Wkstropp — -Types of the Ring-forts of Eastern Co. Glare. 75 



and the great western forts, that in any civilized land should be carefully 

 preserved as national monuments of high value. 



To close this series of papers, I will first give a table of the types occurring 

 in East Clare, and the best examples herein described, the sections lettered 

 Part I (a), II (b), III (c), and the present section (d). 1 



1. The simple ring of dry stone or earth — (stone), (a) Newmarket, 

 Caherforia; (5) Ballymarkahan, Creevaghbeg, Cragataska, Caherloghan, 

 Lissoffin, Bodyke ; Ballymacloon, Abbeyhill, Lisduff, Ballygastell ; (d) Carra- 

 han, Moyreisk, Gorteen (several); (earth, with or without fosses), Ahareinagh 

 Bylane group, Toonagh. 



2. Same, with more elaborate works; (a) Eathfoland, Monafolia, 

 Kilnasoola, Ballymacloon ; (b) Creevaghbeg, Lackenreagh, Caherhurley ; 

 (c) Bealboruma ; (d) Curraghmooghaun. 



Stone with two or more rings f (a) Moghane, Langough ; (b) Cahercalla, 

 Tulla church ; (c) G-rianan Lachtna ; (d) Moyreisk, Cahershaughnessy. 



3. With side enclosures or double forts ; (a) Langough, (b) Coolreagh, 

 Creevaghmore, Killulla ; (d) Drumbaun, Castlefergus, Ayleacotty, Earl's 

 House, Enagh. 3 



4. Flat-topped " mote," with fosse and ring ; (b) Magh Adhair, Lugalassa ; 

 Lisnagree ; 4 respectively 20 to 24, 8 to 13, and 8 to 10 feet high. 



5. Irregular enclosures, conforming to contour of site; (&) Ballydonohan, 



6. " Square " forts , i.e., more or less straight-sided and angular ; (6) Bally- 

 markahan ; (d) Knocksallaghmore. 



7. Same, with raised platform ; (b) Bunratty, Culleen. 



8. Crescent fort abutting on lake-shore ; (a) Cahernacalla 



9. Terraced-up type on hills — notably (5) Knockadoon, Fortanne, Lis- 

 cockaboe. 



No case of a spur-fort is known to me in East Clare. 5 



Magh Adhair was most probably sepulchral and ceremonial in origin ; but 

 the deep fosse, outer ring, and trace of walling on top suggest that it was also 

 residential and defensive ; and the record of the siege of Magh Adhair seems to 



1 These appear in the Proceedings, (a) vol. xxvii, p. 217, (6) ibid., p. 371, (c) vol. xxix, 

 p. 1S6, (d) present section. 



2 Many have asserted that such were royal residences. This is not borne out at Tara, 

 Ailinn, Cruachan, Boruma, or Grianan Lachtna. 



3 Also Lisnagry and Roolagh, near Killaloe, but in Co. Tipperary, supra, vol. xxix, 

 p. 211. 



4 Also Lisnaeagaun, near Kilkee ; it does not exceed 16 feet in height. 



5 Unless there was one, as I suspect, on the Turret Rock of Doonass, Dun easa 

 danainne, in the eleventh century, the Rock of Astanen in the reign of Elizabeth (Fiants), 

 where in later days a peel-tower stood till 1655. All early remains have disappeared into 

 eighteenth-century terraces and walls. 



