Granard was granted to the saint by Coirpre's sons, and a massacre of Cenel Coirpre took place at Granairet in 742. The Dindsenchas mentions Granairet as near the venerated tree of Craebh Uisnig.1

MUNSTER-LISMORE, WATERFORD.-The fine complex fort, still called Lismore, was formerly also known as Dunsginne. To it fled St.

Carthagh, or Mochuda, in 636,3 and near it he founded a monastery which rose to great note. The place (the church was not mentioned) was plundered in 832 by foreigners. The castle was built by Prince John, 1186, at the opposite side of the monastery from the mote. The castle was of stone, and one turret, manifestly of the period of its foundation, is embodied in the present building; a second was needlessly destroyed in a restoration.

century, uses older materials, such as the work of Kieran of Belachduin, who died 770. Tirechán was disciple of Ultan, who died 656.

1 Loc. cit., vol. xv., Rev. Celt. (1895), p. 277. Presbyterian tradition, in 1840, stated that the mote was made by the Chutes (O.S. Letters).

2 For Dunsginne, see Keating's "History of Ireland" (ed. Duffy), pp. 12, 397. 3 Vita S. Mochudae (Colgan's Acta SS., p. 539, supported by Tighernach. 4"Ann. Ulton." (Rolls Series, the O'Conor edition being full of pitfalls). The Annalist mentions the churches of the places other than Lismore wrecked in this

raid.

5 See view in Gentleman's Magazine, 1864, part 2, p. 539, and Journal, vol. xxvii.,

KNOCKGRAFFAN, TIPPERARY.-This is a large complex mote, and is named as 66 99 Grafan among the forts reserved to the King of Cashel in the "Book of Rights "". 1—a work alleged to date from the fifth century, but in its present form hardly older than its editor, Cormac, King and Bishop of Cashel, who was slain in battle in 902, and his contemporary, Selbach, who wrote some of the poems therein. The fort was a chief fort of the O'Sullivans; and after their expulsion the Normans built a castle in 1182. The "Book of Rights" also mentions "the houses of Rafann," which fort took its name from the mother of Fiacha Muillethan, an early king. The "Annals of the Four Masters" call the Tipperary fort Cnocraffon, and Cnocgraffon, and possibly, though separate in the list in the "Book of Rights," they may be near each other. In any case both were in Munster, whereas the fort of Rafann, in the eleventh century poem in the Dindsenchas (Temair V.) is mentioned with Reerin, near Athy, in Kildare.

THE MOTE OF KILFINNANE (TREADA NA RIOGH).

KILFINNANE, LIMERICK.-The great mote, with its high triple rings, is certainly the Treada na riogh (triple fort of the kings), near Drumfinghin, named in the "Book of Rights." The surrounding great forts in Limerick can nearly all be identified with those in the list, and in Selbach's poem. Kilfinnane is called "an old Irish downe" by Petty in 1657.3 No castle existed here till very late in the Middle Ages-so far as records go, not till long after 1400.

MAGHADHAIR, CLARE.-A characteristic simple mote near Quin. It was, as often told, the place of Inauguration of the Dalcassian Princes.* The fort green was insulted by Flan, King of Cashel, in 877, as told in the pre-Norman "Wars of the Gaedhil." The expedition is noted in the "Annals," and mentioned in an undoubtedly ancient poem of the king's bard, Flan mac Lonain. The place is often named; it lay outside the Norman territory, and no castle is recorded or known to have stood at

pp. 349, 353; also Documents Relating to Ireland (cited henceforth as C.S.P.I.), 1218, No. 851. For the mote, see Journal, vol. xxvii., p. 272.

1 Ed. J. O'Donovan, pp. 87, 89.

2 She is, however, elsewhere called Moncha. See Revue Celtique, vol. xi., p. 43; and though Irish mythology allowed a multiplicity of mothers, I cannot recall a case in quasi-history.

3 Map 59, Limerick, 1657, P.R.O.I.

4 Journal, vol. xxi., p. 462. Proceedings, R.I.A., Ser iii., vol. v., p. 55; also "Wars G. and G." (ed. Dr. Todd), pp. exiii. and 67.

5 Partly published in “The Story of an Irish Sept,” 1896, p. 82.

or near it. The Macnamaras, in fact, held it from the earliest times to the middle of the seventeenth century.

