Westkopp — Earthworks and Ring-Walls in Co. Limerick. 35 



ring, 90 feet inside, its ring 18 feet to 20 feet thick, and only 5 feet above the 

 fosse, which is 9 feet to 12 feet wide. The outer ring about 12 feet thick, but 

 spread in parts to 24 feet. 



Between the convent and Movannan is a fort similar to the last in every 

 respect, but with a deep fosse, 8 feet to 9 feet deep, with inner and outer 

 rings, 12 feet thick, and completely overgrown. It is on the edge of a marshy 

 field, possibly once a shallow lake, with rank vegetation and little minnow- 

 haunted brooks. 



DuNMOYLAN. — The place bore its present name Dunmoylan in 1291, being 

 held by Eaymond de Valle (Wall), and was an interesting dun 90 feet across, 

 with two lofty pillars 8 feet to 10 feet high, leaning towards each other. They 

 were broken up, and the fort levelled, being just traceable. There was a 

 small circle of pillar-stones (now also removed) in Old Abbey next Deelish, and 

 as I noted a line of three pillars at the fort of Knoekegan. 



Deelish. — North of the Creeves road opposite the north-east corner of Old 

 Abbey. It is also an earthwork, faced and topped with stone. Most of this 

 has been removed, and a massive modern ring-wall built outside the old 

 works. There is a small limekiln in the fosse. The fort is 99 feet inside ; a 

 few heaps of stone lie half hidden in bracken in the garth. The main ring 

 is 23 feet to 27 feet thick and 9 feet high ; the fosse is 9 feet wide and 5 feet 

 deep ; and the outer ring is 7 feet to 9 feet thick. The gateway faced the 

 south, and had a gangway across the garth. The walls had two faces with 

 small tilling. 



Shanid Castle (0. S. 19). 



In a study of typical forts I wish to confine myself as far as possible to 

 their description and to such part of the history of each place as may elucidate 

 the name and the structural history and identity of the remains. This, 

 however, compels me to study an attempt to bring what I hope to show 

 are entirely irrelevant documents into that history. To begin with the 

 undoubted records, they are most scanty. The name Shanid, Sea7i ait, means 

 the old residence or house-site. It first appears in history as Senati, where 

 the Ui Fidgeinti and Ui Chonaill Gabhra, in a fierce battle, routed the 

 Norsemen with great loss, in 839.' In Norman times, though records of the 

 grants of other territories and the foundation of many other castles have 

 reached us, none, so far, have been recovered about Shanid or the Geraldine 

 settlement which played so great a part in the history of Co. Limerick. 



1 Annals, e.g. Ann. Four Masters, Ann. Ulster, &c. 



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