275 



bourhood. So far, this lake fortress accords in situation with most others 

 of its class, and was probably used as a place of safe retreat ; first for 

 the dwellers in the raths; and in later times, when stone buildings 

 had taken the place of rude earthworks and stockades, by the inhabi- 

 tants of the adjoining castle. 



The lake was celebrated for its pike fishing, and the crannoge (or 

 Island in Tonymore Lake," as it was termed), which rose slightly above 

 the water, was much resorted to by sportsmen. The real nature of the is- 

 land, however, was not suspected until after the railway was run through 

 a portion of it ; although, when the land had been sufficiently dried, the 

 tops of the outer row of piles, or stockades, could be seen projecting 

 above the surface. Some of these piles were in so decayed a condition 

 as to crumble beneath the touch ; but others were as fresh and strong 

 as if they had been driven in but yesterday" — a fact which shows that 

 this crannoge had been repaired from time to time. 



I^otwithstanding the fact of a portion of the railway being absolutely 

 supported on this crannoge, and a number of household articles having 

 been discovered in it when the line was making, no notice, strange to 

 relate, appears to have been taken of it until about three years ago. 

 " The Proceedings" of the Academy, many of which contained notices of 

 crannoges, having appeared from time to time in the public papers, the 

 attention of several persons throughout the country was turned to such 

 matters ; and I have, in consequence, received much useful information, 

 and the Academy some valuable donations. 



Eor the first description of the Tonymore crannoge, we are indebted 

 to Mr. O'Brien, the intelligent station-master at Cavan, who enhanced 

 his information by the donation of some of the articles found there. 

 The mound, he states, was fifty yards in diameter, measured from the 

 old stakes, on each side. Only one-half of the work now [ 1859] remains, 

 the other having been cut away in making the line. The outer paling ap- 

 pears above ground at regular intervals, and is partly composed of roots 

 and limbs of oak. The crannoge rests on a layer of oak, crossed by 

 beams in every direction. "Within about eighteen inches of the top there 

 is a layer of bones, and bones appear scattered all about the surrounding 

 marsh, and are continually turned up in repairing the railway, and occa- 

 sionally in such quantities as to become a profitable article of sale. One 

 or two querns were found within the enclosure, and are now preserved 

 in the neighbourhood ; several sharpening stones, and also a portion of a 

 yew bow, were discovered ; outside in the marsh, two elks' heads were 

 dug out, one of which is now in the possession of LordFarnham." 



In 1 860, 1 presented, on the part of Mr. O'Brien, the following articles, 

 which have been found in the crannoge : — The upper stone of a grain- 

 rubber, like those described in the Museum Catalogue, p. 104; a stone, 

 half perforated, as if done with another stone ; a circular flat stone disc, 

 or quoit, like those on Tray I^". I^. — see p. 99 of Catalogue, — and si- 

 milar to some found in connexion with cinerary urns. Eour small 

 earthen crucibles, of the usual shape which has come down to modern 

 times ; three of these would only contain a couple of drachms of fluid 



