Westropp — Distribution of Cromlechs in Co. Clare. 543 



by the English Government, and that by King Brian Eoe O'Brien to 

 Thomas de Clare in 1276. Its importance is farther marked by the 

 enormous triple stone forts at Moghane and Langough.^ 



Secondly^ the inhabitants of Magh Adhair, once extending from 

 the Fergus nearly to TuUa, possessing the great forts of Cahercalla 

 and Cahershaughnessy, the mound of Inauguration, and some 30 

 cromlechs. 



Thirdly, an ill-defined district, extending along the eastern and 

 northern borders, including Slieve Bernagh, Slieve Aughty, the parish 

 of Inchicronan, and the greater part of the baronies of Inchiquin and 

 Islands ; of its earlier occupants nothing certain is known, only vague 

 legends about the Tuatha De Danaan. Most of it was held by the 

 Dalcassians (the Hybloid, Hycaisin and Kinel Fermaic), when its 

 history commences. On its Galway border lay Lughid (Ath na 

 Luchaid) the farthest limit of the Dalcassian Kingdom, and doubtless 

 the site of some disastrous battle, as suggested by the curious ' ' pro- 

 hibition " laid on the King of Connaught : " In a speckled cloak let 

 him not go to the Heath of Luchaid in Dal Chais.^ " It contains 

 some 20 cromlechs. 



Fourthly, the mountainous tract of the Corcomroes, said to have been 

 held by the Firbolgs of Irgus, Dael, and Ennach,^ but was possessed 

 in historic times by the offshoots of Clan Rory — ^the 0' Conors and 

 O'Loughlins. It contains some 40 cromlechs and several hundred 

 stone forts, including the great cabers of Ballykinvarga and Caher- 

 commane. 



Lastly, the angle formed by the sea and the Shannon, Corcovaskin, 

 first held by the Martini (a large Firbolg tribe, who also appear 

 round Emly in the ninth century), and then by the race of Cairbre 

 bhascaoin, whence its later name was derived. It only possesses one 

 cromlech, that of Kiltumper. 



Most of the existing structures are small box-like cists tapering 

 and often sloping towards the east, the cairns and mounds in which 

 at any rate many were embedded being now nearly removed. A 

 few long graves of several chambers occur at intervals over all the 

 district, and a few small " demi dolmens " round Tulla. An interest- 

 ing type of stone enclosure is found at Clooney and Dooneen, north of 

 Quin. 



1 See Journal Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 1893, p. 281 ; 1896, 

 p. 146. 



2 " Book of Eights," p. 21. 



3 Dindseanchas (" Eevue Celtique," 1894, p. 479). 



