344 



Cork, even adds his belief to a tradition, that in removing an old wall 

 at Castle Lehane, a stone was laid open with the inscription " Lehane 

 O'Cullane, A. D. 1104:." It is also to be remarked, that besides 

 Dublin, Waterford, Armagh, and other cities heretofore mentioned, 

 as well as those seaports established by the Danes,* other towns of 

 considerable note are alluded to in this interval. Lismore, now so 

 wretched in its appearance, was then a celebrated city. Cong, says 

 Archdall, " was formerly a town of great note, being for some time 

 the residence of the kings of Connaught." Kells, says the same autho- 

 rity, " was in former ages a city of note, and on the arrival of the 

 English it was walled and fortified with towers."-|- Giraldus, in the 

 version of Hooker, speaks of Tibrach, " an old town, which in times 

 past was rich and very well inhabited ; it lieth upon the north side of 

 the Suir ;J while Saint Bernard§ speaks frequently of " Corcagia 

 civitas." 



In reference to military architecture, the Irish seemed even still re- 

 luctant to rebel against the Spartan proverb, that the city is best envi- 

 roned which has a wall of men instead of brick. || Regan** mentions 

 a rude species of fortification, where he says, that when " King Der- 

 mot entered into the County of Ossory, he found that Donald, the 

 king thereof, plashed a pace, made large tmd deep trenches in the same, 

 with hedges upon them, and manned with 5000 men."-f-|' The Eng- 



• See Davis's Hist. Rel. p. 75. ' f Mon. Hib. p. 541. 



I Hooker, pp. 21 and 22. § Vita Malachise. 



II Even so late as the days of Henry the Eighth, Con O'Neill left his curse on any of his 

 posterity who should erect a stone house. 



•• Ap. Harris, Hibemica. 



f f Plashing was practised in Homer's day : 



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