rheban(0.  S.  No.  30). 
Rathmore  (0.  S.  No.  20),  a  true  mote  despite  its  name.  Old  Connell  (0.  S.  No.  23),  38  feet  high, 
with  ring.  The  Curragh  had  many  small  motes  or  tumuli,  of  which  Moteenanow  is  probably  a 
true  mote.  Cloncurry,  near  the  northern  border,  is  probably  sepulchral ;  it  is  27  feet  high 
without  a  fosse. 

CarZow.— BaUyknockan  (0.  S.  No.  16).  Mill  Mote  (0.  S.  No.  7).  Ballyhannon  (0.  S. 
No.  16).  Castlemore  (0.  S.  No.  8),  it  is  29  feet  high.  Castlegrace  (0.  S.  No.  8),  about 
the  same  height.  Dun  Riogh,  Ballyknockan  (0.  S.  No.  16),  a  large  mote,  230  feet  across  at  the 
base,  and  69  feet  up  the  side.     St.  Mullins  (0.  S.  No.  26).     Clonrusk  (0.  S.  No.  14). 

TFid-low.]—Pai^asJ]loge  (0.  S.  No.  7).  Motamoy  (0.  S.  No.  21).  Umrygar  (0.  S. 
No.  42).     Raheena  (0.  S.  No.  21).     Enniskeriy  (0.  S.  No.  7).     Mount  Kennedy  (0.  S.  No.  13). 

Kilkenny. — Listerlin  (0.  S.  Nos.  36  and  40),  described  below.     Knocktopher,  (0.  S.  No.  31). 

Wexford.— Ys^me.  (0.  S.  No.  2),  100  feet  diameter  and  28  feet  high.  Ballymoatymore  (0.  S. 
No.  20),  25  feet  diameter  and  30  feet  high. 

Galway. — Newtown  Ep-e  (0.  S.  No.  99). 

Clare. — Magh  Adhair  (0.  S.,  No.  34),  described  below. 

We  may  briefly  describe  a  few  typical  exam^^les  and  noteworthy 
instances.     The  type  does  not  lend  itself  to  any  elaborate  description. 

129.  Faughart,  Louth. — (0.  S.  No.  4).  A  lofty  and  shapely  typical  mote,  38  feet  high, 
with  a  flat  top.  "Wright  makes  it  to  be  60  feet  high,  probably  measuring  up  the  slope.  It  has  a 
fosse  and  ring  round  the  base,  and  a  remarkable  sloping  ascent,  as  at  Magh  Adhair.;]: 

130.  Slane,  Meath. — (0.  S.  No.  19).  A  large  flat-topped  conical  mote,  27  feet  high,  with  a  flat 
top,  and  slight  rampart  (hardly  a  foot  high),  93  across,  and  560  round  the  base.  An  excavation 
on  top  shows  it  consists  mainly  of  splinters  of  stone  out  of  the  fosse.  It  has  no  sloping  ascent 
to  the  summit  and  in  parts  slopes  as  much  as  10  in  12.  It  is  girded  with  a  deep  fosse  cut  in 
the  rock  5  to  7  feet  deep,  and  16  to  18  feet  wide.  Concentric  with  this  is  another  but  slighter 
fosse,  4  feet  deep  with  a  nearly  levelled  ring ;  it  measures  over  all  392  feet  east  and  west.  It  is 
thickly  planted,  and  stands  in  the  field  west  of  Slane  "  Abbey,"  on  the  summit  of  the  Hill  of 
Slane,  497  feet  above  the  sea.  If  sepulchral  it  may  be  the  Ferta  Fir  Feic  which  stood  near 
Slane  ;§  it  is  stated  to  be  the  palace  of  King  Slanius. 


*  Co.  Kildare  ArchDeological  Society,  vol.  iii.,  p.  317.     Paper  by  Rev.  M.  Devitt. 

f  Motes  on  the  border  of  Wicklow  are  said  to  be  brehon's  law  moimds,  and  if  a  pillai'  stands 
near  them,  it  is  called  Cloch  na  Righ,  and  believed  to  have  been  a  place  of  inauguration. 

J  Sloping  ascents  of  timber  are  figured  above  from  Bayeux  Tapestry,  and  are  described  in 
the  Life  of  St.  John,  Bishop  of  Terouaine  (Act:  SS.  Bolland,  27  Jan.);  Clarke's  "  Medieeval 
Military  Architecture  in  England,"  vol.  i.  p.  36. 

§  "  Life  of  St.  Patrick,"  by  Mactheni  (ed.  Rev.  A.  Barry),  p.  19. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  133 

131.  Skirk,  Queen's  County.~{0.  S.  No.  21).  A  mote  and  circle  of  upright  stones  sun-ounded 
by  a  rampart  and  fosse.  Urns  and  human  bones  were  found  in  the  lower  enclosure.  Description — 
Sir  Charles  Coote,  "  Statistical  Survey  of  Queen's  County"  in Vallancey's  "  Collectanea  de  rebus 
Hibernicis." 

132.  Listerlin,  Kilkenny.— {0.  S.  Nos.  36  and  40  cover  the  townland,  but  show  no  mote). 
Tighe  describes  it  as  40  feet  high,  with  a  flat  oval  top,  15  by  18  yards  across,  and  114  yards  in 
circumference  at  the  base.  It  is  girt  with  a  ditch  30  feet  wide,  except  on  the  east  side.  Description — 
Statistical  Siu-vey  of  County  Kilkenny,  W.  Tighe,  p.  629. 

133.  Magh  Adhair,  Clare.— {O.S.  No.  34).  A  flat-topped  mote  without  battlements,  but  with 
a  fosse,  earth-ring,  and  sloping  ascent  to  the  west.*  It  stands  in  a  natural  depression  once  banked 
round  and  beside  a  stream.  It  measures  100  feet  across  the  top,  and  25  feet  high.  A  cairn,  17  feet 
high,  stands  between  it  and  the  stream,  and  a  large  block  of  conglomerate  with  two  basins  Ues  in 
the  enclosiu-e.  A  pillar  stands  in  the  field  beyond  the  rivulet,  140  feet  from  the  mound.  It  is 
traditionally  connected  with  Adar  the  Firbolg,  and  was  the  place  of  the  inauguration  of  the 
Dalcassian  princes  fi-om  the  earliest  times  to  the  reign  of  Elizabeth.  Description — Proc.  R.I.A., 
vol.  v.,  series  iii.,  p.  55. 

134.  Motes  (Complex). — The  second  and  more  complex  form  of  mote 
is  of  much  greater  interest  than  the  last,  consisting,  as  it  does,  of  a  lofty- 
mound,  round-headed  or  flat-topped,  an  annexe  or  lower  platform,  usually 
separated  from  the  high  mote  by  a  fosse,  and  the  whole  girded  with  one 
or  more  fosses  and  banks.  This  form  of  mote  occurs  in  Hungary  and 
Germany  in  forms  identical  with  those  in  Ireland  and  Britain.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  it  has  been  considered  to  be  a  form  of  temple,  or  to 
be  the  "  castra  ac  spatia"  of  Tacitus.  The  annexe  is  most  frequently 
crescent-shaped  in  plan,  but  is  sometimes  fan-shaped,  square,  or  even  round 
or  oval.  Like  the  simple  mote  it  is  most  abundant  in  eastern  Ulster 
and  Leinster.  It  does  not  (so  far  as  we  are  aware)  occur  in  Connaught, 
Western  Munster,  in  the  Queen's  or  King's  County,  Dublin,  Carlow, 
Monaghan,  Armagh,  Tyrone,  Fermaniigh,  or  Donegal;  it  is  possible 
that  some  of  these  forts  by  the  destruction  of  their  annexe  now  appear  as 
simple  motes.  It  is  most  abundant  in  Down  and  Louth,  and  some  of  the 
finest  examples  are  found  there  and  in  Meath.  We  collect  the  more  im- 
portant examples ;  most  of  them  like  the  simple  motes  stand  near  streams. 

Antrim. — Dundermot,   crescent  annexe  to  south  (0.  S.  No.  27).     Galgorm,  square  annexe 
to  north-east  (0.  S.  No.  37),  Ballykeel,  fan  annexe  to  south-east  (0.  S.  No.  37). 


*  This  is  a  rare  example  of  the  permanent  sloping  way. 


134  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Down. — Downpatrick,  tlie  most  remarkable  in  Ireland,  described  below  (0.  S.  No.  37). 
Dromore,  square  annexe,  described  below  (0.  S.  No.  21).  Crown  Mound  near  Newry,  square 
annexe,  described  below  (0.  S.  Nos.  46,  47). 

Londonderry. — Kilcranny,  fan  annexe  (0.  S.  No.  3). 

Tyrone. — Clogher  (0.  S.  Nos.  58,  59),  described  below. 

Longford. — Ai'dowlan  (0.  S.  No.  14),  crescent  annexe. 

Louth.—  Castlegard,  90  feet  up  slope,  47  feet  in  diameter  on  top,  Greenmount,  described 
below  (0.  S.  No.  15).     Killaney,  square  annexe,  described  below  (0.  S.  No.  10). 

Meath. — Derver,  a  rounded  mote,  witb  a  square  annexe,  on  the  bank  of  a  stream  (figure  25), 
(0.  S.  No.  10);  Donagbpatriek,  on  the  Boyne,  a  very  fine  mote,  with  crescent  annexe  to  south- 
west, described  below  (0.  S.  No.  17) ;    Lisboy,  round  annexe  to  west  (0.  S.  No.  6). 

Westmeath. — Castletown,  50  feet  high,  crescent  annexe  to  north-west  (0.  S.  No.  32) ;  Fore, 
has  a  long  oval  enclosure  to  south-west  (0.  S.  No.  4).  Ai-dnurcher  (0.  S.  No.  31),  described  in 
Trans.  R.I. A.,  vol.  ii. 

Kildare. — Morristown-Biller,  oval  annexe  to  south,  rounded  mote,  with  a  slight  fosse  and  on 
a  small  stream  (0.  S.  No.  23). 

Kilkenny. — CaUan.  It  is  40  feet  high,  with  a  flat  top,  46  by  24  yards  across,  and  has  a  small 
annexe  to  the  west  separated  from  the  mote  by  a  fosse.     Portnascully  (0.  S.  No.  45). 

WicTcloiv. — Merginstown,  crescent  annexe,  described  below  (0.  S.  No.  15). 

Wexford. — Loggan  (0.  S.  No.  2).  Ai'damine  (0.  S.  No.  12).  (Figured  in  Dublin  Penny 
Magazine,  1834,  p.  146). 

