Clare Island Survey — His tor// and Archaeology. 3 57 



till the O'Mailles took it from the OTlahertys about 1380. Roderic 

 O'Flaherty alludes to these islands in 1684, giving us almost our only clue to 

 their history : — " Northward of Ardolen (High Island) are Inishark and Bofin, 

 isles of the country of Conmacny-mara in old times . . . but for 300 years 

 now belonging to the Owles (Ui Mhaille), which, therefore, I omit, only that 

 Inisark is of the same property with Bonn, and the saint therein worshipped, 

 St. Leo, of whose reliques is a bell there extant." He then goes on to tell of 

 St. Colman at Bonn in 668 from Ussher's " Primordia." 1 



In great contrast to its bold and mountainous neighbours, Clare and Turk, 

 or to the rugged mass of Ardoilean to the south, Inishboiin lies, a low, 

 featureless mass, on the water. It has, however, more picturesque features 

 than appear at first sight. Dunmore is as bold a cliff, if not so high, as any in 

 the group we have studied, and the dykes and chasms at Dunnahineena are 

 impressive. It is surrounded by reefs and minute islands, and evidently its 

 low shores are none the safer for ships, as the names Wreck Cove, Deadman's 

 Cove, and Boyal George Cove witness. As to its general topography, the 

 whole western end, with most of the traces of early settlement, from Dungrania 

 to Dunmore, is included in Westquarter. In the middle are Fawnmore and 

 Middlequarter, where the bulk of the later inhabitants seem to have dwelt, 

 and the legends and lay history centre. Here lay Aittigh Guarim and 

 Guarim's Castle, which have left no trace, and opposite the last in Knock is 

 the Cromwellian castle, said to be on the site of Bosco's earlier fortification. 

 In the same townland, half a mile to the north-east, is the site of the ancient 

 seventh-century monastery of St. Colman, which, like so many of the old 

 religious centres of Ireland, sank to the status of a mere parish church. 

 Possibly the earliest remains on the island are in the sandhills opposite 

 Inishlyon in the townland of Knock. 



There is a rich harvest of place-names. Dunmore, with its by-name 

 Dunkeen, Alladoon, Glasillanadoon, Dungrania, Dooneen, and Dunnahineena 

 centre round the forts. On the shores are Cooltra, with its convex strand ; 

 Turlinambaud and the creeks and gullies of Ooghmacan, Ooghnalee, 

 Pollnatulla (a great cave with two inland opes, giving a fine view of its dark 

 corridor), Ooghnadoby, Bunafea, Pollnalecka, Bunamullen, Lugnabuddogy, 

 Ooghardlea, Ooghnastrappy, Ooghanunsa, Belnabraud (a " gorge "), cutting off 

 Port Island at high water, Bellascoltaun, Booduff, Preesaun (another cave 

 and pit), Gubaranduff, Ooghacat, and Bellalyon. The rocks and islets are 

 Glasillanaban near the Stags of Bofin, Feacarrick, two Glasillauns, 

 Mweelanbwee, Carrickheelia, Carrigeen, Carrickaclogher, Glasillaunabelasty, 



1 hlar Connaught, ed. J. Hardimun, p. 115. 

 E,I,A. PKOC, VOL. XXXI. H 



