210 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The " Leinstermen's Graves" were described to rae in 1892 as "a fine 

 circle of stones."' This is most deceptive. They stand on a high heathery- 

 shoulder of Thountinna with a splendid view over most of Lough Derg, 

 Iniscaltra with its round tower and churches and the hills on the border of 

 Galway. In this lonely spot (hovered over by countless hawks hanging on 

 the wind) is a hne of small slate slabs 42 feet long, the largest " pillar " 

 being only 3 feet 6 inches high, by 2 feet 6 inches square, the others usually 

 under 3 feet high. There is a low mount 17 feet to the north of the " chief 

 pillar." A sort of fenced avenue rvms into the slightly enclosed space 

 between it and the alignment. 



Farther to the N.-E., beside the road, at-the very summit of the pass, is the 

 great natural rock called Lachtreelyon {Jmct rigli Laigliean) and Knoekaun- 

 reelyon, — the tomb-stone or mound of the King of Leinster. When a quarry 

 was opened in Townlough and some cottages bmlt, I am told that " they dug 

 behind the Knockaun and found big bones." My uncle's gamekeeper at 

 Townlough also told me some five years since that " a big heap of stones beliind 

 the rock was removed the time the bones were foimd." In 1892, Mr. Eobert 

 White, of Kincora, gave me a more definite account. His grandfather had 

 told him that, when the mound was quarried into, a large skeleton and several 

 rusted iron weapons were found. The latter were " kept as curiosities " by a 

 Mr. Moiloy, but I could not learn their ultimate fate ; they were probably 

 " thrown out " (as such objects usually are in Co. Clare) as rubbish. 



The legends were probably little corrupted in 1892.* " The King 

 of Leinster was to marry King Brian's daughter, and was coming to fetch her. 

 Her wicked mother did not like the prince, and tried to get Brian to stop 

 him," but he would not. Then " she hid soldiers on the hill, and there was a big 

 fight. Most of the Leinstermen were killed and the king badly hurt ; so he 

 ordered his men to bring him to the top of the road where he could see 

 Leinster and hold him up till he died, and bury him facing it ; and they did." 

 In 1906 all was manifestly recast and interpolated from books. " The King of 

 Letaster was bringing a tnaypoU to Brian, who was from home, and his 

 (Brian's) bad queen came and called the king a sneak for paying taxes, and he 

 went away. Brian came back, and she said the Leinsterman would not pay 

 him ; so he got in a great passion, and asked liov: he had gone. Brian had a 

 cellar under the river from Ballyboroo to Eine Innish, and he took the short cut 

 through it and overtook them (the Leinstermen) and killed the best men ; he 



'Journal Eoy. Soc. Antt. Ir., vol. xxiii., p. 194. - 



^ It is very possible that they only brought in King Brian in later days, as, in its main outUne, 

 the legend can hardly refer to his reign. The fact of a cairn burial, too, surely puts it behind the 

 elexenth century. 



