Wks'I'ROPP — Earthivorks and lUng-ivalls in County Limerick. 463 



the church are seen among the graves. We cross a watercoiirse, up which, 

 not far from Dun Claire, at the junction of two stream gullies, stands an 

 earthen fort, with a fosse and two rings. I think it is not a true spur-fort, 

 but a defaced liss, in the angle of the gorges.^ Several other small featureless 

 ring-forts lie round the slope. 



Ballinvreena (0. S. 48). 



In this townland,- farther round the north flank, is another mote, possibly 

 the hrugh of the name, in a rich green field. The flat top is 87 feet across ; 

 it is 24 feet high at the north, and 7 feet at the south up the slope.^ There 

 are slight traces of a rampart to the south, of a fosse, 9 feet wide and a couple 

 of feet deep to the west; and an outer ring, levelled, but 12 feet wide.^ 



CUSH (0. S. 48). 



This most interesting group, probably that noted by Macraith, about 

 A.D. 1000, lies along the steep slope, just under the barren district of Sliabh 

 riach. The remains lie in steep grassy fields, sprinkled with furze and large 

 blocks of conglomerate, with the usual magnificent outlook across all the 

 plains of East Limerick, on to Knockfirena, the Co. Clare mountains, and 

 Slievephelim. I will begin at the south, with the most important monument, 

 called " the Mote of Cooloughtragh," two fields bearing that name. 



The " mote '"' consists of five earthworks conjoined, three in a row, lying 



'See plan, "spur-fort," Plate XL. 



^ Baile an bhruighne. Was the "mote," the brugh, or a hostel 1 O'Donovan identifies 

 the well on the border next Glenbroghaun as the well of Cean More where Magh Buith, 

 by a blow of his javelin, made a current break out at Tobar Ceann M6r, and Sruth 

 Cheaunmor in Imleaoh Grianan, "and performed his spells against the army of King 

 Cormao at Knocklong," a.d. 260 (Book of Lecan, p. 138 b, see O.S. Letters I, p. 209). 

 The name is not unknown elsewhere ; another Ballinvreena is found in Co. Tipperary, itc, 

 and Ballybronogue in Co. Limerick is in earlier documents given as Ballybreenoge. 



•^ These motes on slopes are level-topped ; we often find this phenomenon. The chief 

 fort at Bruree varies from 10 feet to 18 feet in height, Gush Mote 7 feet to 16 feet, and 

 Ballygarry Down 8 feet to 18 feet high. 



* Section, Plate XL. 



^ Save at Knockainey (three conjoined slight rings) I have rarely found any equivalent 

 so evidently ceremonial or sepulchral. The type is common in large (and possibly 

 residential) forts in many parts of Ireland. A close equivalent, probably for the former 

 uses, but far larger than Cush, is the Dumha Brosna at Boyle, Roscommon, described 

 by Mr. Hubert T. Knox, in his most valuable survey of the Connacht earthworks 

 (Journal Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. xliv, p. 3i8). See also his notes 

 on two low ringed mounds near Rathcroghan {ibid., xli, pp. 232-234); Mr. E. W. L. 

 Holt's important survey on the forts in Dunkelliu Barony (Journal Galway Archa3ological 

 and Historical Society, vols, vii, ix) ; and papers by Mr. Knox on Coogue Mound 

 and boss, throwing light, perhaps, on the "Shield of Cuchullin " earthwork, formei'ly at 

 Tara (ibid., vol. ix, p. 66). 