Tipperary. — Kilfeakle  (0.  S.  No.  59),  45  feet  high,  with  a  crescent-shaped  annexe  174  feet 
across  and  19  feet  high,  deep  fosses  to  north,  the  whole  girt  with  an  earthwork.  Dunohill 
(0.  S.  No.  59),  described  below.  Tipperary  (0.  S.  No.  57),  43  feet  high,  with  a  side  annexe 
31  feet  high,  surrounded  by  lofty  rings  and  deep  fosses.  Enockgraffan  (0.  S.  No.  77),  55  feet 
high,  60  feet  across  top,  193  feet  through  base;  it  has  an  irregular  annexe  with  a  defaced  fosse 
49  feet  wide ;  on  it  are  fragments  of  a  castle  built  a.d.  1192.* 

Limerick. — Kilfinnane  (0.  S.  No.  56),  described  below. 

Waterford. — Lismore  (0.  S.  No.  21),  crescent  annexe,  described  below. 

Typical  Examples : — 

135.  Dundermot,  County  Antrim  (0.  S.  No.  27).— A  large  flat-topped  mote  60  feet  by  30  feet 
across.  The  base  is  siuTounded  by  a  deep  fosse,  and  south  of  this,  but  also  suiTounded  by  a  fosse 
is  a  somewhat  crescent-shaped  annexe,  locally  called  "  the  Parade."  A  sunken  way  or  trench 
seems  to  have  led  to  a  spot  near  the  bridge  over  the  Ravel.  Description — H.  Monck  Mason, 
"  Statistical  Survey  of  Antrim,"  vol.  i.     Illustration. 

136.  Downpatrick,  County  Down  (0.  S.  No.  37). — This  truly  great  earthwork  is  the  Rath 
celtchair  of  our  ancient  records;  it  measiu'es  2100  feet  in  circumference,  and  its  rounded  mound 
is  60  feet  high.     It   is   siUTounded   by  three    ramparts    30    feet   wide,    and   measures   three- 


*  Attributed  to  Rafann,  foster-mother  of  Fiaoha  Mulleathan,  king  of  Mimster. 


Westropp— 7%e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  135 

fourths  of  a  mile  within  the  circuit  of  the  earthworks.  Lescription—T^o  full  description  has  been 
published,  but  good  views  appear  in  Molyneux'  "Danish  Mounts"  (1725),  and  Archseologia 
Camhrensis.     See  also  Journal,  E.S.A.I.,  xxi.  (1891),  p.  582.     Figure  26,  supra. 

137.  Bromore,  Cotcntij  Down  (0.  S.  No.  21).— Another  veiy  typical  example  closely 
resembling  that  "  Hausburg  "  of  Stouegg  in  Hungary,  already  described.  It  consists  of  a  flat- 
topped  "mount"  in  two  slight  stages,  which  measui-es  650  feet  in  circumference  at  the 
base,  and  is  60  feet  across  the  summit,  and  rises  44  feet  (or  40  feet  as  in  map)  above  the 
field,  and  about  80  feet  (slope)  from  the  bottom  of  the  fosse,  on  the  slopes  next  the  river. 
A  square  annexe  adjoins  it  to  the  south,  measuring  about  80  by  90  feet  across.  It  has  a 
triple  earthwork  with  fosses,  10  or  12  feet  wide  to  the  land  side.  The  annexe  abuts  on  a 
precipice,  and  from  its  south-east  corner  a  sunken  way  260  feet  long,  7  feet  wide,  and  9  feet 
deep  runs  down  to  the  Lagan.  Description— ''AndKui  and  Present  State  of  the  County 
Down"   (1744),   p.  216,   with  plan  and  illustration.* 

138.  Croivn  Mount,  County  Down  (0.  S.  Nos.  46,  47).— The  Crown  Eath  or  Crown  Mount  is 
another  large  mote  579  feet  round  the  base,  and  63  by  27  feet  across  the  top,  the  fosse  is  21  feet 
wide.  It  has  a  square  annexe  1 30  feet  along  the  side,  and  a  sort  of  sunken  way  as  at  Dromore. 
Tradition  says  that  two  "  pretenders  for  the  crown  "  fought  out  their  quaiTel  in  the  annexe. 
Description — "Ancient  and  Present  State  of  the  County  Down,"  p.  218. 

139.  Clogher,  County  Tyrone  (0.  S.  Nos.  58,  59).— The  residence  of  the  princes  of  Oriel 
and  a  site  of  pillar  worship.  It  lies  within  the  grounds  of  the  Bishop's  Palace.  It  consists  of  a 
high  mound  with  a  semi-cii'cular  small  annexe  to  the  south,  and  a  larger  enclosure  of  u-regulai- 
oval  plan,  protected  by  a  deep  fosse  on  the  west  and  east ;  in  the  south  of  the  annexe  is  a  cairn 
or  tumulus  with  a  raised  earthwork. 

140.  Oreenmount,  Comity  Louth  (0.  S.  No.  15).— This  mote  when  "Wright  first  sketched 
and  described  it  in  "  Louthiana"  in  1758  had  a  lofty  conical  mound  with  rounded  top  occupied 
by  a  large  tree,  and  a  high  mound,  and  deep  fosse  roimd  a  D-shaped  outer  enclosure  ("  Louthiana," 
plates  10  and  11),  but  now  only  a  few  traces  of  the  outer  work  remain  to  the  north-west.  Tra- 
dition, in  1758,  said  it  was  the  place  of  the  fii-st  Irish  Parliament,  and  this  story  was  repeated  at 
any  rate  in  1870.  It  rests  on  rising  ground  (not  a  hiU  as  stated  by  "Wright)  about  150  feet  above 
the  sea,  and  the  old  peasantry  caU  it  Drum  cha  (Drum  ha),  the  ridge  of  battles.  The  mount  is 
210  feet  roimd,  and  12  feet  high,  the  slope  seems  to  have  been  continued  down  the  faU  of  the 
ground,  so  as  to  be  at  one  point  nearly  70  feet  long.  The  old  earthworks  were  about  105  feet 
long.  In  the  mount  was  a  long  souterrain  roofed  with  slabs,  and  5  feet  high  by  3  feet  3  inches 
wide  ;  in  it  were  found  a  bronze  celt  and  harp  peg,  and  a  plate,  with  interlacing,  and  the  words 
"  Domnal  Selshofoth  a  soerth  Theta  "  (Domnall  seal's-head  owns  this  sword  or  trapping)  in  runic 
letters.  Description—''  Louthiana, ' '  p.  9,  plates  1 0  and  1 1  ;  Major-General  J.  H.  Lefi-oy,  Journal, 
R.S.A.I.  XI.  (1871),  p.  471. 

141.  Killaney,    County  Louth  (0.  S.  No.  10).— The  mount  is  60  feet  up  the  slope,  and  the 
top  platform  is  about  40  feet  in  diameter  and  130  feet  above  the  sea;  an  octagonal  building 


*  Figure  26. 


136  Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

once  occupied  the  summit,  and  paths  lead  up  to  it  from  the  annexe,  ■which  is  an  iiTegrilar  square 
once  enclosed  by  an  ancient  wall,  and  is  girt  with  a  fosse  and  outer  earthwork  which  nearly  abuts 
on  the  stream.     It  lies  near  the  western  border  of  Louth.* 

142.  Donaghpafrich,  Count y  Meath  (0.  S.  No.  17). — A  large  rounded  mote  20  feet  high, 
with  a  large  "crescent"  shape  annexe,  to  the  south,  200  feet  across.  The  annexe  is 
separated  by  a  shallow  fosse  fi-om  the  mote,  and  outside  them  are  three  deep  fosses  with  large 
mounds  between,  and  respectively  10  to  12  feet,  13  to  15  feet,  and  8  feet  deep,  and  about 
10  to  16  feet  wide.  The  whole  is  richly  planted  with  laurels,  and  the  fosses  on  the  eastern 
side  are  levelled,  and  measure  about  400  feet  over  all.  The  Annals  of  Ulster  record  a.d.  745, 
"Dragons  were  seen  in  the  sky.  The  forcible  entry  of  Donaghpatric,  and  seven  prisoners 
crucified."     (Perhaps  "tortured."")! 

143.  Portnasculhj,  County  Kilkenny  (0.  S.  No.  45). — This  mote  is  50  feet  high,  126  feet 
diameter  at  the  base  and  24  feet  at  the  top.  It  has  an  oblong  annexe  to  the  east,  470  feet  across, 
and  an  earthwork  with  a  flat  top  and  a  fosse  10  feet  deep. 

144.  Merginstoivn,  County  Wiclclow  (0.  S.  No.  15). — A  small  mote  to  the  south-east  of 
Dunlavin  ;  it  has  a  liigh  mount  and  low  platform,  or  annexe  somewhat  crescent-shape.  To  the 
west  end,  in  the  adjoining  field,  were  found  small  cists  containing  crouching  skeletons  with  their 
heads  on  their  knees,  and  with  clay  vessels  beside  them ;  another  group  of  burials  had  entomb- 
ments without  cists,  and  the  bodies  lying  north  and  south.  It  is  noteworthy  that  in  each  case 
the  axis  of  the  burial  lay  towards  the  mote,  as  in  the  case  of  the  forts  of  Bosnia-Herze- 
govina. One  cist  was  removed  by  Mr.  Mahony  to  Grange  Con,  where  the  enclosed  urn  is  also 
preserved.     At  the  gate  of  the  paddock,  near  the  mote,  was  formerly  a  cupped  stone. J 

145.  Loggan  County  Wexford  (0.  S.  No.  2). — The  mote  consists  of  a  high  mound,  with  a 
platform  to  the  south,  ringed  in,  about  15  feet  high,  by  an  oval  rampart  and  fosse.  To  the 
south-east  was  a  pillai",  near  which  an  urn  was  found,  also  three  cists  with  bones  and  urns.  Five 
hundred  feet  southward  from  the  mote  lay  a  group  of  cists  with  skeletons,  and  near  a  hollowed 
mound  were  found  two  urns  with  ashes  and  miniatiu-e  urns  inside. § 

146.  Dunohill,  County  Tipperary  (0.  S.  No.  59). — A  large  conical  mote,  over  30  feet  high, 
visible  from  the  railway,  and  capped  with  a  lofty  fragment  of  the  castle,  built  1192.  It  is 
642  feet  in  circumference  at  the  base,  and  has  an  annexe,  an  irregular  square,  crowded  with 
foundations  of  buildings  belonging  to  the  castle;  the  earthworks  and  fosses  much  defaced.f 

147.  Kilfimiane,  County  Limerick  (0.  S.  No.  56). — A  conical  mote,  30  feet  high,  50  feet 
diameter  at  base,  and  20  feet  at  top.  It  is  girt  with  three  fosses  and  earthworks.  The  fosses 
are  (inner)  18  to  20  feet  wide,  with  outer  work,  16  feet  high ;  the  next,  10  or  12  feet  wide,  with 
ring,  13  feet  high:  the  next  fosse,  12  feet  wide,  and  outer  earthwork,  10  feet  high  ;  the  outer 
ring  is  2000  feet  round.  The  short  notices  of  it  say  that  it  had  seven  ramparts ;  but  we  did  not 
observe  traces  of  some  of  these  in  1877  ;  it  was  carefully  measured  by  John  Windele.f 


*  R.S.  A.I.,  vol.  xix.,  p.  88.    "  The  Motes  of  Iverk,"  by  Dr.  James  Martin.  f  Figure  26. 

