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VI. 



FOETIFIED HEADLANDS AND CASTLES ON THE SOUTH 

 COAST OF MUNSTEPt. 



Paet I. From Sheerest to Youghal, Co. Cobk. 



By THOMAS JOHNSON WESTEOPP, MA. 

 Plates VIII-XI. 



Read November 10, 1913. Published Januaky 23, 1914. 



The study of the fortified headlands of Ireland is one so neglected, and yet 

 of such importance and interest, that I have especially devoted attention to 

 it for the last eight years, besides having collected material for some of the 

 remains from 1878 down. It was an almost untouched field in archaeology, for 

 before 1 906, on the west coasts of Munster and Connacht, only three such forts 

 had been adequately described, Caherconree and Dunbeg in Kerry and Dubh 

 Cathair in Aranmore. There were also partial, and usually most inaccurate, 

 brief accounts of Dunnamo in Mayo. Descriptions (usually with plans, 

 sections, and illustrations) are now accessible for over 150 such forts ; and our 

 Proceedings have recorded many of those in Co. Mayo. 1 On that account I 

 may crave permission to lay before the Academy a study of the forts along 

 an important reach of the south coast. Enough is given of the history of the 

 places to show at least their later owners, and who modified and strengthened 

 their defences. Necessity for condensation prevents my going as fully as 

 could be wished into the general topography, the rock-structure, or the 

 evidences of submergence of the coast so impressive at Lislea 2 and elsewhere. 

 I hope to draw the attention of antiquaries outside Ireland to the subject, 

 as such turn more frequently to the Proceedings of the Academy than to 

 other sources for special information on Irish "prehistory." Later on a 

 sequel could be given on the other reaches of the south coast, along with 

 a list of all the fortified headlands of the southern provinces and Connacht, 

 and a bibliography which would place the broad lines of the subject on a 

 fairly scientific basis. 



1 Proceedings, vol. xxix, p. 11, and vol. xxxi, Part 2, p. 6, p. 19. 



2 Peat, full of roots and branches, is cut at low water, the bog being, it is said, 50 feet 

 deep ; roots and stems rise over the waves or lie on the beach. 



E.I.A. PEOC, VOL. XXXII., SECT. C. [14] 



