478 Proceedings of the Roijal Irish Academy. 



On the foot-slopes of the hill an old road brings us to a wind-torn clump 

 of trees and the ruined tower of an eighteenth-century church ; beside it is 

 the hideous large vault of the Massys, but no old monuments. Behind the 

 church to the north-east (but not in the graveyard, as stated by O'Donovan)' 

 is the almost obliterated trace of an earthen fort of small dimensions, on a 

 slight knoll, and overgrown with docks. As near as I could measure its 

 spread mounds and filled fosses, it is 81 feet north and south and 87 feet 

 east and west inside the fosse, which is 15 feet wide, as so usual. The faint 

 outer ring is about the same width. There is no spring, or wet patch, in the 

 ring, or even in the fosse ; but I am told there is one under the road near it 

 on the north. 



Ascending the bold Deerpark Hill, we pass a slight rise, on the slope 

 defined by a curved path. It may mark a second fort, but I am more than 

 doubtful. Lea\nng the gi'een fields and ascending the western knoll, covered 

 with crisp heather, we see the fine dolmen between us and the higher 

 eastern summit. 



The monument is still (as in 1840) called "Leaba Dliiarmada agus 

 Gbrainne" by old people. In 1840 tlie vain tradition (most probably based 

 on some leading question of the surveyors) said that "it was tbe tomb of 

 several persons." It has been well described, planned, and photographed (for 

 Mr. P. J. Lynch's survey of the dolmens) by Dr. Geoi-ge Fogerty," whose plan 

 I repeat,' it being nearly inaccessible to students outside Ireland. The dolmen 

 differs mucli from the simple cists elsewhere in Northern Munster. The axis 

 lies nearly north and south, with the entrance to the north. This is flanked 

 on either side by two slabs, forming a funnel-like passage into a polygonal 

 chamber with apparently two divisions. The lesser cell to tlie west retains 

 its massive cover. South of all is a narrow apartment, with three slabs to 

 either side, two to the south, and two covers. It is 6 feet high ; the dolmen, 

 seen from the side, rises southward, like a flight of great steps. The west 

 chamber is 3 feet high ; the north passage 15 feet long and only 1 foot wide 

 at the naiTowest point. The largest or south cover is 6 feet 9 inches by 

 6 feet by 19 inches thick, of reddish conglomerate, evidently brought from 

 the surrounding moorland, where many suitable blocks still lie loose. The 

 other covers are 14 inches or 19 inches thick. The whole is 3U feet long 

 north and south, each wing being 12 feet long ; the central chamber 6 feet 

 long. 



From the east knoll we get a magnificent view down the vale of Aherloe 



' Ordnance Survey Letters, Co. Limerick, vol. i, p. 222. 

 - Limerick Field Club Journal, vol. iii, pp. 217-224. 

 2 Plan, p. 4G4 ; viuw, Plate XLI, Ko. 2, XLU, Ko. 1. 



