Westkopp — Earthworks and Ring- Walts in Co. Limerick. 27 



only knew that it lay in these hills, and used it for a " district mark." The 

 Oath Fintragha and the Dindsenchas are vague ; the Agallamh is still more 

 vague ;^ there only remains the Mesca Ulad to help us. Temar, according 

 to it, lay on the slopes of East Luaehair (pp. 19, 21, 23, 25), over a glen 

 noisy with wild fowl, with forts on a ridge beyond a stream eastward." The 

 Ultonians came straight from Aenach Clochair, at Monasternenagh, to it; 

 they crossed the Maigue, but are not said to have crossed the DeeP or the 

 Feal, or to have ascended the great hills (p. 21). They came on the same 

 track as Queen Medbh, from the north-east, and over the side of Ir Luachra, 

 from the east.* The sun rose over the slopes of Ir Luachra " against " 

 (opposite to) the Dun and its side (pp. 25-27). The watching Druids fell 

 off the high rampart, one inside, the other outside. The assailants passed 

 up the glen (p. 27). The fort had a " tulchin " or flat top. There was a 

 subterraneous house under wooden and iron houses (p. 41). The enemy 

 advanced to the liss, and camped on the green to the east of it. Cuchulaind 

 leaped on to the summit of the liss (p. 47), and on to the bridge {i.e. the 

 fosse lay inside an earthwork). Alill was on the rampart of the Dun 

 watching them. After the capture and plunder of the Dun it was never 

 again inhabited, down to the date of the story at least. So that all we can 

 say is that in all the above particulars* Dunganville fulfils the conditions ; 

 but whether it was of the first century before Christ, or, if so, whether it 

 was the famous fort of Ouroi, has yet to be established. At least it has the 

 broad prospect implied in its name (Portrinard has not), and it adjoins a 

 plain'' (a,nd not a narrow river valley like Portrinard), as Temar is said to have 

 done. 



^ Agallamh, Silva Gadelica, vol. ii, p. 176, Caeilte and Diarmuid secure the antlers of 

 the red stag on the open lands of Luaehair to the south, and the latter brings his to 

 Temar Luachra ; p. 181, Finn comes from it to Aine, and p. 238. The latter again rather 

 supports the statements in the Mesca Ulad that the road to it led north of Knockherna. 

 If the Cladh Ruadh trench, a road from Kerry Head (Journal B. Soc. Autt. Ireland> 

 vol. xl, p. 126), led to it, and it were not at Portrinard, the western road may have crossed 

 the hills where the railway runs from Listowel to Barna Pass. 



^ Three forts lie east of Dunganville in Kilrodane, and one in Enaghgare, across 

 the stream. The latter name implies an aenach, or assembly, such as was no infrequent 

 appanage of important early centres. 



' Which does not allow us to attach importance to the silence of the tale about the 

 Peal. 



* Perhaps the high ground near Ardagh, if Dunganville be intended. 



° Save that no pillars remain before (east) of the fort, but note removal of pillars at 

 Dunmoylan fort, Old Abbey, and Duntrileague fort. Three stand before Knockegan fort 

 near Askeaton, and several near the promontory fort of Lissadooneen, on the Shannon, 

 in Kerry (see Journal R. S. Antt. Ir., vol. xl, p. 15). 



*" "The plain of Teamhair Luachra" (Mac Gniraartha Finn, Ossianic Soc, vol. iv, 

 p. 291). " Luachra was a flowery plain " (Dindsenchas, loc. cit., of Temar Luachra.) 



