Westropp — T/te Earthworks. Sfc, of S. £l. Co. Limerick. 177 



Athnedisse rectory is again named in 139.3, and the manor of Andesshe was 

 held by the Eolley, or Ealeigh family in 1408 and 1424. It is called, in 

 1410, Athnedisse, or Beallathenesigh (the latter being the ford), which 

 retained its old name, Bcul Atha na nDeisi, in 1579.' The thicket of trees, 

 and bushes in the mound, keep the fort unknown to many who frequently 

 drive past it. It, like the Boon, lies not far from the village of Elton. This 

 name is supposed to be very modern, but it is found as "Elltown, the pro- 

 perty of Sir Edward Fitton," in 1586 ; two years later, James Fox of Elton 

 claimed the land which Fitton held as patentee. Moriertagh O'Grady (I 

 presume as Fitton's tenant) held Elltown in 1610, and it is mentioned very 

 frequently in the Civil Survey in 1655. 



The mote is from 18 feet to 20 feet high, surrounded by a fosse 18 feet wide, 

 and rarely over a yard deep, with a stream running into it to the south-west. 

 The mound is 51 feet to 54 feet across the platform, and 104 feet at the base ; it 

 is well preserved and the sides are steep, but it is overgrown with hawthorns 

 to the east. 



Ballinascaula (O. S. 40). — Of a different and more interesting type is 

 the mote of Ballinascaula. On a lesser scale of height and massiveness, it still 

 resembles Kilfinnan in having a raised mound girt by three rings. It lies 

 in a marsh, not far to the north of the railway, and between Bulgadin and 

 Atheneasy. It is locally supposed to mean "fort of the heroes," or "fort of 

 the clouds," being on the map " Ballinscaula," but locally " Ballinascaula." 2 



Like its neighbours, none of its early records remain. In 1583, Gerald 

 mac Thomas, alias "Tonboy Keagh," a Geraldine, held Glenlarhy, Ballin- 

 wryny (Glenlara and Ballinvreena on Slievereagh), and Ballinskaly. It was 

 granted, May 14th, 1588, to Eichard and Alexander Fitton as part of their 

 demesne, " Phitton's fortune," long forgotten, along with it, the above lands, 

 Coch (Cush) and Ballenvistellane down, or Mitchellstowndown ; the grantors 

 were pledged to erect houses for twenty-three English families ; Mahone 

 macTeige held Ballynscholly under Sir Edward Fitton. The Civil Survey, 

 1655, gives " Ballinscala, half a townland, mearing on the north with 

 Gormanstown, and with Bulligidyn-Eady to the west and north-east." 3 No 

 tradition seems to attach to the forts ; Mr. Thomas Bennett, of Summerville 

 House (the owner), tells me that there were traces of other small forts round 

 it, but they were levelled at various times in farming the place. 



1 Cal. Papal Letters, i, p. 370, vol. iv, p. 458, Close Roll, viii Echv. Ill, 146, Plea 

 Roll, No. 123 (1318-20), Pat. Roll., x Hen. V, pars. 2, No. 24, Ann. Four Masters, 1479. 



- Plate VI. 



3 Inq. R.I.A., i, p. 75. Iuq. Exchr., Num. 11 & 12. Proc. R. I. Acad , xxvi, p. 185. 

 Fiant 5179 & 5032. Civil Survey, xxv, p. 11. 



2C»j 



