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XYI. 



THE DISTPJBUTIOX OF " CROIMLECHS " IX THE COUXTT 

 or CLAEE. By THOMAS JOHXSOX WESTEOPP, M.A. 



(Plates YIIL, IX., and X ) 



[Read May 24, 1897.] 



The great group of Cromlechs^ in the county of Clare lies (-with the 

 exception of scarcely half a dozen examples) within an extensive 

 district, 40 miles long by 10 ■wide, running in a south-easterly direc- 

 tion, from the sea coast to the eastern border. The Cromlechs are not 

 only numerous in the hills (as might be expected), but also in the 

 level country of Magh Adhair, probably the longest cultivated and 

 inhabited plain in the county. Some 115 exist or are known to have 

 recently existed. 



The oldest traditions preserve no record of any territorial division 

 corresponding to this long strip of country. When the Dalcassians 

 burst into the present county of Clare ^ in the last half of the fourth 

 century, they are said to have found the lands occupied by various 

 Firbolgic tributaries of the kings of Connaught. 



First, the people of Tradraighe or Tradree, who held a nearly 

 square district in the angle formed by the Fergus and Shannon, 

 bounded to the north and east by the " Gissagh " (Eine), which flows 

 past the friary of Quin, and the " Owen na Cearnaigh,'' which washes 

 the svalls of Bunratty Castle. This, as first subdued, seems to have 

 formed the mensal land of the princes of Thomond, down, perhaps, to 

 Donchad Cairbrech O'Brien, after whose death in 1242 it was held at 

 intervals by English grantees, De Musegros and the three De Clares. 

 Its mensal character may explain the strenuous endeavours of Brian 

 Boru to recover it from the Danes ; also its grant to De Musegros 



' I use this variant and controverted term to cover all the varities of primitive 

 stone structures confused under that title on our maps, and under the term Labba 

 Diarmada by the peasantry. 



^ Not known as "Thomond" till after their conquest. The older " Thomond " 

 was probably eastern Limerick and northern Tipjierarj'. 



