Westuopp — Fortified Headlands and Castles in Western Co. Cork. 265- 



be examined, should anyone, not an inhabitant, take the trouble to land 

 on it. 



The name Schull is derived from a School founded near it by the monks 

 of Eos Ailithir Abbey at Eoscarbery 1 ; not from the emblem of mortality. 

 There is, however, a popular etymology that it was named from the abundance 

 of human remains in the old graveyard. The school is said to have lain to 

 the east of the harbour opposite to the ruined church. Bishop Dive Downes' 

 Visitation, in 1700, notes that Skull church was uncovered, the walls standing 

 and built of stone and lime. It is about 84 feet long and 24 feet broad. 

 He appointed churchwardens to repair a portion 30 feet long. The church 

 was almost rebuilt in 1720, a porch being added in 1796, but a neat ogee- 

 headed window of the late fifteenth century is in the north wall of the chancel. 

 I found no tomb older than 1729, one of Major William Hull. The building 

 was used down to 1842. A Bull of Pope Innocent III, in 1199. confirming 

 the privileges of the see of Cork, mentions Scooll, and later medieval 

 documents call it " S. Maria de Scholia," but, as I noted, the Ivagha parishes 

 do not appear in the taxations of 1302-7. The place has no history of 

 moment. In the reign of Elizabeth, John O Mullbrien of Skull held the castle 

 and fee of the same, " the myne and the ould Skull," at his death on 

 December 2nd, 1598. Donough, his son and successor, was then aged only 

 two years. 2 In 1623 the " Eutter for Ireland " mentions Cape Clear, Missine, 

 Crook Haven, and Scole. 



Setting out from the little town, a long ascending road in one direction 

 brings us past a fine ring-fort with high, bushy mounds, 4 to an uphill district 

 with a glorious outlook southward, and to the pass of Mount Gabriel. 5 

 " Gabriel's rough defiles " are very remarkable, narrow cuts through the 

 purple rocks, carved and polished by ancient glaciers into regularly 

 moulded cornices, tufted with delicate London pride, and ferns, the steep 

 green ridges, ragged with outcrops of rock, running up to the summit 

 1339 feet above the sea. So wild was the district that in 1700 Bishop 



1 Cork H. and A. Journal, vol. xv, pp. 89-127, ed. T. A. Luuham. 



2 Exchequer Inquisition, 1631. 



3 Carew mss., Cal., p. 435. 



4 Lewis names the great forts of Lisoaha, with two mounds and a fosse, traditionally 

 the scene of a great battle with the Danes, some would have us believe that of 1088, which 

 was probably fought at Cork. Rathtrovane was similar, but its mound was strengthened 

 by a dry-stone rampart. It lies in Rathruane, near Ballydehob. Donogh, son of the 

 chief Dermodmore, 1212-1250, was of Rath Dreoain (Pedigree, R.I. Acad. Ms. H. 23). 



5 "Mount Gabriell," Book of Distribution, Co. Cork, Skull Parish, p. 2568. There 

 were 1004 acres of common on it. 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXII., SECT. C. [42] 



