26 
I do not pretend to be an antiquarian ; and it is with great dif. 
fidence, and no small degree of apprehension, that I venture a con- 
jecture upon the subject: but, having given so complete a deserip- 
tion of this building, and furnished ground for the learned to turn 
up, I think I may be pardoned for my temerity in hazarding an 
opinion. Conjectures are allowable, where as yet nothing has ap- 
peared but conjecture. I suppose, at some very distant period, a. 
colony (Pheenicians if you please, possibly about the time they first 
visited Spain, or previously to it) to have crossed the Atlantic, from 
the pillars of Hercules, in quest of a settlement, or in pursuit of a 
country productive of ore ; and, having made the western extremity 
of Ireland, found the river Kenmare open to receive them. Sail- 
ing up this river, they would naturally be inclined to land at the 
first place that appeared convenient for that purpose, The small 
bay, at the foot of Staigue, affords the first convenient situation. 
The shore on either side of the river, until you reach that spot, is 
absolutely intangible. There, a small opening presents a flat and 
inviting shore, where they might have landed; and, finding the 
country tolerably fertile, and bearing the appearance of containing 
ore, they might have settled, and built this fort, as a depot and 
place of security. Ihave been led into this conjecture from the 
of the position of the gate. I have no observation of the variation of the compass, at present 
by me, nearer to Staigue Fort than that on Admiral Knight’s chart of Cork harbour, where it is 
marked 28° 10’. In Kenmare River I know it is somewhat more westerly. It appeared to me, 
that the structure exhibited a sort of rude graduation of the horizon: first into two hands of five 
fingers each, each finger into quarters ; and these again into gradi or steps. The cells might be 
places of shelter for two observers: one to observe the rising sun, and the other his meridian 
shadow. But I leave this conjecture to be pursued by more able antiquarians, 
The exterior mould of the wall has evidently been formed by staking down one end of a cord in 
the centre of the area, and bringing the other to the exterior face of the wall. This gives both 
the circular plan, and the particular curve of the profile, until near the top; where it has been 
brought nearer the vertical. 
