Wkstropp — The Fort of Dun Aenf/nsa in Inishmore, Aran. 21 



were added to the first and lowest wall ; but the fact that such sections 

 occur in non-terraced forts bears out the view that it was to prevent 

 bulging; for escalade in assault, or blockade— not battering or mining — was 

 the danger besetting the early fort-dwellers. Walls of double or triple 

 sections are well authenticated in dry-stone forts. Dun Aengusa is triple 

 in the citadel (double in all the other walls) ; so are the Black Fort, Dun 

 Conor, Ballykinvarga in Clare, and Caher na Spungaun in Mayo ;' while 

 double walls occur at Dun Onaght and Dun Moher iir the Aran Isles ; Lower 

 GaherbuUog, Caherscrebeen, the upper fort of Ballyallabau and Caheridoula 

 in Clare ; Ballyliu Caher in Limerick ; and the forts of Dunbeg (Falian) and 

 both the Cahercarberys in Kerry." Of these, the two last examples in 

 Clare and the Cahercarberys were so constructed down to the foundation, 

 and evidently the others are similar. The enclosure possibly defended a 

 number of huts of wattles, or osiers, and clay, for it is noticeable that while 

 stone huts are common in the forts of Mayo, north-west Clare, and west 

 Kerry, evidence for their existence in Aran is only afforded by Dun Conor 

 and the Black Fort. There were thickets of scrub (dwarf oak, &c.) at Oghil, 

 the place (Eochoill, oak grove) and a wood " Leamchoill,"^ near the shore 

 below it, as named in the " Life of St. Enda," showing that twigs and 

 branches could be procured in ancient times even on these storm-swept rocks.'' 

 We have a historic mention of a " dun and the houses outside the dun " so 

 late as 1014 j'^ and indeed so late as 1675, in a deed where the caher of the 

 O'Davorens, the fine existing ring- wall of Cahermacnaughten in Burren, 

 with the group of houses in and around the caher, is fully described." 



The Abattis. — In 1684 Eoderic O'Flaherty was struck by " several long 

 stones erected slopewise against any assault," at Dun Aengusa. Ledwich, in 

 his hearsay and warped accouut, John O'Flaherty, and the usually careful 

 John Windele, alone, since that time, have failed to note this striking 



' Mr. Hubert T. Knox kindly gave me notes and a section of this fort : it is at Bushmount, near 

 IlollywooJ. 



- Walls of tluee sections occur in French forts in tlio Alpes Maritimcs — e.g. Casteouvasson and 

 the Casfehirs in Var. See " Soc. Preliist de France," tome iii., p. 146, by Dr. AdrienGueblurrd ; and 

 the volume of the " Congifes Preliistorique " for 1905, p. 48 ; also '• Comptes Rendtis de rAssociation 

 pour I'avanocment des Sciences," xxxiii. (Session of 1904). 



' This is alleged to be a niistuke for " Eochoill " ; but there is no evidence that it is not a name 

 which became extinct on the destruction of tlie trees or bushes. 



' The Grant of the Aran Isles of 1.58G in the Patent Rolls reser\'e3 " great trees," minerals, and 

 great hawks to the dueen. We cannot, however, regard this as more than a conventional " saving " 

 by people ignorant of the islands. Traces of "druidieal" oak groves are even named by John 

 O'Flalierty, 1825, as existing in Aran. lie found fir, pine, and oak in the peat (? submerged), and 

 wild ash and liazel on the crags. O'JJonovan heard of dwarf oak scrub and hazels near Dun Oghil 

 (0. S. L., p. 230). 



^ " Annals of the Four Masters." 



» Copy in the 0. S. Letters, County Cbire, lialhborney Parish, vol. i. 



