356 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy^ 



headlands in the neighbourhood) to have been entrenched in primitive 



times. 



ExTEHNAL Features. 



The chimneys and fireplaces are usually, if not always, after- 

 thoughts, and sometimes close up older windo"ws.' There is a triple 

 chimney at Miltown, near Tulla. The four gables capped Avith lofty 

 chimneys, which form so picturesque a feature in many of the castles 

 in other parts of Ireland, are nearly absent in Clare : Danganbrack, 

 near Quin, being the best example. The latter castle has also 

 circular machicholated parapets at the angles — these being usually 

 oblong — as, e.g., Derryowen, Moyree, Kalahine, etc. A row of corbels 

 runs round the three remaining sides of Kilkeedy Castle. 



As a rule a small machicholated gallery, on the parapets, defends 

 the door ; and a second outer door scarcely ever occurs. A few 

 castles {e. g., Ballyportry, Moyree, Mountcashel, Dysert, Moghane, 

 and Edenvale) have an outwork or bawn ; that at Ballyportry has 

 been nearly levelled ; and a newer outwork, with circular turrets at 

 the angles, was constructed near the tower: it has some curious shot 

 holes. Coolistiege has a corner window modifi^ed for a later shot 

 hole.^ The windows are usually mere slits, unless when later ones, 

 with several lights, have been inserted.^ The upper room has usually 

 one or two large ones, with a central shaft ; these have ogee or 

 trefoil heads, and sometimes a hood-moulding. The spandrels are, at 

 times, decorated with flowers, leaves, or knots. Most of the wiadows 

 were glazed ; but some have sockets for shutters, and a drain and 

 hole in the sill to let out any rain that blew in through their opes. 



Turrets occur at one angle, as at Tromra, Dunmore, Mountcashel, 

 Dangan, near Fortfergus, and others. 



Some of the towers have small circular (or more rarely square) 

 "squints" or shot holes running aslant through the wall on a level 

 with the head of anyone standing at the door. 



Asa further protection, a long horizontal slit, probably for pouring 

 boiling water on to an assailant, exists above the door, as at Coolis- 

 tiegue, Moyree, and Ballyportry. 



Carvings are rare in the outer walls, except on the windows. 

 There is a very well-cut head on a projecting stone at Castletown, at 

 Tullycommane. I know of no instance of a " sheelanagig " now 

 remaining in situ in Clare, but a mutilated example set in Clonlara 



' See section of Ballyportry. They also occur at Moyree. 



2 See p. 358, %s. 5 and 6. ^ ggy p_ ^53^ ggg. i^ 0, 3, and 5. 



