1884-1883.] 191 



by Mr. J. J. Phillips, on the ancient uses and military defences 

 of the Anglo-Norman donjon at Dundrum, County Down ; also 

 a brief reference to the Gaedhelic records of earlier structures 

 on the site of the castle. The paper was illustrated by a large 

 number of diagrams, showing the methods of fortifying and 

 defending this fortress, which is unique of its kind in Ulster, and 

 gives record of that peculiar phase of military science which is 

 associated with the engineering genius of Richard Coeur de Lion. 

 It is founded on the crest of a natural ridge, which in Milesian 

 times was utilised as a rath or dun (Dundromara, in Leath 

 Chathail), and which was the site of Bricruid's house, of which 

 we have a description in " Leabhar-na-h-uidhre," the oldest MS. 

 in the Royal Irish Academy. The early records comprised also 

 the narration of the exploits of the Danes at Dundrum and its 

 bay. The Celtic fort underwent a vast transformation early in 

 the thirteenth century by the Anglo-Normans, who here, as 

 well as in other instances in the Lecale, built many of these 

 castles on the ancient raths of the Irish (as at Clough Castle 

 and Bright Castle). This at Dundrum overlooks the plains of 

 the Lecale from St. John's Point to Down Abbey. The donjon 

 never underwent any such structural transformations as the rest 

 of the Anglo-Norman castles in Ulster experienced in the 14th 

 and 1 5th centuries ; to its tower was never superadded machico- 

 lations or crenelles, or any of such constructions on its corona 

 as would guard against the advancing use of fiery missiles. An 

 enlarged sketch was exhibited, showing conjecturally its appear- 

 ance when it was first inhabited by the Knights Templars ; for 

 we are informed John de Courci constructed it. The wooden 

 galleries were described by which this donjon and the outer wall 

 of enciente were fortified, the object being to protect from sap 

 and mine the bases of the walls, and to render escalade more 

 difficult. There are sufficient traces in the fabric of the donjon 

 as well as in the walls of the court yard of the fortress to show 

 that these exterior galleries, known as breUhes or hourds origin- 

 ally were comprised in the operations of a siege. This donjon 

 is similar in size, and in many respects corresponds with the 



