Clare Island Survey — History and Archaeology. 2 21 



dangerously steep slope, which brought one to an equally steep and difficult 

 ascent exposed to missiles from above. The ascent was in itself nearly 

 sufficient protection to the inhabitants, and the slight bank of earth and 

 stones round the landward edge made it a very effective stronghold out 

 of range of ordinary missiles, so that close approach and, still more, any 

 blockade was practically impossible. Sheep can reach the platform, which 

 is fairly spacious, with a very slight slope seaward and cut into by a cleft 

 to the south-east. The bank is rarely more than 3 feet high, and little more 

 than a foot at present on the inside. It runs round the landward side, and at 

 same distance from the " corner " the northern bank has been evidently 

 destroyed by a landslip so long ago that the slope is now green and apparently 

 little damage has been done for many years or even generations. The fall 

 half destroyed two circular huts ; they were evidently of earth and perhaps 

 wood on a stone foundation like the fence. This " soling " is well seen where 

 the bank has crumbled recently at the north-west corner and along past the 

 eastern hut. The latter shows a low mound over 3 feet above the stone 

 "soling," but much filled up; the rich green of its saucer-like enclosure 

 contrasts with the browner grass and bracken of the rest of the garth. The 

 hut is about 12 feet across with walls as usual 3 feet thick. Over 60 feet to 

 the west is a larger hut; its wall is over 5 feet thick, and it is 15 feet wide 

 inside. It resembles the northern station on the brink of the chasm south 

 of Dunbriste on Downpatrick Head in the same county, having a shallow 

 trench just inside the wall and a flat central mound. It lies about 18 feet 

 back from the western fence. The natural gangway was improved by the fort- 

 makers : a large mass of grey rock, which had fallen to its resting-place from 

 the landward cliff, saved much labour ; they raised two steep mounds of earth 

 with much stone worked in, and possibly a stone facing to either side of it, to a 

 height of nearly 12 feet, and so made a fairly level path 2 to 3 feet wide ; it 

 and the little gully leading to it were deeply overgrown with Meadow-sweet. 

 The water supply is unusually good and convenient ; two runnels unite and fall 

 down the landward cliff close beside the causeway, whence water could always 

 have been procured under cover of the night. Another beautiful fall dashes 

 down in a curtain of spray not far to the north. 



Duntraneen lies at no great distance from Dunallia; its platform can 

 be overlooked from the opposite high cliff. Mr. Praeger swam out -to it 

 and climbed up to the summit, but found no works upon it ; a portion about 

 30 feet wide is not too steep for residence, but much consists of a roof-like 

 ridge on top. It is quite evident from the appearance that at no distant date 

 the drift on both rocks remained to a much greater extent. At Duntraneen 

 the bulk of the cap fell off to either side, doubtless carrying with it the slight 



