Westropp — Ancient Sanctuaries of Knockainey and Clogher. 67 



hundreds of spectators on the slope. 1 South of the main fosse is another, 

 perhaps part of an old hollow way leading to it ; the section leads down to a 

 hollow or pond not far to the south-west of the mounds, and has trace of an 

 outer ring between the fosses 9 feet thick and 2 feet high. 



Eastern King. — There is an oval ring platform to the south-east about 

 150 feet away. It measures 66 feet north and south to 81 feet east and west, 

 rarely 4 feet high ; the fosse is 10 feet wide and 2 feet 6 inches deep. An 

 old track, 45 feet from it towards the conjoined rings, runs between the 

 " forts." To the south-west, 14 yards away, is a shallow, oval basin, 18 to 

 23 feet across, and about 4 feet deep. Beyond it, 120 yards from the fort, is 

 a large stone over 4 feet long, 3 feet high, and 3 feet 6 inches thick. 

 Another, possibly as large, but partly buried, lies to the north-east above the 

 slope to the stream, which joins a second stream, and has several pools and 

 springs beside it. The tracks may be ditches of old fences, but have no traces 

 of mounds, and in most cases lead direct to the earthworks. They are fairly 

 uniform hollows, rarely over a foot deep, and 6 to 8 feet wide. They are, I 

 think, old tracks, like those on Slievemore, Achill, and those leading to the 

 Black Castle causeway at Loch Gur and the promontory forts of Doonaunroe, 

 Dundoillroe, and George's Head, Co. Clare, and Clashmelchon and Pierce's 

 Island, Co. Kerry. I saw no other remains in the ancient chief cemetery 

 of the Dergthene, but many must have been destroyed by cultivation in the 

 tilled lands of Mitchellstown Down, on the same ridge. Between farming 

 and fox coverts it is wonderful that any remains escaped to our days. 



I trust that this paper, despite its limitations, may prove of use to those 

 studying the obscure and neglected subject of our early sanctuaries, and lead 

 others to devote themselves to the identification of other sites of pagan 

 worship in our island. 



1 The Ancient Laws of Ireland, vol. v, p. 475, " erecting stands and platforms at an 

 'Oenach." Vol. iv, p. 220, " the cladh of a fair green." Vol. i, p. 233, disturbing a fair 

 green ; p. 129, cleansing it for sports. 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXIV, SKCT. C. Ill 



