WlNDLt — Megalithic Remains surrounding Lough Gur. '287 



in some places more steeply thau iu others, to the level of the surrounding 

 field. The radial width of the bank is 30 to 31 feet; and the diameter of 

 the space enclosed varies between 151 and 155 feet {average 153 feet). The 

 level of the ground in the interior of the circle is higher than that of the 

 surrounding field, from which one may conclude that the earth required to 

 form the mound came from the exterior in the immediate neighbourhood. 

 There is a single entrance thi'ough the mound, this being on the eastern side 

 (see fig. 8); immediately opposite this on the western side are two large 

 stones forming a kind of notch (see fig. 9). The compass-bearing taken fi-om ■ 

 the centre of the passage through this notch is 258° 34". As there are a 

 number of trees on the mound, and as Holy Cross Cottage is immediately 

 Viehind what I call the " notch," it was not possible to obtain a proper obser- 

 vation of the elevation of the hill-horizon as alluded to iu the following 

 remarks ; but I should imagine that the estimate there made may be regarded 

 as fairly aceru-ate. On this bearing, Captain Somerville writes : — " If the mag- 

 netic variation is about 21° W." — (1 understand that this is the case) — " and 

 the elevation of the hUl-liorizon above true horizon, as seen along the 

 bearing, is 3°, then the alignment is exactly for SamJmin Sunset, which is 

 November 8 th of our calendar. The elevation of horizon is important, us each 

 1° of difference would probably alter the date four or five days, backwards 

 in the year if less than the 3° I have assumed, and vice versa. But the 

 intention is obviously Samhuin, or else, of course, February -Ith, when the 

 declination is the same, viz. 16° 30"." 



One thing is quite clear : when all obstacles were removed, a person 

 standing in the entrance passage would get the sharpest possible sight of 

 the Sun through the notch, which, though of coui'se enormously larger, is very 

 much on the lines of the notch in the near sight on the barrel of a gun. 



The entrance passage is walled on either side with low slabs coiTcsponding 

 in height with the gradually diminishing slope of the bank. The two are 

 not quite co-extensive, for the width (radial) of the latter is at this point 

 about 30 feet, whilst the walling extends for 28 feet 6 inches only. The 

 narrowest part of the passage is that where it enters the circle, and here it is 

 2 feet 8-i- inches in width (see fig. 8). Its average width is about o feet 6 inches. 

 It may be added that it is only recently that this entrance passage has become 

 known, as it was discovered by some men who were digging for " treasure." The 

 plan 'fig. 2], which has been most carefully prepared Ijy Professor Alexander, 

 and section (fig. 22), give an idea of the general arrangement of this circle. 



(&) The stmies, as already stated, can be divided into four groups, and in 

 view of the great importance of this circle I think it advisable to give a brief 

 account of each stone (see fig. 2, in which a few only of the more important 

 stones have been numbered). 



