282 P roceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



such, numerous troops as Essex commanded ; while his admirahly 

 planned surprise, and vigorous flank attack, in the dangerous defiles, 

 afterwards selected, covered his name with renown, and procured a 

 full measure of success for his efforts. The condition of affairs, how- 

 ever, rendered it impossible for him to obtain a complete victory. 



The Earl, having strengthened the fort of Maryborough, marched 

 his troops towards Dysart Pocks on that same evening, and encamped 

 " at the foote of a very highe hill called Crosby Duff,"* about three 

 miles from Maryborough. This is called " the general Ratehillf of 

 the Province of Leinster." There Owny Mac Rory O'More showed 

 himself, it is said, " with 500 foote and about 40 horse, two myles 

 from our campe." Having viewed from the top of Croshy-duff — 

 which affords a most extensive prospect — the country around, and 

 particularly the way of that day's march, the Lord Lieutenant led his 

 army through the modern townlands of Kilcolmanbane, Ballyknockan, 

 Ballyheyland, and Pass, "towards a passage called Cashells."| This 

 local denomination is yet well known. It was situated " halfe a 

 nryle from that night's quarter." The distance from Croshy Duff 

 is, however, more than a mile. Judged by sight, such a description 

 of the distance was fairly accurate. A reference to the annexed map 

 (reduced from Sheet 18 of the Ordnance Survey, Queen's County) 

 will enable the reader to follow the localities noticed. 



When he had marshalled the long-extended ranks, the chivalrous 

 Essex marched his columns downwards from Croshy Duff by the very 

 old Dublin road from Maryborough to Bally roan. § He moved along 



* This name, though one well known, does not appear on the 0. S. map. I find 

 stated that it was " formerly known by the name of Tulach Mac Cumhaill." See 

 O'Byrne's "History of the Queen's County," chap, xxiv., pp. 110-11. 



t Mr. Herbert F. Hore states, that " Ratehill" may mean "the hill where the 

 clans met," as the Latin word iraghtus is frequently used in the printed rolls to 

 designate " a sept, clan, or special followers." In a note to Dymock's " Treatice" 

 the editor observes, that " raths were used as places of meeting for legal and other 

 purposes, from which circumstance they were called Motes and Laws" Certain 

 citations are also advanced to prove this position, See p. 73. The term above 

 used, a "rate-hill," may imply some relation between raths and rates, or taxes, 

 ordered to be levied at meetings in these primitive ante-covert, or ante-court, places 

 of parliament. Probably Croshy Duff was no more than the place of assembling 

 for the clansmen of Leix. " Eriottes," or parliaments, were held by Brehons on 

 the hills. In the State Papers allusions are made to them. 



X Now Cashel. It is mentioned in the Inquisitions as being near Kilhelan 

 (rather Kilfaolan), and this is quite correct. Mr. Herbert Hore, however, mis- 

 takes the origin of the name of Cashell, when evidently applying to it the explana- 

 tion that a " cash, caish, or caissh, is a pass through a wood or bog." Colonel 

 O'Neill speaks of making cashes or tochers over bogs, in his Journal, which is 

 printed in "Desiderata Curiosa Hibemiea," Vol. ii., p. 500. According to Dr. 

 Joyce, " the word caiseal is very common in Irish, and is always used to signify 

 a circular stone fort." "Irish Names of Places." Part iii., chap, i., p. 2/6. 

 It is evident this is the real etymology of the place, and it seems probable 

 the remains of such a fort might be found on some part of its elevated rock. 



§ On Taylor's and Skinner's " Maps of the Roads of Ireland surveyed 1777," 

 and published the following year in small folio size, the road from Maryborough to 

 Balfyroan is represented as running in nearly a direct line. Seep. 110. 



