Westropp — Chts, Do! mens y and Fillars of East Clare. 129" 



defaced condition for 1 1 feet, and, perhaps, had three conipartmentp. 

 The axis lies E.N.E. and W.S.W. It is now locally known as the 

 "lohba," hnt is called " Dermot and Crania's Bed" on the 1840- 

 map. 



(49). Ceoghoolia, Clonlea Parish (O.S. Sheet 52, No. 4).— Far 

 from all other dolmens, in a valley in the plateau of Slieve Eernagh, 

 stands the wreck of a small cist. It lies near Oatfield, and to the 

 north of the road running from Sixmilehiidge, throngh the woods of 

 Monnt levers, and past Trough to the pretty village of Clonlara and 

 the falls of the Shannon at Doonass. It is in a meadow, whence, to 

 the east, we see the great dome of the KeeperHill, and to the south, ovei- 

 a low boggy hollow and ridge, the blue lake of Colmcen, where, in 1 3 1 3, 

 Lochlain Macnamara, chief of that powerful clan, was beheaded by his 

 foes during De Clare's wars. " Spray-showering, wind-swept Loch 

 Colmin of the easy landing-places and green shores, . . . Loch of 

 Colmin that has a cruel story." ^ The cist is called " Dermot and 

 Crania's Bed " on the 1840 map, and was possibly perfect at that date, 

 for it is shown as an irregular oblong enclosure. It is nearly buried 

 in the field ; the west end, two southern blocks, and, perhaps, part of 

 the north slab, remain. The first is 4 feet 6 inches by 6 inches, and 

 only rises 2 feet above the field ; the other two are 2 feet 4 inches by 

 6 inches, and 6 feet 10 inches by 10 inches to 7 inches ; the east end 

 level with the ground. It sloped and tapered eastward, and, if tho 

 block north of the east end be in situ, was 9 feet 4 inches by from 



2 feet 6 inches to 12 inches wide. A tiny holly-bush springs between 

 the side blocks. Two other slabs lie to the south, one 6 feet east and 

 west, and 4 feet 4 inches north and south ; and probably the cover lies 



3 feet from the east end ; the other is 3 feet 9 inches long, and 

 12 inches thick, and may have been a north block: all are of fine 

 brown sandstone. ^ 



This concludes these notes on the dolmens of Eastern Clare. ~\Vc 

 have described all those marked on the Ordnance Survey maps or 

 known to us. The cairns, which are usually dilapidated, aud some- 

 times of doubtful age, are, however, omitted. 



The vast majority of the dolmens are considered by the peasantry 

 to be "Dermot and Crania's Beds" ; but the legend, save from modem 

 books, is, I believe, extinct. In some cases they are recognised as 



1 "'Wars of Turlouglj, 1313 ; see also Journal Eoyal Society of Antiquaries of 

 Ireland, toI xxi. (1891), p. 387. 

 ^ Plan, p. 121, fig. 7, supra. 



