Westropp — The Fort of Bun Aengusa in Inishmore, Aran. 9 



With regard to the name, Aran maintains the primitive title " Dun," 

 which has been elsewhere so generally replaced by "cathair" (caher). A 

 transitional example " Doon'ahaar," or "Doon doo'haar," the Dun of the 

 black cathair, is found ; similarly the fort of " Eerish," in sight of Aran, on 

 the shoulder of Black Head, is Caherdooneerish, and a fort near it, 

 Caherdoonteigusha. The usage of ' caher ' for ' fort ' seems a rather late 

 method, perhaps derived from the monastic forts, which again were suggested 

 by the cognate word ' cathedra.' The Eev. Edmund Hogan, with his usual 

 kindness, let me use his notes from the forthcoming " Onomasticon 

 Goklelicum." He gives "Dim Aengv.sa" from the Books of Imaine, 

 Lecan, and Ballymote ; " Dun A&ngusa " from Keating, and Mac Firbis' 

 Genealogies ; and " Dun-oingiiso," Dun-Oengus, as Eoderic O'Flaherty's 

 " Ogygia." In " lar Connaught," 16S4, it is Dun Engus. "Dun Aengus" 

 prevailed, 1790-1820, as now, among writers ; but John O'Flaherty found 

 the name to be locally Dun Aonguis in 1825, while in 1839 only one old 

 man on Aranmore, a descendant of a Cromwellian family, remembered the 

 true phonetic name "Dun Innees," according to O'Donovan ; S.Ferguson, 

 in 1853, gives the names " Ungust " and " Unguish,"' the latter evidently 

 akin to Innees. It is given by Haver ty as Dun Eanees in 1858 ; but had 

 hardened to Doon Aingus in 1878, and is now usually " Dun Angus," 

 though it might better be anglicized Doon Hennessy. 



(3) The Plan of Dux Aengusa. 



It is strange that, so far as we know, the plan of Dun Aengusa has never 

 been studied to see whether it forms a consistent whole or has been modified. 

 This task we now attempt to carry out. Any ancient building of historic 

 times rarely fails to give proof of restoration, and this is true of the stone 

 forts, and even of those of earth.' For example, earthworks at Piathmore in 

 Kildare, Ballyroony in Waterford, Lissadooneen in Kerry, and Lisnagree, 

 near Broadford, in Clare, show that layers of earth (several in the first case, 

 two in the third) were added to raise the original structure ; baileys and outer 

 rings were very probably added in many cases. In Clare, so closely bound 

 up with Aran in legend and history, the stone forts give frequent evidence 



but probably is founded on older sources, though unusually devoid of local colour. It does not even 

 allude to the forts. 



' Dublin University Magazine, vol. xli., p. 95. He notices the Pictisli character of these 

 names, but then (according to Keating) the Picts cleared out tlie Firbolgs of .Aran and the islands. 



- History coincides with the " records of the ruins." The Grianan of .\ileacb, in Donegal, was 

 rebuilt in 674 and 937, and dismantled 1107 ; the stone fort of Kincora, in Clare, rebuilt in 1062, and 

 was levelled in 1098. It was again rebuilt, to be finally demolished in 1112 (Chronicon Scotorum) 

 or 1118 (.\nna!s of the Four Masters) ; other cases will be recalled by antiquaries. 



B.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXMII., SliCT. C, [2J 



