NOTES ON CERTAIN PROMONTORY FORTS IN THE COUNTIES

OF WATERFORD AND WEXFORD.

BY THOMAS JOHNSON WESTROPP, M.A., M.R.I.A.

[Submitted MAY 29, 1906.]

THE HE coasts of Ireland, wherever their nature affords suitable headlands, are rich in a form of fortification, simple, but, from its adaptation of the natural defences, most efficient, called "Promontory Forts" or "Cliff Castles." Some would call them "Mediterranean Forts"; but the last term, like "Danish Forts" and "Druids' Altars," commits one to theories more or less definite. Avoiding, therefore, this phrase, and that of "Cliff Castles" as having a different connotation from that of forts, let us use the terms "promontory" or "cliff" forts, which neither suggest nor bind one to any theory as to the age or builders of these works. So little have these forts been studied that I regard it as desirable to give even this very small contribution to Irish field work. I have felt for many years the necessity for filling up this gap; but owing to the remote places in which so many cliff forts occur, it is a work for many persons rather than for one whose field of work is limited by many causes.

A most fascinating study it has proved to be; and it is wonderful that many have not examined these monuments, and that notes on the majority of the forts are not to be had. The structures by their very nature occur in the boldest and most picturesque spots of the coast. Those who have joined the sea voyages of the Society round Ireland will recall the noble beauty of several of these sites: the great fort- and cliffcrowned hill of Ben Madighan over Belfast; the rugged "Balor's prison" of Torry Island; the huge tower of rock fenced by Doonvinalla; the cliffs and bays at Doonamoe; Dubh Cathair in Aran; Doondoillroe in Clare; the hill that overlooks the Blasquets and bears Dovinia's ogham pillar at Doonmore near Slea Head; the ramparts of Dunbeg, and the great entrenchments at Baginbun.

The first attempts to deal methodically with the promontory forts of any one county were those of the Rev. Cæsar Otway in "Erris and Tyrawley" in 1841, invaluable for the forts of the Mullet and northern Mayo. In 1879 G. W. Atkinson, the learned editor of "The Ogham-inscribed Monuments of the Gael "-the posthumous work of Richard Rolt Brash-published a list of the promontory forts in County Cork (p. 101). It includes Dunmore, Dunbeg, Dunworly, Dun Cathair, Knockadoon, Donour, Dunmanus, Dunabrattin, and the Old Head of Jour. R.S.A.I.{Vol. Xv1., Fifth Series.

XXXVI.,

Consec. Ser.

}

R

Kinsale. He notes how many of the names which begin with Dun are found at headlands where no earthworks now occur.

Mr. R. A. S. Macalister, in his survey of the "Ancient Settlement in Corcaguiney," round Fahan, 1898, next published' from the Ordnance Survey maps a list of forty-six names of existing earthworks. I next published a list, far from complete even to my present knowledge, in "The Ancient Forts of Ireland," in 1902. It gave some seventy names, and at these sites thirty-four entrenchments were noted as existing. This list may be now revised, though I fear with but little hope of finality, clear traces of fosses and mounds having been found on unmarked sites; but a complete list can only result after far more extensive

THE PROMONTORY FORTS, COUNTY WATERFORD-F, FORT; Ho, HEAD.

methodical work is accomplished than has been as yet carried out, especially on the Ulster coast and the cliffs of Cork and Kerry. If it be not too soon to attempt classification, I may venture to suggest the following: (a) The simple promontory fort, with a single wall or mound and fosse. (b) The complex fort of several earth works with or without a wall. (c) The "entrenchment and citadel," and (d) the multiple fort with a fenced promontory and lesser fortified headlands connected with it.

THE EAST COAST.

Commencing with County Dublin, we find on the coast, between Skerries and Rush, the large entrenchment of Dromanagh,3 from which a cave leads down to the shore (O. S. 8); the Garden Fort on Gouge Point,

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1 Trans. R.I.A., vol. xxxi., p. 209.

2 Page 126, section 120.

3 Mr. A. Roycroft kindly gave me notes on this fort. D'Alton barely alludes to some curious earthworks there. South from it in Rush townland is another headland having a cairn called the "Giant's Hill."

Lambay Island (9); and the Great Bailey Fort at the extremity of Howth (16). It is not surprising that few forts occur down the east coast, which, when not low, is lacking in projecting headlands sufficiently narrow for fort sites.

COUNTY WICKLOW.-(25) Black Castle. An entrenched headland and large earthwork to landward side.

THE SOUTH COAST.

COUNTY WEXFORD.-(44) Nook. A large entrenchment, two banks enclosing a broad headland; (50) Baginbun. An entrenched peninsula, with a fortified headland to east and two narrow headlands to west, type (a), see below. Perhaps Duncannon Fort is on an old site.

