121 



scale the most accurate possible imitation of what are well known m 

 England as Roman camps ; so thoroughly did they wear that appear-r 

 ance to the present observer,* that he could almost offer it, as well as 

 the peculiarity of some such other fortifications through the country, 

 such as one at Brennanstown near Mullingar in the County West- 

 meath, that beautiful one at Castleknock,"!- near Dublin, (within 

 whose double foss the Tyrrells erected one of the earliest Castles 

 known in Ireland,) &c., as additional evidence of the alliance, before 

 alluded to, between the Irish and Picts against the Romans, and the 

 consequent knowledge of these Roman models of fortification. The 

 larger of the raths is defended with a double foss and double rampart, 

 which surround it on all sides but one, where they blend into the 



■ J 



* Sir Richard Colt Hoare admits a similar resemblance between other raths, and the 

 camps on the Wiltshire downs. — See his Tour in Ireland, p. 22. 



f Castleknock is to be distinguished from Knock Castle. The former was built by Hugh 

 Tyrrel, in the heart of those possessions of which he was enfeoffed by Henry the Second ; the 

 latter was erected by Andrew De Ijynch, one of the knights who accompanied that monarch 

 into Ireland, whence it is frequently called Knock Lynch, and was situated in the County 

 Meath, where a large tract, comprising the modern denominations of Summerhill and Crpboy, 

 was delivered to him. The Tyrrells were lords of extensive possessions over Normandy, Eng- 

 land, Wales, and Ireland, and their achievements are emblazoned in the annals of each country. 

 Of the Lynches we may add, that in 1201, a younger branch emigrated into Connaught, where 

 they became, if not the foundersof Galway, at least the chief promoters of its prosperity. — (See 

 Hardiman's Galway, passim.) Soon after this, the parent stock, as appears by various ancient 

 records, was known by the name of Lynch or Leyns indifferently ; an alias, which was also 

 adopted by some of the family who figure in the monastic histories of Belgium. In the wars 

 for the Stuarts, the Lynches of the Knock took an active part. In 1642, the Earl of Ormond 

 took "the strong castle" of Knock Lynch, when the garrison, not accepting quarter, were put 

 to the sword. In 1688, the head of the family was taken prisoner, fighting for James at the 

 batUe of the Boyne; and in 1747, Colonel Lynch, who followed the fortunes of the ex- 

 monarch, was of those in Lally's regiment killed at the battle of Lauflield village. Knock 

 Castle and its manors were, in consequence of this line of politics, distributed to adventurers, 

 and the Lynches or Leynses were debentured into a small estate in the County Roscommon, 

 which lately reverted to the crown by the death of the last heir male of this line, (according to 

 the terms of the grant.) 



VOL. XVI. R 



