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Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



stones, probably placed there by design or fallen." [He then examines and 

 rejects the temple theory, agreeing with Petrie's statement that it is a 

 fortress, and continues on p. 752.] "A writer, describing Dun Aengus, says 

 the larger of the three (there are only two) enclosures is encircled by a 

 rampart of large stones standing on end. This is a decided error ; the stones 

 are polygonal in form. . . sometimes hammer-dressed, but never by the 

 chisel." It is indeed remarkable that he so entirely overlooked all outside the 

 middle wall. 



Fio. 8. — Dun Acngusa from camere tketches, 1878. 



Notes. June 1st, 1878. — The rarity of records made before the restora- 

 tion may excuse my giving an adaptation of my own very rough notes: 

 "Doon Engii-s, Ainusa or Aingus." There is "an old tumbled wall; very 

 much is quite down" ; then, " pillars set on end ; inside is a piece of detached 

 wall " (sketch). The " inner wall has a sort of terrace, nearly gone near the 

 cliH", with gaps like doors, and one 'creepy' door." There is "a road tlirough 

 the pillars, very steep ... the second wall runs back round a steep (ridgC;, 

 with pillai-s at the foot towards Clare. The middle fort wall has fallen down 

 in one patch, with another wall inside; there is a hole (? the ope inside). The 

 wall was three times a man's height, of rough stones, naturally very square. 

 An old gate looking towards Clare is perfect with a top stone, the wall rising 

 like a gable over it, broken to each side (sketch) ; another gap higher than 

 one can reach. Inside the door is perfect (sketch); it has step stones on top 