COUNTY WATERFORD.-(27) Shanooan Fort or Dunmore; Rathmoylan Fort at Swine's Head; Coolum Fort or Cloonhamgowel; (26) Westown Fort or Illaunaglas; Garrarus Fort or Illaunacoltia; Islandikane, entrenchment and fortified headland, type (c). (25) Kilfarrasy Fort; Woodtown Fort or Green Island; Dunabrattin Head Fort, type (d). (32) Ballynarrid Fort, at Islandobrick, or Dane's Island, entrenchment and fortified headland, type (c); Ballyvoony Fort; Island Hubbock Fort, type (c). (39) Ballinamona Fort at Carrig Philip, near Mine Head. All described below:

COUNTY CORK.(78) Knockadoon Head, near Youghal; (113) Dunbogey or Barry's Castle at Barry's Head; (100) Lahard or Doonpower Fort and ruins; (125) Big and Little Doon Heads, near Kinsale, in Kinure; Cummeradoona Head in Preghane; (137) Old Head of Kinsale, Downmacpatrick, or Duncearnmna Fort and Castles; (136) Portadooneen Fort; (145) Seven Heads, Dunworly Castle or Illaunbeg; (144) Dunnycove Castle on Galley Head; Dundeady Castle at same; Donoure Castle and Head; (143) Downeen Castle, Roscarbery Bay; (151) Reen Point intrenchment"; Dooneendermotmore, at Toe Head;2 (153) Doonanore Castle, on nearly isolated headland on Clear Island; (148) Castlepoint Castle, on headland near Toormore Bay; (147) Doonlea; (146) Dunlough Castles at Three Castle Head ;3 Illauncaheragh, detached rock in Caher;

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1 The following views of fortified headlands are in the DuNoyer sketches, R.S.A.I. Library :- CORK, Dooneen, Roscarbery, vol. i., p. 57; Dundeady, vol. i., pp. 50, 59; Dunpatrick, Old Head of Kinsale, vol. viii., p. 49. CLARE, Dunlicka. KERRY, Dunbeg (Fahan), vol. i., p. 25. WATERFORD, Dane's Island, vol. v., p. 13.

We possess photographs of-Island Ikane, Woodstown, Dane's Island, Ballyvoony, and Island Hubbock in WATERFORD; Dunmore and Dunbeg in KERRY; Horse Island and Dunlicka in CLARE. DUBH Cathair, ARAN. Dunnamoe and Dun Fiachra, MAYO. Dunluce and Dunseverick, ANTRIM. Great Bailey, DUBLIN. Baginbun, WEXFORD, besides sketches of Doon, near Dingle, Dundoillroe, Illaunadoon, Doonaunroe, Donegal and Moher in CLARE. Doonvinalla and Doon Brista in MAYO, and Balor's Prison in TORRY ISLAND.

Also photographs of the inlaud promontory forts-Caherconree, Doonaunmore, and MacArts Fort.

* There is a promontory with a natural arch. The cliff near it is called the Battery (151), to west of Castlehaven, which probably represents a fort.

This is not so much a promontory as space between a lake and the sea, the neck on the one side being fortified.

(139) Dunmanus Castle and promontory; (138) Dooneen peninsula; (130) Dunbeacon Castle and point; (128) Doonbeg on Beare Island; Illaundoonagaul, isolated point in Derrycreveen; (127) Dooneen in Garranes ; (126) Illaunbeg "Garrison" and drawbridge in Ballyracallagh, on Dursey Island.1

2

COUNTY KERRY.-(96) Cloghanecanuig or Doon, an earthwork across the neck of four narrow headlands, evidently remains of one large promontory Tooreen or Reencashlye point; (87) Reencaheragh Castle on neck of Doon Point; (78) Coosheenadagallaun, two gallans on neck of a headland: the cliff near it is named Doonroe, in Valencia Island; (53) Doonsheane, a large headland with a narrow promontory projecting to the west, respectively Doonmore and Doonbeg, each entrenched, type (d); Doon Fort and Giant's Grave in Ballymacadoyle, near Dingle; Doonywealaun Fort in Paddock at Ventry; (52) Dunbeg in Fahan, wall and earthworks; Dunmore Fort and ogham pillar in Coomenoole; Doonbinnia Fort; (42) Doon Point, Ferriter's Castle, and earthworks in Bally oughteragh south; (13) Cahercarberymore and Cahercarbery beg Forts at Kerry Head; (9) Browne's Castle, Clashmelcon; (8) Castleshannon Castle and Point; Ballingarry Castle, with underground passages to shore, and buildings and drawbridge on a detached rock 70 feet high, in Cloghaneleesh; (4) Pookeenee Castle, a long earthwork across headland in Doon West; perhaps Ballybunnion Castle; Doon Point and Castle in Doon East; (1) Lickvedune Castle in Faha; Kilconly south has fort at end of headland, and a "Dermot and Grania's bed"; Beal or Lissadooneen Fort and gallans at mouth of Shannon.

COUNTY CLARE.-(71) Dunmore or Horse Island, near Loop Head. Headland protected by wall and mounds, settlement with souterrains and middens on the mainland;3 (64) Cloghansavaun; (65) DundoillroeFort in Tullig; (65) Dunlicka Castle and earthwork. Illaunadoon, nearly isolated rock, type (c). (56) Doonaunroe Fort on Foohagh Point. Bishop's Island is probably a broken promontory once fortified; (46) Donegal Head; (14) Moher Fort. It had a dry stone wall' and a nearly detached rock tower, type (c).

