Wkstropp — Larger Cliff Forts of West Coast of Co. Mayo. 15 



y Corrdon' reveal the peculiar form of rampart occiining in both the 

 Cahercarbery forts, and, so far as I am aware, nowhere else on the Irish coast, 

 which probably gi\^es that type of structure a considerable antiquity. 



Pkomontory Forts of Mayo. 



The northern coast of 'I'irawley and Erris has not been fully explored by 

 antiquaries'; but it possesses two cliff forts of different types, and both 

 probably of great age. Tlie early ecclesiastical settlement of Downpatrick 

 Head (Ordnance Survey map 7) seems to have succeeded a cliff fort, of 

 wliich traces remain on the projecting headland, and on the great rock-pillar 

 of Dunbrista. The headland of Port, in Conaghra, near Glenlossera (0. S. 6), 

 was probably another fort. There is a strong fortification of earthworks, 

 with a mortar-built wall, at the huge rock-castle of Dunvinalla (Dun- 

 bhinneala) at Portacloy (0. S. 1). Doonmara (0. S. 4) in Porturlin is 

 probably tlie site of a shore-fort on a rock. Along the shore of Broadhaven 

 (0. S. .3 and 4) we first find Duuanierin and Dunkeeglian, or Dookeeghan^ (Dun, 

 or Dumha Gaochain,' in 1417), an entrenched headland, with the remains of a 

 castle of the Barretts. Farther up the haven is Dunearton (0. S. 4), or 

 Dunliirtaan (Dun Cartain) ; the headland is fenced all round, with tlie 

 foundations of several buildings inside, and a castle and earthworks on the 

 neck (0. S. 4). 



Crossing into the Mullet, there may have been a fortified spur between 

 two gullies ou the eastern shore ; but the traces of the fosse are very sliglit, 

 and the dry-stone wall is nearly removed. Along the western coast, how- 

 ever, is a remarkable succession of fortified headlands. Spiukadoon (0. S. 2) 

 had a stone wall, and, I think, au outer fence, now almost levelled. The 

 neighbouring Dun Fiachra or Dun Fiachrach was strongly fortified, as we 

 shall see. Dunnamo (0. S. 9), the chief fort of the Mullet, had an abattis, 

 two fosses, and mounds, the inner capped witlr a dry-stone wall, and, on a 

 rising ground inside it, a nearly levelled ring-fort. Dunaneanir, not far to 

 the south, has a remarlcable walled rock, only accessible by a reef at low 

 water. Across a narrow chasm to the south, we find an unusually small 



' Archaeologia Cambrensis, vol. x., Sei-. vi., p. 79, and reprint by Mr. Willoughby CJardner, 

 p. 34, lor comparison with the forts at Kerry Head. 



^ The use of ' Dun ' and ' Dumha ' for the same structure is frequent in Irish literature. Sir John 

 Ehys pointed out certain Gaulish divine epithets, " Mercurius Dumiatus," and " Segomo Dunates," 

 which he suggested referred to tlie words 'Dumha' and 'Dun' (Hibbert Lectures, 1886, pp. 12,34), 

 perhaps referring to the hill-fort in which the god was reverenced. One of the '' Maqi Mucoi Netla 

 Segamonas " inscriptions lies in a ring-" fort " at Island, Co. Waterford. The Journal Koy. Soc. 

 Antiqq. Ir., vol. xxxvi., p. 251. 



^ The Ui Mac Caochain tribe, as marked by O'Dunovan on tlie map of Ui Fiachrach, runs half 

 way from Ciumiubhir rahoir, or Broadhaven, eastwaid. 



