Westropp — Cists, Dohnens, and Pillara uf East Clare. 101 



(/) There are remains of a caini, with a small and defaced cist of 

 four blocks, in a patch of bushes, near (but outside) the west wall of 

 the field. The cist was about 4 feet square. 



It may be noted that, both in size and in the; lack of definite 

 orientation, these tiny cists differ greatly from the usual type in 

 Clare, whether of the huge dolmens of Poulnabrone, Ballyganner, or 

 Panygalvan, or the little cists at Poulaphuca, Parknabinnia, or Toonagh, 

 which taper eastward, and are identical in every respect save size. 



{(j) The remains of a larger dolmen are foimd at the opposite 

 (southern) edge of the townland, beside the road to Magh Adhair. In 

 human memory, it was *'a great box of stones"; but unfortunately 

 a farmer overthrew it when clearing the field. He removed the sides, 

 but found the top too heavy ; and (unable or afraid to blast it, though 

 popular belief does not extend its protection to dolmens or cahers as it 

 does to eaithen forts) he set it up on edge, where it remains 

 propped by lesser stones, and measuring 8 feet by 5 feet by 12 inches 

 to 15 inches tliick. 



(11). Ballyhickey, Clooney Parish (0. S. 34, jSTo. 15). — This small 

 cist of coarse gritstones is quite perfect, and is unusual in having parallel 

 sides and level cover. The axis lies E.N.E. The north side is of one 

 block 6 feet 8 inches long and 16 inches thick. The south side has 

 two, parallel to which, and about 3 feet away, is another and thinner 

 slab. The west end is 7 feet 2 inches long and 8 inches to 9 inches 

 thick. The cist is 8 feet 1 inch long, and the interior 7 feet 4 inches 

 east and west by 4 feet 2 inches north and south. The cover is some- 

 what pear-shaped ; and, broken into two, it does not overlap the west 

 end.' It lies in a plantation to the side of Hazclwood House, and is 

 shown correctly in a little sketch on the map of 1840. 



(12). DooNEEN, Doora 

 Parish (0. S. Sheet 34, 

 No. 6). — There are only 

 two dolmens in Doora 

 parish, much of which 

 (as its name implies) is 

 swampy. The Dooneen 

 monument is called a 

 " Giant's Grave," and 

 is not recognized as a 

 "Lobba": it lies in afield to the north of the road from Mon-eisk 



FiK. 16. — Dooneen. 



1 See plan, p. 88, fig. 8, supra. 



