2 64 Proceedings of the Royal Irish A cademy. 



cells are IS feet and 12 feet inside; a circular annexe, 15 feet inside, adjoins 

 them on the north-east. At 142 feet from the south is another group, the 

 eastern hut 18 feet inside, the remnant of the western 15 feet across along the 

 cliff. At the northern end at the highest point is a single circular hut 15 feet 

 wide : all are levelled down to usually a foot high. (Plate IX.) 



It is noteworthy how common this type of fortified shore-rock is in the 

 Mayo islands. Under the shelter of the large rock several lower, small, 

 green-capped towers of drift remain on this shore. There is a similar curious 

 natural fort of grass-topped drift on the low rocky islet of Glasillaunadoon 

 oft' Dunmore, the last remnant of the earth-cap that gave the rock its name, 

 " the green island of the fort." 



Dooneex. — On the north shore of the harbour, between the road and the 

 bay, near the modern church of St. Colman, rises a tumulus-like rock, grassl- 

 and with arched strata, called " Dooneen." From the name, we might con- 

 jecture that the top had been fortified, the works disappearing with the surface, 

 like Duntraneen on Clare Island, as the rock was washed bare. The rock 

 platform at Belnabraud, opposite Dooneen, does not show any wall, but I had 

 not time to visit it. 



Duxx.vniNEEXA (0. S. No. 9). — The sitfe of the only fort on the north or 

 east side of Bofin is of far more geological than archaeological interest. It 

 was once joined to the mainland by a steep descent and ascent, along a narrow 

 neck, from a spur between two stream valleys, but the neck has long since 

 fallen away, the landward half alone remaining. A wall-like dyke of volcanic 

 rock very artificial in appearance still joins the islet to the mainland at its 

 base, but there is no way of access to the summit from the landward side, 

 though an active climber might, I believe, reach the platform from a boat, 

 up the eastern (seaward) slope. The summit is about 2 acres in extent and 

 covered with richer sward than the mainland ; it is 82 feet high, and about 

 400 feet by 250 feet, as shown by the large-scale maps ; their plan, with some 

 added details, is given. The defensive works have perished with the approach, 

 the cliff' falls " laying bare the foundations unto the neck." TVe have not, 

 however, to conjecture the former existence of a fort from the name alone, 

 for a long reach of revetment wall of earth and stone is visible along the 

 western side, near the top of the long grassy slope, probably unaltered since 

 the rampart was first built. Half a hut-site is still to be seen on the 

 crumbling edge of the cliff, opposite the neck, possibly once guarding the gate, 

 like a porter's lodge. Towards the centre of the platform there is also a low 

 mound, sc very regular, as seen from the high ground opposite, that it is 

 possibly a ring-moimd. "Whether this be so can only be settled by a visit to 

 the summit by some fairly experienced person. (Plate X.) 



