[ 68 ] 



V. 



THE "MOUND OF THE FIANA" AT CEOM^^^LL HILL, 

 CO. LIMEEICK, AND A NOTE ON TEMAIE LUACHEA. 



By THOMAS JOHNSON WESTEOPP, M.A. 

 Plate II. 



[Read January 23. Published March 31, 1922.] 



The field antiquities of early and prehistoric times in Ireland have only in 

 the last thirty years begun to win the attention they so eminently deserved. 

 Before that I can hardly recall an antiquaiy, save Col. Wood-Martin, who 

 made any attempt to work out methodically even the dolmens of any one 

 district. Now a large mass of material has aeciunulated, and has won the 

 attention and approval of antiquaries outside of our islands. Unfortunately, 

 in the very period of this desirable change the unrest and financial difficulties 

 in the aftermath of the great war began to be felt. Even in better times 

 few societies had published work so little desired by the rank and file of their 

 members ; now difficulties have increased on every side. In hopes, however, 

 that the description of an interesting group may be found worthy of publica- 

 tion, I lay with no further preface these notes before the Academy. 



The important cemetery of Temair Erann, where the eponymi and all the 

 chief legendary heroes, save Curoi and Deda, of the Ernai Clann Dedat,' are 

 I'eputed to rest ; the two assembly places of the invading race of Dergthene, 

 whence the Eoghanacht tribes of Cashel, Aiue, Loch Lene and Aran, and the 

 Dal Cais of later " Thomond " sprang ; the sanctuary of Knockainey ; the 

 chief fort sites of early legend, Diin Cldire, Diin Grot, Duntriliag and 

 Brughrigh, are already recorded. However, there remain groups on con- 

 spicuous hills, diverse in nature, but illustrative of various aspects of our early 

 remains, at Loch Gur, Knockderc, Knockseefin, Pallas Grian, Knockroe, 

 Knockae,- Knockseefin, above Nicker (locally " C'nicker," rabbit warren), and 

 Cromwell (Cromglinne) Hill. I here note the last curious and important 

 remains. 



1 Supra, vol. xxxiii (c), pp. 460-468 ; sxsiv, pp. 179-181. 



- History of Limerick, 1826, FitzGerald and MacGiegor, i, p. 296 ; and Messrs. P. J, 

 Lynch and J. Grene Barry, in North Munster Soc, i, pp. 169, 215. 