J  From  Notes  by  Mr.  George  H.  Kinahan.      Read  before  R.I.A.,  1901. 
§  From  same  Notes. 


Westropp— r/^e  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  137 

148.  Ignore,  County  WaterforA  (0.  S.  Xo.  21)._The  ancient  Dun.ginne,  or  Maghsgiath 
stands  on  the  edge  of  a  steep  slope  near  the  Blackwater,  and  is  thickly  planted.     It  eon  istf  o 

theTT  T'  T? '  V°''  ''^'^'  '^  ^  *°^^^  ^•°'^  ^ " «— ^"  «^«p«^  pi'^tfo,™  lying 

to  the    outh  ;  the  whole  g„-t  by  a  fosse,  irregularly  oval  in  plan,  with  a  slight  mound  outs^e 
BescnpUon  and  plan  m  Journal,  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxvir.  (1897),  p.  272.     Figure  26,  supra. 

149.  Long  Entrenchments.-These  remarkable  works  are  found  in 
Longford  under  the  name  of  -Duncladh;"  in  Armagh  and  Down  under 
^^  name  of  the  -Dane's  Cast";  in  Cavan  as  the  -  Worm  Ditch";  in 
Wa  erford  and  also  in  Limerick  as  the  -  Rian  Bo  Patrick"  and  the  -  Cladh 
cubh,     which   ran   from    Waterford   into    Cork   at   right   angles   to   the 

Rian  Bo  ;  in  Kerry  the  -  Cladh  ruadh,"  which  ran  into  Limerick  • 
and  the  -Rathduff,"  on  the  borders  of  Kilkenny  and  Carlow.  The 
southern  woi-ks  are  much  more  slightly  marked  and  less  authenticated 
than  those  of  the  north. 

Such  defences  also  occur  both  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Conti- 
nent;  one  of  the  former,  -  Offa's  Dyke,"  is  actually  called  -  clawdd  ", 
hke  _  the  Irish  trenches.*  This  great  earthwork  was  probably  only 
repaired  by  the  Prince  whose  name  it  bears  (a.d.  760-790)  The 
great  -Devil's  Dyke,"  in  Cambridgeshire,  is  in  places  90  feet  high 
and  18  feet  wide  on  the  top.  It  is  named  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle 
ui  A.D.902;  and  admirers  of  Kingsley  will  remember  the  picturesque 
use  made  of  this  earthwork  in  the  story  of  the  escape  of  Hereward 
from  King  William's  palace.  Parallel  to  this  entrenchment,  but  seven 
miles  to  the  westward,  is  a  similar  work,  the  "Fleam  Dyke"  In 
.Scotland,  several  such  works  occur  such  as  the  "  Catrail "  at  Allan 
water  and  "  Herriot's  Dyke"  and  the  -  Devil's  Dyke." 

The  most  celebrated  works  are  of  course  those  thrown  up  by 
the  Romans  -  across  the  waist  of  Britain "  ;  and  we  may  recall  how 
Caesar  had  long  before  constructed  a  mound  and  fosse  from  Lake  Leman 
to  Jura  to  check  the  advance  of  the  Helvetii.  The  Danewirck,  duff 
or  reconstructed  by  Queen  Thyra  across  Denmark  in  a.  d.  808  is  of 
similar  nature.      Also  the  great  earthwork  near  Kertch,  on  the'  Black 

*  The  name  is  also  found  at  the  promontory  fort  on  St.  David's  Head,  "  Clawdd  y  Mihvyr  " 
or  "  Warnors  Dyke"-"  Arch«,ologia  Cambrensis,"  vr.,  ser.  xv.  (1875),  \.  86 

From  KL.  lu.  acad.  tiuns.,  vol.  xxxi.—v^ut  xrv.  '  m 


188  Westropi- — The  Ancient  ForU  of  Ireland. 

Sea.*  The  Irish  works  are  scarcely  "  defensible";  a  clue  to  their  purpose 
might  perhaps  be  found  in  "  the  second  battle  of  Moytura,"  where  the 
"  track"  of  the  Dagdae's  fork  leaves  a  furrow  as  large  as  "  the  boundary 
ditch  of  a  province,"!  were  it  iiot  that  they  are  too  large  and  obstructive 
for  simple  mearings. 

150.  The  Bailees  Cast,  Down,  &c. — The  most  remarkable  early  earthwork  in  Ireland  is  the  great 
'■  Dane's  Cast."  It  may  be  seen  beside  the  railway  from  Kewry  to  Soarva,  in  Down.  It  commences 
at  the  stream  between  the  townlands  of  Lisnagade  and  Scarva,  and  cannot  be  traced  to  the  north 
of  the  rivulet.  In  Scarva  it  consists  of  two  mounds,  40  feet  apart,  with  fosses  8  feet  wide  and 
6  feet  deep ;  the  mounds,  4  feet  above  the  fields,  and  measuring  54  feet  over  all.  On  0.  S.  map, 
No.  33,  it  runs  up  to  a  low  knoll  of  rock,  300  feet  wide,  and  fortified  on  the  east  side  by  a 
low  wall,  and  ends  near  Lough  Shark,  on  the  border  of  Aimagh.  It  re-appears  to  the  south 
of  the  lake,  and  continues  past  Poyntzpass  to  a  drained  lake.  The  "Cast"  next  passes  into 
Ai-magh,  tui-ning  westward,  and  is  cut  through  by  the  two  railways  from  Newiy  and  Dublin 
(0.  S.  map,  No.  29,  Armagh).  It  re-appears  to  the  south  of  Camlough,  to  the  west  of  Newiy, 
and  then  it  cur\-es  round,  past  the  lake  and  mountain,  to  Meigh,  near  the  border  of  Ai-magh 
and  Louth,  some  16  or  18  miles  in  all.  Other  portions  of  earthworks  attributed,  but  doubtfully, 
to  the  "Cast,"  occui'  near  Newtown  Cottage,  and  to  the  south-east  of  Armagh  town.  Mr.  Lett 
regards  the  work  as  having  possibly  been  made  to  hold  back  the  Ultonians,  who  had  been  pressed 
back  into  Down  and  Antrim  by  the  wars  of  King  Mm-edach,  son  of  Fiachi-a,  aided  by  the  Collas, 
about  A.D.  322.  O'Donovan  considered  it  to  be  the  bounds  of  the  district  of  Uriel,  where  it 
touched  the  hostile  land  of  Clan  Eughraide ;  he  traced  it  at  Scarva  and  Creggan — the  latter  some 
eight  miles  fi-om  the  traces  at  Camlough.  He  thought  he  had  found  other  traces  at  Carrickma- 
cross,  in  ilonaghan,  and  northwai'd  in  Farney  and  Dartry  baronies,  and  fancied  that  the  "  Worm 
ditch"  and  "  Duncladh"  were  portions  of  it ;  but  this  theory  would  imply  field-works  50  to  100 
mQes  in  length,  and  would  necessitate  a  belief  in  such  persistency  of  purpose  in  a  transparently 
useless  work  as  would  certainly  be  more  characteristic  of  the  Chinese  than  of  the  Irish.  The  Cast 
is  locally  attributed  to  the  formidable  "Black  Pig,"  which  not  only  threw  up  trenches,  but 
excavated  whole  valleys  in  TJlidia.  Description — The  Cast  has  often  been  noted ;  but  the  only 
detailed  and  careful  description,  with  a  good  map,  is  by  Kev.  W.  H.  Lett  and  E.  J.  Berry  in  the 
new  Ulster  Journal  of  Archaeology,  vol  iii.,  pp.  23,  67. 

151.  Cladh  na  Pieste,  or  Worm  Bitch,  Cavan  (0.  S.  No.  31),  is  a  ciu'ved  entrenchment, 
about  a  mile  and  a-quarter  in  length.  The  cladh  is  attributed  to  one  of  those  alarming  sei-pents, 
or  piasts,  which  once  (according  to  tradition)  must  have  made  this  now  snakeless  island  of 
thrilling  interest  to  early  naturalists.     It  commences  in  Ardkillmore,  stai'ting  from  a  ring-fort. 


*  The  Danewirck  ran  from  sea  to  sea.  Olaus  Wormius  describes  it  in  "  Monumentorum 
Danicorum  Libri  "  (1643).  Lib.  i.  "  munimentum  hoc  vaUdius  ac  fiiinius  multo  aggeribus  et 
fossis  redidisse." — "Antiquities  of  Kertch  and  researches  in  the  Cimmerian  Bosphorus"  (1857): 
Dr.  D.  Macpherson.  f  Revue  Celtique,  xii.  (1891),  p.  87. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  \  39 

152.  Dimcladh,  Longford,  is  about  five  miles  long  (0.  S.  map,  Nos.  6,  10,  11).  It 
commences  near  a  fort  at  Lough  Gowna,  and,  though  much  defaced,  forms  the  bounds  between 
Dring  and  Ballinulty.  It  passes  through  Clogh  as  a  double  rampart  with  fosses,  and  becomes 
the  boundary  of  Aghnagarron  and  Tromra,  passing  about  a  mile  to  the  north-east  of  Granard. 
It  bounds  Carragh  and  Ballinrud,  cuts  thi'ough  Cartronbore,  bounds  Toberfelim,  and  passes 
through  Tonymore  north  as  a  well-defined  double  mound  to  another  ring-fort  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  fi-om  Lough  Kinale.  It  varies  in  height  from  7  to  16  feet,  and  is  attributed  to  the 
"  Black  Pig,"  which  is  said  to  have  been  slain  at  Ballinamuck  or  Swinesford  near  it. 

153.  Cladh  Ruadh,  the  "  Cleeroe"  Kerry. — It  can  now  be  traced  only  from  near 
Cahercarbery  cliff  fort,  on  Kerry  Head  (0.  S.  map.  No.  13),  south-eastward  and  equitlistant 
from  Ballyheige  Bay.  Slight  traces  re-appear  to  the  east  of  Maulin  Mountain,  and  end  about 
8  miles  from  Kerry  Head.  We  can  find  no  recent  evidence  for  the  statement  of  C.  Smith,*  in 
1756,  that  it  passed  the  Cashen  river,  and  crossed  over  Knockanure  Hill  into  Limerick.  Were 
this  true,  it  would  have  been  about  18  or  19  miles  long. 

