176 Proceedings of the Roi/al Irish Academy. 



Oghil, like Dun Aengiisa, has no old huts. There are no warders' huts or 

 cells or any passages in the wall of any fort in the islands. 



As to the features there are two kinds of steps: the ladder kind, occurring 

 also in several forts in the kindred district of the Corcomroes in Clare, and 

 the sidelong flight, rare in that county. Nothing like a plinth, or like tlie 

 narrow set-back ledge found in Clare and Corcjiguiny, is known in Aian. lu 

 some cases the sidelong fliglits are in couples rising from a landing in a recess, 

 as at Staigue and many other forts. 



Of Fort Gateways, save the trilithon and those at Dun Aengusa, all are 

 defaced; hut it is notaMe that the ancient faces of the gateway of the inner 

 ring of Dun Oghil mimistakably show a wide passage, too wide to be covered 

 by lintels, unless there were detached piers built of small masonry supporting 

 the latter, as is the case at Dun Aengusa.' Killeany eaher had its jambs 

 built in layere continuous with tlio facing of the wall, as is most usual in tlie 

 forts of Mayo, inland Galway, Clare, and in some degree in Keny. Tlie 

 entrance at Dun Onaght seems like that of Dun Oghil; but the mascmry at 

 the outer ope may liave Ijecn restored. 



The walls of Dun Onaglit, Dun Oghil, ami Killeany liave a well-made 

 luitter, unlike Dun Aengusa and Dubh Cathair, the last lieiug tlie woi-st-built 

 in Inisliuiore, as Dun Onaght is the l)e8t. Upright joints occur in tlie three ; 

 so far as I know Dun Conor is the only other Aran fort witli this feature. 

 The walls of all, save Killeany and jjerliaps the duns at Bailcnashane, are 

 usually of two or more sections, each with an outer face, and in some cases an 

 inner one, but, as a nile, of smaller stones than the outer ones. Dubh Cathair 

 has (lus restni-e<l) three terraces and a sort of terrace acros-s a hollow; Duns 

 Oghil and Onaght have only two. Of rarer features, Dubh Catliair lias an 

 aliattis of slalia, unlike the sharp i)illar8 of Dun Aengusa and P>allykinvai-ga — 

 also a winding way, but probably rather moilern, as it leads to a blank wall. 

 None of the forts have .springs within their andiit ; but gofMl water is found 

 near the great ring at Teanipull na iiaemh at Kilnnnviv and mar Duns 

 Oghil and Onaght. 



Historical Notks.— At a risk of rei)etition, but as briefly as we are able, 

 let us consiiler the general histor)- f>f tlie islands. Early legend assert^'d, 

 what is proliably a geological fact, that " Ix)ugli Lurgan,' or Cialway l>ay, 

 burst out " at a very early if doubtful date in Irish history, tlie remnants of 

 the outer laml being the isles of Aran. Aliout the lieginning of our era. 



' And probably at Piin Conor, where the width of the gateway wm oacertained a» 2 feet 5 incbes 

 outside and 3 (eet 6 inche* inaidc, the pauage being 6 fet-l 3 inches. 



' The name survive* only in the North SounH, Bcnlncb loiha-Iurgain. I'erhap* before the 

 "bursting" it was a b.ng, !>hin-bane-like rreek (liirgn), running up to the river fioni loth 

 Oirbsen (Corrib). 



