Westeopp — Types of the Ring-Forts and similar Structures. 377 



5. — Ballymacloon (42). — In Ballymacloon East, on a rising ground about 

 half a mile from the last rath, is an even finer specimen. The banks are over 

 8 feet high, with a deep fosse 16 feet wide, to the south and west, but 

 partly filled at the other points. In the garth, which is 108 feet across, are the 

 foundations of a modern cottage and yards. Below this, in a pit about 6 feet 

 deep, is the ope of a souterrain or " cave." The place was described to me by 

 a farmer as " full of water and badgers," and was habitually too flooded to be 

 easily explored, though the '* Irish bear " was not visible. Its sides, as usual, 

 were of small stones, and sloped from 4 feet 4 inches at the floor to 2 feet 

 7 inches at the roof, being about 5 J feet high. The entrance has two strong 

 lintels above it, each a foot thick. The passage at the sixth lintel inward is 

 6 J feet wide. At 12 feet inward we find a side chamber to the south, 4 feet 

 wide and high, too flooded to explore. Its entrance lintel bears up the 

 seventh and eighth covers of the main passage ; so it is part of the original 

 plan. Beyond are several more lintels, and an end-wall of small stones. 

 There are no scribings visible on the lintels of this and other similar " caves," 

 and the rath is nameless. 



In the same townland, near the little lough, is a massive but overturned 

 dolmen. In 1840 it consisted of a clumsy cover 7 feet long and 5 feet 3 inches 

 thick, of brown gritstone, resting on three other blocks. One of the rock- 

 outcrops near it resembles a large dolmen, more regular than the real one, an 

 enormous slab, resting on a rock, and framing a view of Knappoge Castle. 

 There is, however, no trace of human handiwork on it. These are more 

 accessible from Ballymarkahan Castle. A killeen, or children's burial-place, 

 a ' holy well,' called Tobernanaeve " of the saints," and a nearly levelled fort, 

 are found in the townland, and a small caher in Carrowgare. 



6. — Creevagh (34). — Across the river an extent of rich meadow and tilled 

 land surrounds a gently rising hill on which is a remarkable double fort. 

 There is a pleasant outlook to the wooded, turret-crowned ridge of Cullaun 

 and the many-hued Slieve Bernagh, and over the thickets and woods to the 

 towers of Knappoge, Ballymarkahan, Danganbrack, with its lofty gables and 

 chimneys, and the slender belfry of Quin " Abbey." 



The fort on the summit is a circular ring- wall; the faces are nearly 

 destroyed ; but enough remains among the heaps of filling (15 to over 20 feet 

 wide, and 3 or 4 feet high) to show that it was from 12 to 16 feet thick, and 

 apparently in one piece, the double wall not, so far as I know, occurring in 

 this group. The garth is 102 feet wide, and the whole ring about 130 feet 

 across. In the southern segment 18 feet from the wall are steep mounds, 

 evidently of a wooden and earthen house, somewhat oval, and enclosing a 

 cave. It consists of a passage 8 feet 3 inches long and 2i feet wide, now 



