Westropp — Fortified Headlands 6f Castles, S. Coast of Munster. 97 



all trace has disappeared as the road passes the edge of the curved fosse. 

 The ditch is 5 to 6 feet deep, and 12 to 15 feet wide in the bottom, and 

 23 feet to 25 feet at the road-level. The garth level is 10 feet above the ditch, 

 the mound 6 feet 6 inches higher, 15 feet thick at the garth, and 6 feet 

 on top. The main fragment of the garth is 57 feet long and wide. The 

 mound remains shapely and fairly perfect for 39 feet, and then balances 

 on the broken edge for 27 feet to the end of the fosse, and runs back on 

 the spur. 1 



Dunsoeske (0. S. 113). — It lies between Eeanies and Eoberts Head, 

 near the hamlet of Killowen, on low, crumbling cliffs. Any doubts I 

 had as to its character as a promontory-fort were removed by my visit. 

 The remains of the headland run out in the shallow bay in reefs, and 

 are sharp and evidently only exposed in comparatively recent times. 

 So also the north ends of the earthworks remain nearly uninjured, and 

 probably finished at that point from the first, the cliffs being also 

 comparatively uninjured there, though freshly cut away elsewhere. 

 The works were of unusual height and strength ; they consist of two 

 curved rings with a fosse between. The outer is 8 to 10 feet high outside 

 (with traces of dry-stone facing and nearly perpendicular), and 12 feet thick. 

 Like the inner mound, it is covered with furze and heather. The fosse is 

 from 6 to 8 or 9 feet deep, below the field ; 12 feet wide below, and 150 feet 

 round ; its north end is 5 to 6 feet lower than the middle ; a road runs 

 down its south end to a quarry. The inner ring is 30 feet thick below, 

 and 6 feet on top; it rises 15 to 18 feet above the ditch, the upper part for 

 4 feet being of dry-stone work. The place seems now to be only called the 

 Bun of Killowen. 2 



Dooneenmacottek (O.S. 89). — In Imokilly, near Ballycotton, is a fort 

 which I must include in this group, though it was fenced slightly all round. 

 This is made a note of distinction by English antiquaries; buc so many cases 

 are found in Ireland that I incline to believe that every headland was once 

 slightly fenced for the security of the people and cattle taking refuge 

 thereon. The shoreward defences are here, and indeed nearly always, 

 stronger than and often different in character from the rest of the walling. 

 The Dooneen stands at the junction of two deep stream-gullies, 30 to 50 feet 

 deep. A lesser runnel lay to the south. The fort-makers selected this 

 spur (fenced on two sides by almost perpendicular banks and for half 

 the third side by a natural fosse), and cut a curved ditch for about 108 feet ; 

 but the path down it for bringing up seaweed from the rocky shore has 



1 Plan, Plate X. 2 View on Plate VIII ; Plan, Plate X. 



B.I.A. PKOC, VOL. XXXII., SECT. C. [15] 



