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round, in the nature of a regular amphitheatre; but this, which as 
well as Staigue, is situated on my ground, is so dilapidated that the 
seats are scarcely to be traced; and I should nearly doubt of their 
having existed at all, but for the testimony of a very old man who, 
some years back, assured me he remembered to see them much more 
perfect, and described them accurately. Iam told by my friend 
Mr. Nimmo, that there is another stone fort, at Ballycarbery in 
Iverah, with seats round it, but I have not seen it. 
The name of this building is Staigue or Staig, and the farm on 
which it stands is also called Staigue; the etymology of which word 
I have not been able to discover satisfactorily. I understand Mr. 
Leslie Foster says it signifies steps or stairs, which, if an authentick 
meaning for the word, would be very satisfactory indeed ; but looks 
so like a “ palpable hit” that it ought to be supported by something 
more than assertion. In modern Irish it signifies a bleak, dreary, or 
desolate place; but this meaning throws no light upon the subject ; 
and in this, and every thing else, we learn nothing concerning it 
from tradition.* 
Staigue Fort, as it is called, has been a long time a lion in my 
family ; but the first public notice of it was taken by my late re. 
spected friend Mr. Pelham, a gentleman of considerable talent and 
curious research, who was engaged in writing a history of Kerry : 
but whose lamented death prevented his completing the work, and 
°* I have lately learned, that amongst the old people of the country, it is called Staig a 
nair, probably a corruption of $’tig an air, or the “windy house” ; literally, ‘it is the windy house” 
or habitation. This is more likely, from the circumstance of a gap in the mountain, just 
over it, being called Barney Guhee, or “ the windy gap”.—Or it may be a corruption of S’tzg on 
air, as being ashelter from storms, or of S'tig an athair, (pronounced without sounding the th) 
“the house of the father”, or “ the father’s house” (a temple): but the first seems to me most 
probable. 
This mode of denominating places, from accidental circumstances in their situation, is very 
ancient. Thus Homer neworcoay Evowny & IAsoy nueeocorav—Ia. L. 2, 1. 606 & L, iii. 1. 305. 
