108 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



of tlie founder or possessors of this castle local tradition is altogether 

 silent — no one kno-^-s "who they vere. 



The best known of the ruins of this district is the Castle of Doona 

 {Dun atha), of -vrhich. many contradictory traditions are in existence. 

 Some ascribe its origin to tbe famous Grace O'AIalley, "n^ho is said to 

 have spent some of her life there ; others assert that she captured it 

 from the MacMahons. 'Donovan, whose informant was a 3Ir. Cormic, 

 whose family was of old standing in Erris, says that it was built by 

 Brian Eevagh O'Kelly, who was married to one of the Barrets, and 

 flourished here in the reign of Elizabeth ; another account agaia states 

 that it was built in the time of BomJinall Buall hwee, a Damnonian 

 chief who lived before the time of Christ. If there was ever a dun 

 here it seems to have been entirely removed. The castle is built of 

 rough rubble stones, and the walls are very thick ; but the greater 

 part of it is in a very ruinous condition. The main tower was split 

 in two many years ago by the accidental firing of a turf stack in its 

 Ulterior ; one half fell, the other is still standing. The court-yard 

 and passage to the landing stiU remain. Part of the castle has been 

 transformed into a modem farmhouse and offices. 



Not far from the castle is Doona Church, a building about six 

 centuries old; it is about 50 feet in length, by some 20 in breadth. 

 It was somewhat modified in form about two centuries ago, when 

 certain additions were made to it. The interior is used as a burial- 

 place, and is choked up with graves which have raised the soil far 

 above the original floor level,' 



The most modem of all the monuments of Ballycroy is Lachta 

 Bdhya Ban (_Fair David's Bed), a monument on the top of Corslieve 

 Mountain, between Ballycroy and Tirawley. "Fair David" was a 

 notorious robber chief who lived in a cave in the mountains, and was 

 a scourge far and wide ; he was hunted down and killed at this spot 

 about two centuries ago. 



Til. HlSTOET. 



The earlier history of the district is the same as that of the rest of 

 Erris, which has been given at length in the Eeport on the Mullet, 

 Inishkea, and Portacloy, and so vrill only receive a brief notice heru. 



' O'DonoTan remarks that the skulls of the Kinnelconnell tribe, which he saw 

 in Doona Church, were "higher in the forehead and broader than those of the 

 Connacians." 