154.  Ardpatriclc,  Limericlc. — We  were  shown  slight  traces  of  a  double  ditch  to  the  north 
of  the  shattered  church  and  Round  Tower  of  Ardpatrick,  in  1877.  It  was  then  said  to  have 
been  made  by  the  horns  of  St.  Patrick's  cow,  and  to  have  run  northward  to  the  Shannon.  A  line 
of  pillar-stones  from  Lough  Gur  to  Ludden  Hill  is  supposed  to  be  connected  vrith  this  line  of 
earthworks  and  the  legend  of  the  "Black  Pig."  It  is  called  Boherliagan,  and  marked  even  on 
the  Down  Survey.     It  adjoins  two  sites  called  "  Leaba  na  muice."f 

155.  Rian  ho  Pafrich,  Waferford. — This,  like  the  last,  is  not  marked  on  the  maps.  It 
lies  to  the  east  of  Knoekmeildon,  and  is  a  double  trench,  which,  like  that  at  Ardpatrick,  was 
attributed  to  the  horns  of  St.  Patrick's  cow.  Popular  belief  stated  that  it  once  extended  from 
Ardmore  to  Cashel.     Four  miles  from  the  former,  some  traces  of  a  double  ditch  remain. 

156.  Cladh  Biibh,  Waterford. — The  Cleeduff  runs  at  right  angles  to  the  last  fi'om  Cappoquin 
past  Lismore,  along  the  base  of  the  Knoekmeildon  Hills  westward,  into  Cork.  It  is  not  marked 
on  the  maps.     O'Donovan  considers  that  these  earthworks  are  ancient  forts. 

157.  Tradree,  Clare. — Once  possessed  a  work,  7  or  8  miles  long;  but,  so  far  as  we  can 
discover,  no  trace  of  it  remains.  "The  Wars  of  the  Gaedhil  with  the  GaiH"J  states  that  the 
Danes  "raised  a  fortifying  bank  all  round  Tradree."  This,  it  would  appear,  was  repaired  by 
Sir  Thomas  de  Clare  in  1277.  "The  Wars  of  Turlough  "  tells  how  he  made  "abroad-based, 
high-crested  rampart,  with  a  ditch  running  from  the  stream  (Owen  na  garna)  to  the  sea  "  (tidal 
part  of  the  Shannon)  in  Tradree.  It  is  (on  no  farther  authority)  alleged  to  have  extended  fi-om 
Bunratty  to  Latoon. 

158.  Ralhd'uff,  Carlow. — Mercator,  in  his  large  scale  map  of  Idrone  (west),  shows  "  Raduffe 
trenche,"  running  west  of  Duninga  and  Finnerscourt  and  east  of  Shankill  chiuxh,  and  forming 
the  boimds  of  Gowran  (Kilkenny)  and  Idi-oue  down  to  the  Barrow,  opposite  Kilcrot ;  led  by  this, 
O'Donovan  and  O'Cun-y,  in  1839,  found  slight  traces  at  Kellymount  Commons  which  au  old  man 
aged  eighty  remembered  as  distinct  and  half  a  mile  long.  Other  traditions,  at  other  places,  said 
it  had  existed  there  a  century  before  (1739).  It  was  locally  known  as  "The  gripe  (ditch)  of 
the  Black  Pig."§ 


*-  "  State  of  the  Coimty  of  Kerry,"  1756,  p.  219.  \  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxxi.,  p.  375  : 

Mr.  J.  Grene  Barry.  |  p.  61.  §  MSS.  R.I.A. :  0.  S.  Letters,  Kilkenny,  vol.  ii.,  p.  254. 

T2 


140 


Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


VII. — Bibliography  of  some  of  the  fuller  Descriptions  of  Irish  Forts. 


Antrim, 


Armagh, 


Cavan, 


Donegal, 


Down, 


Londoniler 
Tyrone, 


ry, 


159. — Ulstkk. 

Raths  in  tlio  neighbourhood  of  Belfust. — Francis  J.  Bigger  :  "  Belfast  Natm-alists' 
Field  Club,"  iv.  ser.  ii.  (Plans  by  B.  LI.  Praeger  and  F.  W.  Lockwood). 

Dundermot  Mote. — H.  J.  Monk  Mason  :   "  Statistical  Survey  of  Antrim." 

Loughnacrannagh. — A.  M'Henry  :  Proc.  R.I. A.,  vol.  ii.,  ser.  ii. 

Connor,  Subterranean  Chambers  at. — "  Ulster  Journal  of  Archeology,"  vi. 

Eman  Macha. — H.  D'Aibois  de  Jubainville  and  Rev.  Maxwell  H.  Close  :  Revue 
Celtique  (1895). 

Emania. — Dr.  W.  Reeves  (Bishop  of  Down  and  Connor)  :  "  Ancient  Churches 
of  Armagh  "  (1860). 

Dorsey  Dun.— Rev.  H.  W.  Lett :  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxviii.  (1898). 

Vitrified  forts  (Shantamon). — Rev.  Cfesar  Otway :  Trans.  R.I. A.,  xiii. ;  Rev. 
W.  P.  Moore:  Proc.  R.I.A.,  vol.  v.  (1850-53). 

Moneygashel,  Cashel.— Seaton  F.  Milligan  :  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxi.  (1890,  1891). 

Grianan  Ailcach. — George  Petrie :  "  Ordnance  Survey,  Parish  of  Templemore, 
Londonderry."  Its  restoration. — Dr.  Walter  Bernard:  Proc.  R.I. A.,  vol.  i., 
ser.  ii.  (1879). 

Downpatrick  Mote. — Thomas  Molyneux  :  "Danish  Mounts,"  &c.  (1725). 

Forts  of  County  Down,  Waringstown,  Donaghadee,  Dromore,  Crown  Rath,  and 
Giant's  Ring. — "Ancient  and  Present  State  of  the  County  Down"  (1744). 

Dromore,  Downpatrick,  &e.  —  Rev.  J.  Dubourdieu :  "Statistical  Survey  of 
Down." 

"The  Great  Wall  of  UHdia"  (Dane's  Cast),  Down  and  Armagh.— Rev.  H.  W. 
Lett,  and  R.  G.  Berry  (Plans  by  W.  J.  Fennell)  :  "  Ulster  Journal  of  Archaeo- 
logy" (new)  iii. 

"Giant's  Sconce,"  Dunboe. — Rev.  G.  W.  Sampson:  "Statistical  Survey  of 
Londonderry." 

Tullaghog  Fort,  near  Dungannon.  —Herbert  Hore  :  "  Ulster  Journal  of  Archaeo- 
logy," vol.  V.  (Plan  by  Arthiu-  Quigley). 


160. — Leixstei!. 


Kihlare,  .     Antiquities  of  Curragh  of  Kildare. — Captain  A.  Montgomery  Moore  :  R.S.A.I., 

vol.  ii.,  series  ii.  (1858-9). 
Mainham  Mote  and  the  Tomb  of  Buan.— Rev.  M.  Devitt:  "Kildare  Archseological 

Society,"  vol.  i. 
Ardscull,  Mullaghmast,  &c. — Richai-d  Gough  :  Camden's  "  Britannia,"  vol.  iii. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  141 

Kilkenny,  .     .     Forts  of  Earlsrath,  Castlecomer,  Eathbeatb,  Listerlin,  &c.— W.  Tiglie  :   "  Statis- 
tical Survey  of  the  County  of  Kilkenny." 
Dunbell  Eaths.— E.  Hitchcock,  E.S.A.T.,  iii.  (1855). 
Antiquities  Discovered  in  a  Eath.— J.  G.  A.  Prim  :  E.S.A.I.,  iii,  ser.  ii. 
Souterrain  of  a  Eath. — Eev.  James  Graves :  E.S.A.I.,  i.,  ser.  iv. 
Gareendina  Quadrangular  Fort. — Dr.  Charles  Eoss  :  E.S.A.I.,  vi.,  ser.  ii. 
Borrismore  Eath.— Eev.  W.  Healy  :  E.S.A.I.,  i.,  ser.  v. 
Portnascully  Mote.— Dr.  James  Martin  :  E.S.A.I.,  ix.,  ser.  iv. 
Kitchen  Middens  of  Eaths. — E.S.A.I.,  vii.,  ser.  iv. 
Louth,.     .     .     Motes  and  Eaths  in  the  County  (Dundalk.Kilanny,  Faughart,  Greenmount,&c.). 
—Thomas  Wright:   "Louthiana"  (1758). 
Exploration  and  Eunic  Inscription  in  Greenmount. — Eev.  George  H.  Eeade: 
E.S.A.I.,  i.,  ser.  iv.  (1875). 
MeatA,       .     .     Antiquities  of  Tara.— Dr.  George  Petrie  :  Trans.  E.I. A.,  xviii. 
Queen's  County,  Forts  of  (Aghaboe,  Monachoghlan,  Skirk,  &o.)—"  Statistical  Survey  of  Queen's 

County." 
Westmeath,     .     Ardnurcher  Mote. — John  Brownrigg  :  Trans.  E.I.A.,  ii.  (1788). 
Giu-teen  Eath.— Eev.  W.  Falkiner  :  Proc.  E.I.A.,  vol.  v.,  ser.  iii. 
Mullaghcreevagh  and  Castletown.— L.  C.  Beaufort:  Trans.  E.I. A.,  xv.  (1827). 
Usnach,  Cemetery  of.— (Sir)  Samuel  Ferguson  :  Proc.  E.I. A.,  i.,  ser.  ii.  (1870). 
Wexford,    .     .     The  Mote  of  Ardamine.— "  Dublin  Penny  Journal,"  1834,  p.  146. 

161. MUNSIEE. 

Clare,   .     .     .     Souterrains  in  Forts  near  Mortyclough. — Thomas  Cooke  :  E.S. A.I. ,  i.  (1848). 

Killaloe:    its  Eoyal  Eesidences   (Grianan   Lachtna    and    Bealboruma). — T.  J. 

