1869.] of and around Lough Gicr. 389 



Mr. John Fitzgerald, who is resident near it and who has a thorough 

 knowledge of the Irish language, a corruption of Lough Cirgor, or 

 the lake of the stone circles. 



The most perfect of these circles is near the west side of the 

 lake and close to Grange Cottage. This owes its perfection to 

 Mr. John Fitzgerald, who has preserved it with most zealous care, 

 and whose great interest in the pre-historic remains of the neigh- 

 bourhood of Lough Gur has enabled him to recognize every spot 

 near its margins where relics of this kind occiu'. 



This fine circle is about 150 feet in diameter.* Internally it 

 is made up of large blocks of conglomerate and limestone, the 

 former being generally of greater size than the latter, and one of 

 which, on the north-east side of the circle, is about 9 feet high, 

 by 4 feet in thickness, and 6 feet in breadth. There are about 

 sixty of these upright blocks of conglomerate and limestone, and 

 these make up the inner portion of the circle. 



Outside this circle of stones, and supported by it, is an earthen 

 rampart, which at its crest is about 9 feet higher than the ground 

 surrounding it. This rampart has a gentle curve outwards, except 

 at one spot, and its base is about 34 feet wide. On the E.N.E. 

 side of the circle a passage has recently been discovered by Mr. 

 Fitzgerald, leading into the enclosed portion. This passage, which, 

 is about 2 feet wide, has the sides hned with flagstones. The 

 area within the circle is considerably higher than the surface of 

 the ground which surrounds it, and this area has been raised by 

 artificial means, its level being less than 4 feet below the crest of 

 the rampart. 



A short distance northwards from this fine circle the remains 

 of another are seen. This second one is entirely composed of blocks 

 of stone. An old road runs through the western side of this second 

 circle, the portions which remain are, however, sufficient to afibrd a 

 knowledge of its original size. Its diameter is larger than the fine 

 stone and earth circle at Grange Cottage, being 170 feet. Almost 

 immediately adjoining this larger imperfect circle, and on its N.E. 

 side, there is another, which is also composed solely of blocks of 

 stone. This is a small circle, and is still very perfect. It consists 

 of fourteen large irregularly shaped masses of rock, which have a 

 squarer outline than the blocks forming the other circles. The 

 diameter of this circle is only 55 feet. 



A short distance N.W. of these three circles, and in a field 

 adjoining the Limerick high-road, there are other traces of pre- 

 historic remains. These occur in the form of a few large blocks of 

 stone arranged in a double row. They may have originally formed 



* For tliirt, and the other measiircmcBts of the pre-liistoric remains around 

 Lough Gur, I am indebted to Mr. Fitzgerald, 



