284: Prnrrr(li)Uf>i nf the Rnjial Irish Academj/. 



4, 5) which appear in this paper. It would be very unjust were I to 

 omit my thanks not only to them l5ut also to Mrs. Fitzgerald, of Holy 

 Cro.ss Cottage, the occupier of the land, whose great care of the large circle 

 cannot be too highly c(jnuneniled, and for whose kindness and assistance to 

 us in our work we were all most grateful. I have not attempted any philo- 

 logical, ethnological, or other discussion in connexion with these objects. 

 A good deal has already been done in this way, and, if T may say so, much of 

 what has been done seems to me to be very open to criticism. Wliat I have 

 been anxious to do is to give an actual and accurate record of the objects now 

 existing, and, as far as I can, of their relationship to one another. There is, 

 however, one historical point to which I must refer, since, as will be seen, it 

 has a bearing on a matter to be discussed later on. The hill called Knock- 

 adoon (see Map) is bounded on the west and on the westerly parts of its 

 north and south portions by the lake. On its east side is swampy ground, 

 frequently over-flooded, once part of the lake. On the southern extremity 

 it is guarded by the Black Castle, and on the north by Bourchier's Castle. 

 This eminence of Knockadoon, which rises something over 400 feet, was 

 obviously once an island. In fact, it was such in 1600. In Pacata Hibernia 

 (p. 80 of the reprint of 1810) it is stated to have been " a place of exceeding 

 strength by reason that it was an Hand and eucompassed with a deepe 

 Lough." From the present position of the ground it is obvious that there 

 were two spots at which access to the island was comparatively easy. 

 Probably there was a ford at each of these two places, and the two points 

 were guarded by the castles. A good deal has been done in the way of 

 draining the lake, and the result is that Knockadoon is no longer an island and 

 that the level of the water of the lake has everywhere been much decreased. 



It is clear that this lake has from a very early period been the centre of 

 a considerable population. This population was doubtless attracted and sup- 

 ported by the great number of animals, birds, and fish which its shores and 

 waters must have provided. As is well known, it has been a fruitful field for 

 the discovery of skeletons of Cervus Megaceros. Bos Longifrons has also 

 been found there. Many bones of both these animals, together with a large 

 number of celts of the familiar Irish type from this locality, are now in the 

 College Museum. 



With respect to the names of some of the objects described in this paper, 

 the following notes may be made : — The gallaun " A " is said by Mr. Lynch 

 to be known to the people around as " The Pillar." I did not hear this term 

 employed myself; and in any case it probably has no significance. The 

 great circle " B " is called on the Ordnance map " Eannach Cruim Duibh." 

 Mr. Lynch says that the great stone (No. 1 in my list) is called Eonadh Crum 

 Dubh (surely that should be Cruim Duibh ?), and that this means Black 