Westropp:  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxiii.  (1893). 
Prehistoric  Stone  Forts  of  Central  Clare  (Moghane,  Langough,  and  Caherealla, 

with  Plans  and  Views  of  Cahershaughnessy). — Same  :   ibid.,  vol.  xxiv. 
Prehistoric  Stone  Forts  of  Northern  Clare  (Parts  I.  and  II.,  Cahercommaun  and 

the  Inchiquin  Forts).— Same  :   ibid.,  xxvi.    (Part  III.,  Ballykinvarga  and  the 

Forts  near  Kilfenora  and  the  Corcomroe  border). — Same  :  ibid.,  vol.  xxvii. 
Prehistoric  remains  in  the  Burren  (Carran  and  Kilcorney). — Same:    Part  I., 

xxviii. ;  Part  II.,  xxix.  (Cahermacnole,  Cahergrillaun,  Caheranardurrish,  &c.) 
Forts  at  Loop  Head,  Cliff  Forts,  &c. — Same  :  vol.  xxviii. 
Prehistoric  remains  in  Northern  Clare  (Caherdoonerish,  Caherfeenagh,  &c.).— 

Same :  vol.  xxxi. 
Cahers  and  their  Names. — Same  :  Proc.  E.I. A.,  vol  vi.,  series  iii. 
Mote  of  Magh  Adhair  and  Caherealla  Fort,  near  Q,mTi.—Ihid.,  vol.  v.,  ser.  iii. 
Cahershaughnessy.— A.  Gethin  Creagh  and  H.  B.  Harris  :  E.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxiii. 
Cork,     .     .     .     Forts  in  County  Cork.— Colonel  Fox   and  Eichard  Caulfield :    "Gentleman's 

Magazine,"  1865,  vol.  2  ;  Eeprints,  Archaeology,  i. 


142 

Cork, 


Kerry, 


Waterford, 


Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

Lisheenagreiny  Fort  and  Ogam,  Caves,  &c. — Eichard  R.  Brash  :   R.S.A.I.,  i., 

series  iii.  (1868). 
Cashel,  Knockdrum. — Canon  Brougham  :   "  Journal  Cork  Historical  and  Archceo- 

logieal  Society,"  vol.ii.  (1893). 
Forts  of  Coolnamuckiagh,  &e. — John "WLndele's  Notes  :  "  Joiirnal  Cork  Historical 

and  Archifiological  Society,"  vol.  iv.,  ser.  ii.  (1898). 
Rahinnane  Castle  and  Rath. — R.  Hitchcock  :  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  i.  (1848). 
Ballydunlea  Fort  and  Souterrain. — Same  :   ihid.,  vol.  i.  ser.  iii.  (1868). 
Caherconree. — John  Windele  :   "Ulster  Joumal  of  Archseology,"  viii.  (1860); 

P.  J.  Lynch:   R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxix.  (1899). 
Staigue  Fort. — General   Charles  Vallancey :    "An   Ancient    Stone   Theatre" 

(1788);  F.  C.  Bland:  Trans.  R.I.A.,  vol.  xiv.  (1825). 
Ballycarbery. — Gr.  Wilkinson  :    "  Practical  Geology  and  Ancient  Architecture 

of  Ireland"  (1845). 
Staigue,  Cahergel,  Dunheg,   "Fort  of  the  Wolves,"  Magharees. — E.,   Earl  of 

Dunraven  :  "  Notes  on  Irish  Architecture,"  vol.  i. 
Fahan,  &c. — George  V.  DuNoyer :  "Archaeological  Journal,"  vol.  xv.  (1858). 
Ancient  Settlement  in  Corcaguiny. — R.  Macalister:  Trans.  R.I. A.,  vol.  xxxi. 
Cahercullaun,  Ballycarbery,  &c. — Lady  Chatterton :   "  Rambles  in  the  South- 
West  of  Ireland." 
Staigue,    Fahan,   Caherdorgan,  Cahercullaun,  &c. — T.  J.  Westropp  :  R.S.A.I., 

vol.  xxvii.  (1897). 
Excavations  in  Rath  Middens. — R.  J.  Ussher :  R. S.A.I. ,  vol.  vii.,  ser.  iv.  (1885-6). 
Casey's  Liss,  BaUygunnermore. — Rev.  P.  Power :    R.S.A.I.,  vol.  viii.,  ser.  iv. 

(1887). 
The  Mote  of  Lismore  and  Rath  and  Souterrain  of  Cluttahinny. — T.  J.  Westropp, 

R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxvii.  (1897). 


162. — CONNATJGHT. 

Galtcay,  .  .  Aran  Isles,  Dun  Aenghus,  Dun  Onaght,  Dun  Oghil,  Dubh  Cathair,  Dun  Conor, 
Dun  Moher,  and  Inishere. — E.,  Earl  of  Dunraven  :  "  Notes  on  Ancient  Irish 
Architecture,"  vol.  i. 

Aran  Forts. — C.  C.  Babbington  :   "  Archaeologia  Cambrensis,"  vol.  iv.,  ser.  iii. 

Date  of  Dun  Aenghus. — Dr.  Henry  Colley  March  :  "  Joumal,  Society  of  Anti- 
quaries" vol.  XV.,  ser.  ii.  (London,  1894). 

Aran  Isles.— T.  J.  Westropp,  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxv.  (1895). 

Aran  Isles. — Series  of  Articles  in  the  "  Irish  Builder,"  commencing  April  15, 
1886. 

Ancient  Villages,  Ballynasean,  &e. — G.  H.  Kinahan  :  Proc.  R.I. A.,  vol.  x.,  ser.  i. 
(1866-70). 


Westeopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


143 


Galway,     .     .     Lough  Bola  and  Lough  Skannive  Stone  Crannoges. — G.  H.  Kinahan  :  E.S.A.I., 

vol.  i,,  ser.  iii.  (1868-9).    Col.  Layard  :  ihid.,  xxvii.  (1897)  and  xxix.  (1899). 
Cahermugachane  and  Cahercugeola.— Rev.  Jerome  Fahy  :   "  Diocese  of  Kilmac- 

duaoh." 
Trilithic  Gateway  of  Renvyle  Rath,   Connemara. — G.  H.  Kinahan:   R.S.A.I. 

(1868-9),  vol.  i.,  ser.  iii. 
Mayo,    .     .     .     Dunnamoe.— "W.  F.  Wakeman:  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xix.  (1889). 

Dun  Fiachia,  Doonvinalla,  &c. — Dr.  C.  R.  B.  Browne  :    Proc.  R.I.A.,  vol.  iii., 

ser.  iii. 
Knockfarnacht. — T.  J.  Westropp  :  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxviii. 
Forts  in  the  County  (Moytura — Cong,  Caherbiel  or  Cahermore,  CahergeiTode, 

&c.).— Sir  W.  Wilde  :   "  Lough  Con-ib." 
Roscommon,     .     Rathcroghan. — R.  R.  Brash:   "Ogham  inscribed  Monuments,"  ch.  xiii ;  Sii-  S. 

Ferguson  :  Proc.  R.I. A.,  vol.  i.,  ser.  ii. 
Sliffo,    .     .     .     Cashel  Baun  and  Innismurray  Cashel. — E.,    Earl   of   Dumaven  :     "  Notes   on 

Ancient  Irish  Architecture,"  vol.  i. 
Cashelore,  or  the  "  Bauven  Crin."— S.  K.  Kirker  :  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxiv.  (1894). 
Deerpark.' — Colonel  Wood- Martin  :   "Rude  Stone  Monuments." 
Caher  on  Slievemore,  Achill. — Same  :  ibid. 

InnismiuTay  Cashel. — W.  F.  Wakeman:  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xviii.  (1887-8). 
Forts  in  the  County  (Lissadell,    Lisnalurg,   Dunfore,   Cashelore,  Doonamuny, 

Magheranrush,  Deerpai-k,  &c.). — S.  F.  MiUigan :  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  xxi. 


That  this  Bibliography  is  incomplete  is  sufficiently  manifest,  but  of  other  notes  and  papers  on 
Irish  forts,  at  least  in  the  proceedings  of  the  lesser  Irish  Societies,  it  must  be  noted  either  that 
the  descriptions  are  vague  and  general,  or  that  description  is  excluded  in  favour-  of  theory.  Even 
some  of  the  above  papers  are  very  slight,  but  contain  facts  of  importance. 

The  Ordnance  Survey  "  letters,"  while  containing  many  masterly  descriptions,  as  a  rule  pass 
by  the  forts  with  vague  notice.  Those,  for  example,  of  Clare,  never  (save  in  the  defaced  and 
commonplace  Caher  on  Roughan  Hill  and  the  mote  of  Magh  Adhair)  being  described  in  detail, 
while  the  notes  on  the  mainland  forts  of  Galway  and  many  of  the  most  instructive  cahers,  notably 
Fahan,  in  Kerry,  are  passed  by  or  only  slightly  mentioned. 


Tor^  l^J'^  ^ 


ULondorxdercy,  ANTRIM 
.'-■•..  LONDON-'- 

•-.... -,-OERRY.     ^-7     6, 

TYRONE  y      4eljastl,   ^ 

■     ■-  .•,••*--:  '.v.  DOWN  _      . 
,-NAGHj 

.•  >^ON^GHftN•  ^''■ 


^*^:iii 


/RosconnoN 


rarling-^ordt- 


/LONG-^f^ ,  ^,.  "'^4'  ^  .v•t?^°^^^^''■ 


SlvjneHi 


n*EATH.. 

KING'S  COUNTY-  "^  '■^V' "--••• -•- 
,  \OARE*'' 


.K.,)-  /'•'-  ^^o'5nty'-\^'.V*^: 

•^  -  <S^tiCw~-<^^7;;    „5,AdaTe       '^^    -"^h^^    'T^^'l-KEN-'^'^ryrfvo 
-°Vf  u.  ai;iERi^  >:^  r  •^^^^•'    ^5    -NY  V'^'^'' 
^kk'^-"       ';     S      ......8   .        ■••■,TVppfra?s  1    •«<-     /'l^-^S^ 


^KilUrntv(     CORK 
■M^room 


WEXFORD/ 
^  "Wexjori 


DwrseyH'^, 


li^vj^^i 


•   BingFort- 

vV  Groiq?  of  Torts- 

A  Promontory  Torts. 

A  Motes. 
=  =  =■  EiilrencKm.eal5. 

M  City  or  Town . 
"■■'"Province  • 
County. 


Fig.  27.-1RELAND  WITH  THE  PROMONTORY  AND  OTHER  CHIEF  FORTS. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


145 


APPENDIX. 


Map  of  Ireland, 


Antrim, 

Armagh, 
Carloiv, 

Cavan, 
Clare, 


Corlc, 


showing  some  of  the  principal  Cahcrs,  Raths,  and  Motes,  and  the  Sites  of 
Promontory  Forts. 

1.  Dunluce.       2.  Dunseverick.     3.  Kenbane.      4.  RatUin  (Carravindoon). 
5.  Doonineeny.     6.  MacArt's  Fort.     7.  Conor.     8.  Donegore. 
1.  Emania.     2.  Dane's  Cast.     3.  Dorsey  Dun. 
1.  LeigUin  Bridge.         2.  St.  Mnllins  Mote  (note  the  "  Rathduffe  trench " 

on  border  of  Kilkenny). 
1.  Kilmore  Mote.     2.  "Worm  Ditch. 

