Westropp — Types of the Ring-Forts and similar structures. 389 



hill " to the ridge to the south of Knockacloon. There is a low green liss 

 with the usual charming outlook and venerable thorns. There is no fosse — 

 only a ring 5 feet high in parts and 6 feet thick, and a garth 3 feet higher 

 than the field, measuring 66 feet across east and west, and 78 feet north and 

 south, or rather north-east and south-west, 



LiSDUFF. — The next hill to the south has a nearly levelled fort, barely 

 traceable, but marked by a thick mass of furze. At the foot of the slope we 

 find trace of an old banked road leading to another liss, which Mr. Burke, of 

 Eanna, tells me is known to the neighbours as the " Eight Fort," being, in 

 their opinion, the true '* Lisduff." The ring is 5 feet high to the north, with 

 a very slight hollow, scarcely a fosse ; at the south it runs into a steep 

 natural slope, and is 12 to 14 feet high ; it hardly rises a foot over the garth ; 

 the fort measures 132 feet across, and has been dug into in parts. It is 

 planted with unusually fine hawthorns. The old road between it and the hill- 

 fort runs straight for the latter. There are two low earthen rings to the south- 

 west of Lisduff in the same townland, the northern called Knockaclocaun ; at 

 the house to the west of them, by the roadside, are two fine " bullauns " or 

 basin-stones. 



Cloghaun. — Barely noticing a low fort near the " Abbey " site, and some 

 trace of a terraced one in Kilbuggoon on a low ridge towards the north-east 

 from Lisduff, we ascend the large ridge of Cloghaun, nearer Tulla. Here 

 we find a terraced fort^ hardly a foot higher than the summit, but terraced 

 up from 8 feet to 10 feet high at the north, with a very steep bank and 

 no fosse or appreciable ring. It is 78 feet east and west, 96 feet north 

 and south over all ; and from its lofty furze ring, 12 feet high, is one of 

 the most conspicuous and deceptive of the hill forts. 



Gaekuragh. — The last of the bold drift-hills lies farther east, at the 

 cross-road in Garruragh. It has two ridges, with a deep hollow between, 

 and on the western lies another ring-fort. An old lane leads up to it 

 and around its side. The ring is 7 feet high in parts without a fosse. 

 The garth is level with the field to the east, and the bank entirely removed 

 to that side. The ring is about 13 feet thick and 6 feet on top, enclosing 

 a space 114 feet north and south, and 93 feet east and west. It is known 

 as Ballygastell Fort. 



The whole group suggests a central " Doon " of the chief at Knockadoon, 

 the entrenched houses of other magnates on each of the other hills around 



^ This type, of wLich three nearly perfect examples are given under Fortanne and Coolreag 

 has a ring for about half its ciicuit up the slope, but none where the terraced part occurs. 



[67*J 