COUNTY GALWAY, ARAN.—(119) Dubh Cathair or Doonahair. Stone wall, huts and abattis; a walled headland lying to west of last.

COUNTY MAYO.-(94) Caher Island, a walled headland ; (75) Doon

1 Mr. Macalister gives Doonsorske (113) and Portadoona (151). Neither is a promontory; each has the remains of a ring-fort on a cliff. The number of castles on the Cork headlands is very noticeable, no less than twelve given above.

2 It may represent a wall embodying originally a row of pillars, such as occur both in Ireland and elsewhere in certain stone forts. It is misprinted Doonave (for Doonroe) in my former list.

3 See Journal, vol. xxviii., p. 410; Proe. R.I.A., vol. vi., ser. iii., p. 445.

4 Lloyd's "Impartial Tour in County Clare," 1778.

5

Dunraven, “Notes on Irish Architecture,” vol. i., p. 19; G. V. Dunoyer, "Archæological Magazine," vol. xv., p. 8; T. J. Westropp, Journal, vol. xIV., p. 300; P. J. Lynch, Ibid., vol. xxviii., p. 328; R. A. S. Macalister, Trans. R.I.A., vol. xxxi., p. 220.

6 Journal, vol. xxx., p. 358.

Headland in Clare Island; Doonallia and Doontraneen Rocks at Clare Island, probably once fortified headlands; (54) Doonty Rocks and Gubadoon-Eighter Head in Achill Island; (2-9) various promontory forts in the Mullet-Doonaneanir1 Rock and walled fort; Doonamoe Fort," wall, huts, and abattis; Gortbrack or Spinkadoon Fort, walled; Dun Fiachra Fort; Doonaderrig Fort, walled; Porth Fort, walled; (1) Doonvinalla Fort, wall, and earthworks, near Portacloy; (3) Doonanieran Fort, near Broad Haven; (7) Downpatrick Head and earthworks, detached rock of Dunbrista: earthworks continue on it; (114) Doongrania rock on the shore at Inisbofin; Doon more at the west end of same Island, with the creek of Doonkeen and rocks of Glasilladoon and Alladoon; Dooneenapisha on the shore of Inishark; and the headlands of Doon (84); Dooncloak (85); Doontraneen (75); and Doonmara (4); (115) Dooneen Islet and Dooneenyglas on low shore.

NORTH COAST, FROM WEST TO EAST.

COUNTY DONEGAL.-(97) Inver or Largysillagh fort. (48) Illion fort, Aran, on a shore rock. (9) Tiradoon, at Fanail lighthouse. (6) Dunbalor and Balor's Prison, Torry Island, fort and castle. Duncap Head, Dooan or Green fort. Dunree Head, with modern battery. (3) Dunaff Head. (1) Dunaldragh Head. (2) Dunargus; Dungolgan Head. (5) Dunmore Head. (103) Kilbarron Castle.

COUNTY ANTRIM.-(2) Dunluce Castle probably represents an older mainland fort and rock tower, like Dane's Island. (3) Dunseverick Castle. (4) Dunineney, castle and earthwork; Kenbane Castle. (1) Carravindoon fort, on Doon Point, Rathlin Island. (4) Knocksoghey fort. In all about eighty forts, and forty-two probable sites.

Besides these there are certain inland promontory forts, in all respects the structural equivalents of those on sea-girt headlands. Of these we know of Mac Art's fort on Cave Hill, above Belfast, 1181 feet above the sea; Doonaunmore, stone walled fort, near Ballinalackan,

1 A Dooneanir cliff is found in Kerry (69).

2

Journal, vol. xix., p. 182, "Erris and Tyrawley," p. 67, R.S.A.I. Guide, No. vi., p. 23, and Ordnance Survey Letters, County Mayo, Ms. R.I.A. pp. 251-255.

3 Ancient Forts," Sect. 121.

14 E 18,

For these forts see much in "Erris and Tyrawley," Rev. Cæsar Otway. He describes Porth, p. 64; Doonaderrig, p. 65; Doonaneanor, p. 66; Dunnamoa, p. 67 ; Downpatrick and Dunbrista, p. 133.

5 Illion is the Pluhoge of Mr. Macalister's list.

Vister Journal of Archæology, vol. i. (E. Getty, 1845), p. 113.

I hesitate to include Torr Head (large promontory and detached rock), O. S., 40, or Dunmall, which is rather a ring-fort on a cliff. There is also a headland, Doneygregor.

The above list comprises the following known promontory forts and names at probable sites:-Dublin, 3 forts. Wicklow, 1. Wexford, 2 forts, 1 site. Waterford, 13 forts. Cork, 15 forts and castles, 12 sites. Kerry, 20 forts, 4 sites. Clare, 6 forts, 2 sites. Galway, 2 forts. Mayo, 9 forts, 14 sites. Donegal, 3 forts, 9 sites. Antrim, 6 forts.