1.  Caherdooneerish.      2.  Moher  Fort.       3.  Doon   hill  fort.      4.  Ballykin- 
varga.     5.  Feenagh  and  Lismacsheedy.     6.  Mortyclough  and  Parkmore. 

7.  Caheranardurrish    and   Cahercashlaun.         1    to   8.  Barren  Group. 

9.    Cahercommaun    and    Cashlaun    Gar.  10.    Caliershauglmessy. 

11.  Magh  Adhair  Mote.        12.  Grianan  Lachtna.       13.  Bealboruma. 

14.  Cahercalla.       15.  Moghane.        16.  Langough.       17.  Cahemagat. 

18.  Donegal.       19.  Doonaunroe.      20.  Dunlieka.       21.  Doondoillroe. 

22.  Dunmore,  Loop  Head. 
1.  Beare  Island;  Doonbeg.       2.  Dooneen.       3.  Doonlea.       4.  Toe  Head ; 

Doon.      5.  Dooneendermot.      6.  Dunoure.      7.  Dimdeady.     8.  Galley 

Head;    Doon.         9.  Dunnycove.         10.  Seven   Heads;    Dunworley. 

11.    Dun   Cearnmna.         12.    Big   and   Little   Doon.         13.    Cashel. 

14.    Caherkereen.  15.    Caherdeadha.  16.    Cahermoygilliar. 

17.  Caherbla.     18.  Doon,  near  Blarney.     19.  Knockadoon. 
1.  Dun   Balor,    Tory   Island.        2.    Duncap.        3.    Dooan   or   Greenfort. 

4.  Dunree.      5.  DunafE.      6.  Dunaldragh.       7.  Dungolgan.     8.  Dun- 
more.     9.  Grianan  Aileach. 
1.  Dromore  Mote.      2.  Dane's  Cast.      3.  Giant's  Ring.      4.  Crown  Mount 

Mote.      5.  Downpatrick  Mote. 
1.  Garden  Fort,  Lambay.      2.  Dunsoghley  Motes.     3.  Duncriffan,  Howth. 

4.  Ballymount  Mote.     5.  Rathmichael. 
1.  Feenagh  Group.       2.    Mullymeskar. 
1.  Dun  Aenghus,  Aran.       2.  Dun  Oghil.       3.  Dubh  Cathair.       4,  Dun 

Conor,  Inishere.       5.  O'Brien's  Castle  Fort,  Inishmaan.       6.  Lough 

Bola.       7.  Lough  Skannive.       8.  Cahirgel.      9.  Headford  and  Lough 

Hackett  Groups.      10.  Kilskeagh.      11.  Caheradrine.      12.  Dunkellin 

Group.       13.  Cahercugeola  and  Lough  Cooter  Group.       14.  Loughrea 

Group.       16.    lUaun  Carbeiy. 

From  EL.  IE.  ACAD.  TRANS.,  VOL.  XXXI. PART  XIV.  TJ 


Donegal, 

Down, 

Dublin, 

Fermanagh, 
Galway, 


146 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Foris  of  Ireland. 


Kern/, 


Kildare, 


Kilkenny, 
King's  County, 
Leitrim, 
Liinerick, 


Londonderry, 

Longford, 
Louth, 
Mayo,    . 


Meath, 


Monaghan, 
Queen^s  County, 

Roscommon,    . 
aiigo,    . 
Tifperary,     . 


Tyrone, 


1.  Doon.       2  and  3.  Caliercarbery.      4.  The  Cladhruadh.      5.  Magharees. 

6.  Smerwick  Group.      7.  Ballynavenooragli  Group.      8.  Cahereullaun 

and  Dingle  Group.    9.  Doon  Point.    Ferriter's  Castle.     10.  Doonmore. 

11.  Dunbeg  and  Fahan  Group.       12.  Doon  Fort  and  Giant's  Grave. 

13   and    14.   Dunsheane.       15.  Caherconree.       16.   Doon   or   Eeena- 

caheragh.       17.  Ballycarbery.       18.  Derrynane  Cabers.      19.  Staigue. 

20.  Caliercrovdearg. 
1.  Maiubam  Mote.      2.  Clane  Mote.      3.  Old  Connell  Mote.     4.  Dowdens- 

town  Mote  and  Sillagb.       5.  Dun  Ailinn.      6.  Naas  Mote.      7.  Mul- 

lagbmast.       8.  ArdscuU  Rath.*       9.  Kilkea  Mote. 
1.  Castlecomer.     2.  Dunbell.     3,  Callan  Mote.     4.  Earlsrath. 
1.  Durrow. 
1.  Edentinny. 
1.  Sbannid.     2.  Kilbradran.     3.  Green  Island.     4.  Ardagh.     5.  Desmond's 

Castle  Fort,  Adare.     6.  Croom  Fort.     7.  Drombanny  Castle  and  Fort. 

8.  Bruree.     9.  Lougb  Gur.     10.  Ardpatrick  Rian  Bo.     11.  Kilfinnane 
Mote. 

1.    Dunfanaghy.         2.    Giant's   Sconce   (Dun   Ceitbern).         3.    Dunboe. 

4.  Sandel  Mount. 

1.  Dun  Cladh.     2.  Granard  Mote. 

1.  Dundalk.     2.  Loutb.     3.  Killanny  Mote.     4.  Greenmount  Mote. 

1.  Dunaneiair.         2.    Doonamoe.         3.    Spinkadoon.         4.    Dun  Fiachra. 

5.  Doonanierin.       6.  Doonvinallia.       7.  Doonbristy.       8.  Breastagh. 

9.  Doony.        10.  Clare  Island.        11.  Cahir  Island.        12.  Kilcashel. 
13.  Moytura  Cong.         14.  Moyne.         15.  Castle  Hag. 

1.  Derver  Mote.       2.  Donagbpatrick  Mote.       3.  Navan  Mote.      4.  Slieve 

na  Calliagb.        5.  Tara  Group.        6.  Eath  Maeva.       7.  Slane  Mote. 

8.  Newgrange  Group.      9.  Drogbeda  Mote. 
1.  Clones  Mote.     2.  Emyvale.     3.  Iniskeane  Mote. 
1.  Agbaboe.      2.  Monaghcogblan.      3.  Dunamase.      4.  Skirk.      5.  Kille- 

shin  Mote. 
1.  Rathcroghan.     2.  Cabernascreg. 
1.  CashelBaun.     2.  Kuocknarea. 
1.  Asbpark.     2.  Dunobill  Mote. 

Mote.     5.  Knockgraffan  Mote 

8.   Cooleagh  Group. 
1.  Mary  Gray  Group.     2.  Clogher  Mote. 


3.  Deerpark.     4.  "Moytura." 
3.  Tipperary  Hills  Mote.      4.  Kilfeakle 
6.  Cashel  Group.     7.  Ratbnadrinnagb. 


*  It  is  noteworthy  how  two  roads  run  straight  to  this  fort,  and  probably  represent  old  tracks. 
It  is  figured  in  Gough's  "  Camden's  Britannia,"  vol.  iii.     Plate  xxv.,  p.  483. 


Westkopp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland.  147 

Waterfmd,     .         .1.  Lismore.     2.  Rian  Bo.     3.  Cladhdubh.     4.  Ballynarrid  Doon.     5.  Dun- 

brattan.    6.  Green  Island.    7.  Islandikane.    8.  Garrarus.    9.  "Westtown. 

10.  Coolum.     11.  Doonmore  (Shanoon). 
Westmeath,    .         .1.   Moate.       2.    Churchtown.       3.   Usnaeli.      4.    Fore  Mote.      5.    Eahue 

Mote :    Ardnurcher  lies   N.W.   fi-om   this. 
Wexford,        .         .1.  Ardamine   Mote.         2.    New   Ross.  3.    Rathmore.         4.    Salville. 

5.    Donamon.     6.    Blackwater   Group   of   straight-sided   Forts. 
WicUow,        .         .1.  Rathnageeragh.         2.    Rathcoran.        3.    Motamoy.       4.    Merginstown. 

(Rathgel  lies  east  from  the  last). 


In  concluding  so  imperfect  a  work,  as  I  feel  this  paper  to  be  (though  at 
present  it  is  beyond  my  power  to  make  it  more  complete,  save  by  heaping 
up  descriptions  of  various  other  forts,  which  would  scarcely  be  desirable  in 
an  essay  like  this),  it  would  be  presumption  on  my  part  to  attempt  to 
dogmatise  on  any  of  the  countless  questions  connected  with  the  forts  of 
Ireland.  My  own  belief  is  simple  enough,  namely,  that  types  of  defensive 
works  were  originated  in  eastern  Europe  by  the  adaptation  of  early  Greek 
culture  to  the  wants  of  less  advanced  tribes.  That  these  building  traditions 
originated  at  least  1200  years  before  our  era,  and  by  their  simplicity  and 
elasticity  held  their  own  till  as  many  centuries  of  our  era  had  passed 
away.  Practised  by  many  races,  and  over  a  large  tract  of  country, 
they  finally  died  out,  like  so  many  other  arts,  systems,  and  beliefs,  on  the 
farthest  bounds  of  the  old  world,  and  the  western  ocean,  among  the  Irish. 

I  may  notice  five  points  in  reference  to  this  paper: — 1.  The  want 
of  uniformity  in  the  "sections";  but  even  the  shortest  section  contains 
an  independent  subject.  2.  The  repetition  of  certain  facts  and  quotations, 
because  they  have  more  than  one  bearing  on  the  subjects  in  hand. 
3.  The  necessity  of  grouping  the  plans  has  sometimes  separated  cognate 
types  of  forts.  4.  The  shortness  of  the  Bibliography  ;  for  I  did  not  con- 
sider it  necessary  to  collect  any  but  definite  descriptions  of  forts,  and  the 
bare  allusions  to  these  structures  in  county  histories,  and  even  in  papers 
published  by  antiquarian   societies,  cannot  be  classed  under  this  head.* 

*  The  modern  county  histories  treat  the  forts  with  even  greater  neglect  than  their  predeces- 
sors of  a  century  ago.     The  local  societies  keep  to  more  "  popular  "  subjects. 

U2 


148  WicsTROPP — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 

5,  Lastly,  the  iudex  refers  to  the  sections,  and  not  to  the  pages,  m  order 
the  better  to  mamtain  the  identity  of  the  paper. 

I  have  only  the  pleasant  task  left  of  asking  the  friendly  correction  and 
indulgent  criticism  of  my  readers,  and  thanking  the  many  kind  friends 
whose  assistance  rendered  this  Paper  less  imperfect  than  it  might  other- 
wise have  been.     As  always  in  these  studies  I  must  first  acknowledge  the 
help  of  my  relations,   Mrs.   O'Callaghan,   of   Maryfort,    Colonel   George 
O'Callaghan  Westropp,  of  Coolreagh,  the  late  Dr.  William  H.  Stacpoole 
Westropp,  of  Lisdoonvarna,  and  Mrs.  Macdonnell,  jun.,  of  Newhall,  county 
Clare,  and  of  my  friends  Dr.  G-eorge  U.  Macnamara  and  the  Rev.  John 
Bolton  Greer,  in  the  same  county,  who  by  every  means  in  their  power, 
and  for  many  years  helped  me  to  collect  and  revise  my  notes  on  the  forts 
of  Clare,  Galway,  and  the  neighbouring  counties.    Many  other  friends  have 
given  me  valuable  suggestions  and  aid.*      I  may  thank  more  especially 
Mr.  Robert  Cochrane,  Mr.  James  Mills,  Deputy  Keeper  of  the  Records  of 
Ireland,  Dr.  E,  P.  Wright,  Dr.  Robert  Munro,  Dr.  David  Christison,  Mr. 
George  Coffey,  and  Mr.  Standish  Hayes  O'Grady.      Dr.  Charles  Browne 
and  Mr.  H.  T.  Knox  gave  me  some  valuable  help  with  the  forts  of  Mayo, 
for  in  this  field,  as  in  Cork,  little  has  yet  been  published.     I  have  also  to 
thank  Dr.  Robert  Atkinson  for  kind  help  and  criticism  with  regard  to 
certain  allusions  to  the  cahers  in  ancient  Irish  documents;  I  must  again 
record  my  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  late  Dr.  William  Frazer,  and  the  late 
Mr.  William  Copeland  Borlase,  and  acknowledge  acceptable  jjhotographic 
help  from  Mr.  Knox,  Mrs.  Shackleton  of  Lucan,  and  Miss  Parkinson  of 
Ennis.     So  wide,  indeed,  has  been  my  indebtedness  that  I  almost  deter- 
mined to  refrain,  save  in  general  terms,  from  thanking  those  interested  in 
prehistoric  archeeology,  who  gave  me  direct  heljj  in  my  attempt  to  bring 
together  as  a  step  towards  more  advanced  study,  the  main  outlines  of  our 
knowledge  of  the  forts  of  earth  and  stone  of  ancient  Ireland. 

*  The  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland  most  kindly  lent  the  blocks  of  illustrations  of 
Dorsey,  Innismurray  (3),  Staigue,  Moneygashel,  Lough  Skannive  and  Carran  forts.  Mr.  Cochi-ane 
and  Mr.  Mills  added  to  theii-  many  acts  of  kindness  that  of  reading  these  pages  for  press. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


149 


INDEX. 


\_The  Numbers  refer  to  Sections,  not  Pages. '\ 


Abattis  in  forts,  51  ;  Views,  figs.  4,  6,  7.     Plates 
in.,  vn. 

Age  of  forts,  32,  37. 

Alsace-Lon'aine,  forts  in,  1 1 . 

Annascaul,  KeiTy,  forts  near,  55. 

Antrim, Co.,  forts,  61, 110, 120, 128, 134, 135, 159. 

Aran  Isles,  Galway,  49,  69,  81,  94,  123. 

Ardniu'clier  mote,  Westmeath,  159. 

Ardpatrick,  Limerick,  fosses,  54. 

Ai-magh,  County,  forts,  71,  77,  150,  159. 

Austria,  forts  in,  11,  12.     See  also  Bosnia. 

Authors  of  Descriptions  of  Irish  Forts,  159-162. 
Babbington,  C.  C. ;  Beaufort,  L.  C. ;  Bernard, 
Dr.  W. ;  Bigger,  F.  J.  ;  Bland,  F.  C. ;  Brash, 
E.  R. ;  Brougham,  Canon  ;  Browne,  Dr.  C.  ; 
Brownrigg,  J.  ;  Caulfield,  E.  ;  Chatterton, 
Lady ;  Close,  Eev.  M.  H. ;  Cooke,  J. ;  Creagh, 
A.  G. ;  Dubourdieu,  Eev.  J. ;  DuNoyer,  G.  V. ; 
Duni-aven,  E.,  Earl  of  ;  Fahy,  Eev.  Dr.  ; 
Falkiner,  Eev.  "W.  ;  Ferguson,  Sii-  S. ;  Fox, 
Col. ;  Harris,  H. ;  Healy,  Rev.  W. ;  Hitch- 
cock, E. ;  Hore,  Herbert ;  Jubainville,  M. 
D'Arbois  ;  Xinahan,  G.  H.  ;  Kirker,  S.  K.  ; 
Layard,  Col. ;  Lett,  Eev.  H.  "W. ;  Lynch,  P.  J. 
Macalister,  R.  A.  S. ;  M'Henry,  A. ;  March, 
Dr.  C. ;  Mason,  H.  M. ;  Milligan,  S.  F. ; 
Molyneux,  T. ;  Moore,  Capt.  A.  M. ;  Moore, 
Eev.W.P.;  Otway,  Rev.  C. ;  Petrie,  Dr.  Geo.; 
Power,  Rev.  P. ;  Prim.  J.  G.  A. ;  Reade,  Rev. 
G.  H.  ;  Reeves,  Dr.  "W.,  Bishop  of  Down; 
Ross,  Dr.  C.  ;  Rotheram,  E.  C.  ;  Sampson, 
Rev.  G.  V.  ;  Tighe,  W.  ;  Ussher,  R.  ; 
Vallancey,  General  C.  ;  "Wakeman,  "W.  F.  ; 
"Westi-opp,  T.  J. ;  WUde,  Sir  W. ;  Wilkinson, 
G.  ;  Windele,  J.  ;  Wood-Martin,  Colonel ; 
Wright,  T. 


Baden,  forts  in,  18. 

Ballyallaban,  Clare,  47. 

Ballycarbery,  KeiTy,  100. 

Ballyheabought,  Ken-y,  58. 

Bally  kin  vai-ga,  Clare,  51,  98.    Plate  vn. 

Ballynavenooragh,  Kerry,  58. 

Batter  in  fort  walls,  48. 

Bayeiix  Tapestiy.     Motes  shown  1  (f)  48. 

Bibliography,  159-162. 

Bohemia,  forts  in,  12. 

Bosnia  Herzegovina,  forts  in,  8. 

Brandenburgh,  forts  in,  17. 

Britain,  forts  in,  28-31. 

Brittany,  forts  in,  24. 

Burren,  Clare,  forts  in,  75. 

Caherahoagh,  Clare,  ladder  steps,  48. 
Caheranardurrish,  Clare.     Plate  vui. 
Caheradrine,  Galway,  95.     Plate  vi. 
Cahercommane,  Clare,  triple  fort,  58,  96. 
Caherconree,  Kerry,  127.     Plate  i. 
Cahercrofinn,  Meath,  72. 
Cahercrovdearg,  Kerry,  99. 
Caheroullaun,  Kerry,  101. 
Cahercuttine,  Clare,  48,  49;  figs.  13,  23. 
Caherdooneerish,  Clare,  47. 
Caherdorgan,  Kerry,  58. 
Cahergel,  Galway,  48,  93. 
Cahergel,  Kerry,  100. 
Cahermacnaughten,  Clare,  law  college,  42. 
Cahermore-Kilskeagh,  Galway,  85. 
Cahermoygliar,  Cork,  106. 
Cahemamau'tineach,  Kerry,  58. 
Caherribert,  Galway,  116. 
Cahersavaun,  Clare,  lake  fort,  113. 
Cahersavaun,  Kerry,  49. 


150 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


Cahershaughnessy,  Clare,  double-walled  fort,  84. 

Caherspeenaun,  Mayo,  axes  found  in,  90. 

Carlow,  County,  forts  in,  128,  158. 

Carran  forts,  Clare.     Plate  vin. 

Cashel  (Knoekdrum),  Cork,  107. 

Cashel  (ClasHnimid),  Cork,  82. 

Cashlaun  Gar,  Clare,  rock  fort,  50,  97. 

Castles  buUt  in  forts,  36. 

Cattle  kept  in  forts,  43. 

Cavan,  County,  forts  in,  88,  151,  159. 

Cladh  dubh,  Waterford,  156. 

Cladiruadh,  Kerry,  153. 

Clare,  County,  forts  in,  47,  49,  50,  58,  75,  79,  83, 

84,  96-98,  113,  117,  120,  124,  128,  133,  161. 
Cliffl  forts,  1  (c.),  87,  97. 
Clogber,  Tyrone,  139. 
Corcaguiny,  Kerry,  forts  in,  65. 
Cork,  County,  forts  in,  82,  106,  107,  120,  158. 
Corn-wall,  forts  in,  30. 
Crown  Mound  mote,  Down,  138. 

Dalmatia,  forts  in,  7. 

Danes  alleged  to  bave  built  forts,  39. 

Dane's  Cast,  fosses,  Armagh  and  Down,  150,  159. 

Denmark,  forts  in,  21. 

Derrer  mote,  Meath,  134,  fig.  25. 

Desertion  of  forts,  36. 

Devil  in  fort  names  and  legends,  3,  II,  20,  149. 

Dolmens  in  forts,  64,  27,  31 ;  near  forts,  63. 

Donaghpatrick  mote,  Meatb,  142. 

Donegal,  County,  forts  in,  76,  120,  159. 

"Doon,"  see  "Dun." 

Doon  fort,  Clare,  54. 

Dorsey  Dun,  Armagh,  77.     Plate  v. 

Down,  County,  forts  in,  89,  134,  136-139,  150, 

159. 
Downpatriek  mote,  136,  159. 
Drawbridge  in  fort,  50. 
Dromore  mote,  Down,  137. 
Dubh  Cathaii-,  Aran,  23,  51.     Plate  in. 
Dublin,  City,  Thingmotc,  60  ;  raths,  2. 

County,  forts  in,  50,  60,  120,  128. 

"Dun,"  "Dimum,"  name,  3. 

Dun  Aenghus,  Aran,  47,  51,  81.    Plates  ii.,  m. 


Dun  AOinn,  Kildare,  78. 

Dunbeg,  Kerry,  126. 

Dunbell  raths,  Kilkenny,  finds  m,  38. 

Dimcladh,  Longford,  152. 

Dun  Conor,  Aran,  94.     Plate  iii. 

Dundermot,  Antrim,  135. 

Dunfiachra,  Mayo,  121. 

Dungorkin,  Londonderry,  109. 

DunkeUin,  Galway,  forts  in,  68. 

Dunmore,  Clare,  124. 

Dunmore,  Kerry,  125. 

Dunnamoe,  Mayo,  58,  122. 

Dunohill  mote,  Tipperary,  146. 

Earlsrath,  Kilkenny,  118. 

Earthworks,  long,  21,  149-157. 

Edentinny,  Leitiim,  51. 

Emania,  Annagh,  36;  description,  71,  159. 

England,  forts  in,  30. 

Esthonia,  forts  in,  13. 

Fahan,  Kerry,  52,  57,  58,  102. 
Fairs  held  at  forts,  46. 
Fermanagh,  County,  forts  in,  119. 
"Finds"  in  forts,  38. 
Firbolgs  as  fort-buiklers,  39. 
Flint  implements  found  in  forts,  38. 
France,  forts  in,  23-27. 

Galway,  County,  forts  in,  50,  67,  68,  81,  85, 
93-95,  111,  112,  116,  120,  128,  162.  See  also 
Aran  Isles. 

Gareendina,  Kilkenny,  square  fort,  160. 

Gateways  of  forts,  50. 

Gennany,  forts  in,  15-20. 

Giant's  Ring,  Down,  89. 

Giant's  Sconce,  Londondeny,  49,  87,  159. 

Glenquin,  Cahennorc,  Clare,  1  (a).     Plate  vii. 

Gold  foimd  in  forts,  38. 

Greece,  forts  in,  5. 

Green  of  a  fort,  63. 

Grecnmount  mote,  Louth,  140. 

Grianan  Aileach,  Donegal,  56,  76,  159. 

Grianan  Lachtna,  Clare,  75. 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


151 


Hammer  work  on  forts,  48. 
Hessen  Nassau,  forts  in,  18. 
Hill  forts,  61. 

Historic  period,  forts  biiilt  in,  34. 
Holed  stones  at  forts,  50,  57. 
Holland,  forts  in,  22. 
Huamorian  Firbolgs,  39. 
Huts,  58. 

lUaun  Carbery  lake  fort,  Galway,  111. 
Inauguration  places,  46,  60,  133. 
Innismurray,  Sligo,  48,  50,  86. 
Inscriptions  (or  scribings)  at  forts,  57. 
Island  forts,  1  (b),  36,  109-114. 
Italy,  forts  in,  1 0. 

Keelaodb,  Cork,  105. 

Kerry,    County,    forts  in,   48,  50,   55,  57,  58  ; 

Corcaguiny,  65,  99,  100-105,   120,   125-127, 

153,  160. 
Kilbradran,  Limerick,  108. 
Kilcashel,  Mayo,  72.     Plate  v. 
Kildare,  County,  forts  in,  78,  129,  134,  166. 
Kilfinnane  mote.  Limerick,  147. 
Kilkenny,  County,  forts  in,  118, 128, 132, 134, 160. 
KiUala,  Mayo,  souteiTain,  55. 
Killaney  mote,  Louth,  141. 
Kincora  fort,  Clare,  75. 
King's  County,  forts  in,  128. 
Knockaun  fort,  Clare,  58,  117. 

Langough  Caber,  Clare,  47,  83. 

Legends  of  forts,  4,  33. 

Leitrim,  County,  forts  in,  51. 

Limerick,  County,  forts  in,  108,  134,  147,  154. 

Lines  of  forts,  62. 

Lismore  mote,  "Waterford,  148. 

Lisrahiermid,  Cork,  106. 

Listerlin  mote,  Kilkenny,  132. 

Literature,  Irish,  allusions  to  forts,  36. 

Loggan  mote,  Wexford,  145. 

Londonderiy,  County,  forts  in,  87, 109, 134,  159. 

Longford,  County,  forts  in,  128,  134,  152,  160. 

Loughadoon  lake  fort,  Donegal,  114. 

Loughnacrannagh  lake  fort,  Antrim,  110. 


Lough  Skannive  lake  fort,  Galway,  112.    Plate  vi. 
Louth,  County,  forts  in,  128,  134,  140,  141,  160. 

Mac  Art's  fort,  Antrim,  61. 

Magh  Adhairmote,  Clare,  46,  133. 

Marsh  forts,  109. 

Masonry  of  forts,  48. 

Mayo,  County,  forts  in,  55,  90-92,  120-122,  162. 

Meath,  County,    forts  in,  55,  72,  128,  130,  134, 

142,  143,  160. 
Merginstown  mote,  Wicklow,  144. 
Moghane  Caher,  Clare,  79. 
Monaghan,  County,  forts  in,  128. 
Monastic  forts,  42. 
Moneygashel  Caher,  Cavan,  48,  87. 
Motes,  simple,  1  (f),  128,  123;  complex,   1  (g), 

134-138. 
Moyne  Cashel,  Mayo,  91. 
Mullymescar  cross-fort,  Fermanagh,  119. 

Names  of  forts  in  Em'ope,  3  j  in  Ireland,  3. 
Normandy,  forts  in,  25. 
Norse  settlers  in  Ireland,  55. 
Number  of  Irish  forts,  2. 

Ogham  inscriptions  in  forts,  57. 
Oland,  forts  in,  14. 
Outworks  of  forts,  54. 

Palisaded  motes,  48. 

Passages  in  walls,  55. 

Paving,  53,  110. 

PiUar  stones  at  forts,  5 1 . 

Pirates  as  fort  builders,  39. 

Plans  of  forts,  1,  figs.  2-5,  11-13,  17-21,  23-26. 

Plinths  in  forts,  48. 

Portnascully  mote,  Kilkenny,  143. 

Promontory  forts,  1  (e),  120-127. 

Prussia,  forts  in,  5. 

Queen's  Coimty,  forts  in,  128,  131,  160. 

Ramparts  of  forts,  47. 
Rath  Celtchair.     See  Downpatrick. 
Eathooran,  Wicklow,  80. 
Eathcroghan,  Roscommon,  73. 
Rathduff  entrenchment,  Carlow,  158. 


152 


Westropp — The  Ancient  Forts  of  Ireland. 


Katlmiichael,  Dublin,  50. 

Ratlmadi-innagli,  Tipperary,  fig.  23. 

Rectilinear  forts,  115-119. 

Renvyle  rath,  Galway,  50. 

Rian  bo  patrick,  "Waterford  and  Limerick,  154, 

155. 
Ring  forts,  1  (a),  65-108. 
Roads,  ancient,  53. 
Rock-cut  trenches,  29,  54,  130. 
Roevehagh  fort  and  tree,  Galway,  60. 
Roscommon  County,  forts  in,  73,  162. 
Roumania,  forts  in,  9. 
Riigen,  fort  and  temple  in,  16. 
Runic  inscription  in  mote,  38. 

Scotland,  forts  in,  29. 

Scribings  in  forts,  57. 

Sepulture  in  forts,  44. 

Skirk  Mote,  Queen's  County,  45,  131. 

Slane  Mote,  Meath,  130. 

SUgo  County,  forts  in,  50,  86,  162. 

Slopes,  forts  on,  64. 

Sloping  ascents,  129,  133. 

Souterrains,  55. 

Spearhead  mould,  38. 

Staigue,  Kerry,  48,  103.     Plate  i. 

Steps  in  forts,  49. 

Straight- walled  forts,  1  (d),  115. 

Streets  at  forts,  53. 

Sunken  ways,  54. 

Sweden,  forts  in,  14. 

Switzerland,  forts  in,  19. 


Tara,  Meath,  72. 

Termonfeckin,  fort  builders'  tomb,  fig.  9. 

Terraces  in  forts,  49  ;  on  hills,  1  (i). 

Thessaly,  forts  in,  6. 

Tipperary  County,  forts  in,  134,  146. 

Tradree,  supposed  earthwork  in,  157. 

Traverses  in  forts,  52. 

Tiilithic  gates,  50. 

Tullaghog,  Tyrone,  159. 

Tyrone,  County,  forts  in,  139,  159. 

Use  of  forts,  39. 
Usnach,  Westmeath,  74. 

"Veneered"  waUs,  48. 
Ventilating  shafts,  55. 
Vitrified  forts,  29,  159. 
Volo,  fort  near,  6. 

Wales,  forts  in,  31. 

"  Warden's  huts,"  56. 

Water  supply  in  forts,  59. 

Waterford   County,  forts  in,  120,  134,  148,  155, 

156,  161. 
Westmeath  County,  forts  in,   55,  74,  128,  134, 

160. 
Wexford  County,  forts  in,   120,  128,  134,  145, 

160. 
Wicklow  County,  forts  in,  80,  128,  134,  144. 
Worship,  forts  used  for,  45. 


PLATES. 

I.  .1.  Caherconree  (Dr.  Fogerty).     2.  Staigue  fort  (W.  Lawrence).      3.  Inismurray 

(W.  F.  Wakeman). 

II.  .     Dun  Aenghus,  Aran.     1.  The  fort  from  east.     2.  Gateway  (T.  J.  Westropp). 

III.  .     Same.     1.  The  fort  from  west.     2.  The  abattis  (same). 

IV.  .     1.  Dubh  Cathair.     2.  Dun  Conor  (Mrs.  Shackleton). 

V.  .     1.  Dorsey  Dun,  Armagh  (Rev.  W.  Lett).     2.  Kilcashel,  Mayo  (Mr.  H.  T.  Knox). 

VI.  .     1.  Lough  Skarmive  (Gen.  Layard).     2.  Caherdiine  (T.  J.  Westropp). 

VII.  1.  Glenquin  Caber,  Clare.     2.  Ballykinvai-ga  Caher,  Clare  (same). 

VIII.  1.  Caheranardurrisb,  Clare.     2.  Can-an  CUfE  fort,  Clare  (same). 


Plate  I. 


V'^r?  /■•%    '^XVA 


CAHERCOXRKE,  KERRY. 


STEPS  AND  WALL,  INLSMIJRRAY  CASHEL,  SLIGO. 


Plate   II. 


DUN   AiiNGHUs,  i-KU.M  CLllL". 


DUN  ALNGHUS,  THE  DOORWAY. 


Plate    III. 


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JJUN  AiiKUaUS,  iKOM  EAST. 


DUN  AENGHUS,  THE  ABAl'ilS. 


Plate  IV. 


DUBH  CATHAIK,  ARAN. 


.DUN  CONOK,  ARAN. 


-TT 


Plate  V. 


KAMFARX  Ob'  DOKSEY  DUN,  ARMAGH. 


Kli.CA.SHIiL,  MAVO,  IKOJI  WEST. 


Plate    VI. 


WALLED  ISLAND,  LOUGH  SKANNIVE,  CONNEJIARA. 


CAHEKADILINE,  GALWAY   fKOil  WEST. 


Plate  VII. 


GLENQUIX,  CLARE. 


BALLVKINVARGA,  CLARE. 


Plate    VIII. 


CAHERANARDUKKISH,    CI.AKE. 


CLIFF  FORT,  CARRAN,  CLARE. 


y 


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