LEINSTER NAAS, KILDARE.-This is also a large, simple mote; not far away is another reputed mote, so much defaced that it shows no indisputable trace of fortifications, and it may be a mere gravel hill. The actual fort is attributed by the Dindsenchas to the legendary Princess Tailtinn in A.D. 277. The "Tripartite Life" states that St. Patrick (in 465) camped on the green of the Dun of Nas, "to the east of the road to the north of the dun," and mentions the well. The so-called "Will of Cathaeir mor," a fiction, but a very early one, long prior to 900,2 mentions the fort-"the impregnable Nus he shall strengthen it." A poem of the same minimum date in the "Book of Rights" says, " Forward to his house went the King of Laighin (Leinster) with the heroes till he reached the fort of Nas." One of those archaic "geasa" in the same Book lays a taboo on the same king, "not to come to Nas with full

retinue." The "Annals of Ulster" and the Four Masters mention its ruin in 705, quoting an ancient poem which implies that the royal residencewas a large single-roofed house on the dun: "Thou wert safe, except thy roof, O Dun of Nas. The plain of Liffey . . . to-day is a scorched place." The "Life of St. Fechin" also contains an allusion to the fort of Nas before 664, when the saint obtained the release of several personskept prisoners there. "The bonds of the captives were broken in the dun, and Fechin came out with the hostages on the lawn (urla) of the Dun of Naas." Its "lords" are mentioned in 861, and the chiefs deserted it in 902.

The Normans built a castle at Naas in 1186, but the ruins are at some distance from the mote." The Augustinian Abbey was called "The Monastery of the Mote" down to Elizabethan times; it was founded in

1 Page 185.

2 Prefixed to the "Book of Rights." 3 Roofed duns 29 are mentioned in the "Voyage of Maelduin" (ante 1100), Revue Celtique, vol. x. (1889), p. 55, from "Lebar-na-h-Uidhre." The same romance, p. 477, vol. ix., mentions also "a dangan high and strong and a great house therein." 4 Revue Celtique, vol. xii., p. 349. Can the "urlainn" be the bailey? See Canon O'Hanlon's "Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. i., p. 376.

1484. The older house of Canons Regular dated from the late twelfth century.

RAHUGH, WESTMEATH.-A great mote with two rings existed as a rath as early as the foundation of the Monastery of St. Aedh mac Brice, circa 570. Of several records one tells how in 851 a great convention of chiefs was held at the Rath of Aedh mac Brice.1

as

DURROW, KING'S COUNTY.-In 'the valuable rhymed list of "the Dindgnai of Erin" (Temair V.) in the Dindsenchas, dating in the reign of Maelsechlainn, High King of Erin, 980, died 1023, we find among lists of names a more picturesque entry alluding to this fort after Usnach in Westmeath, "Dermag of the oak woods and drums " (ridges). This was possibly the great mote which, covered with shrubs, masses of masonry, and vaulted foundations, marks the site of the later castle. An early poem attributed to St. Columba mentions a "Grianan included in the "high" mounds round the monastery of Durrow. It lay "westward of the Sine" (a known site), and corresponds in position to the mote.3 Here Hugh de Lacy "profaned" the beloved termon of St. Columba by building a new castle in 1181. Here the saint's revenge fell on him when he was murdered with an axe, and his headless body rolled into the fosse. It is, however, evident that one of the principal forts of Ireland stood here at least two centuries before the "profanation."

DONAGHPATRICK, MEATH.-This place was also held by de Lacy, but the building of no castle is recorded. It has a complex mote with a rounded top, a bailey, and three deep fosses with high rings, standing near St. Patrick's Church. The Tripartite Life" mentions the place, and the homilies in the Leabar Brecc relate how, as Patrick travelled through Meath, after the assembly of Tailtenn, Conall, or Cremthan, son of Niall, gave his "stead" (so Dr. Whitley Stokes) or "court" (so the Latin translations) to the saint, who established a rath and church there named Donaghpatrick. The Annals in 745 mention the "profanation" or "forcible entry" (sarughadh) of Domnach Patraic, when“ seven prisoners were crucified." "Sarughadh" is used for any act of violence; we find it applied to King Brian's expulsion of the Danes from Iniscatha in 975, and even to a seizure of 100 cows in 1257. It is properly translated violent entry' in MS. Clar. 49. "Sar" is 'outrage or disgrace,'

1 See Journal, vol. xxvi. (1896), p. 331, and " Annals of Ulster."

2

Todd Lecture Series," R.I.A., vol. viii., p. 41.

3 See Journal, vol. xxix., pp. 220, 221.

4 It was granted to Columba, c. 550, by a chief Brendan and his son Aed, Ardrigh of Ireland. See also O'Hanlon's " Lives," vol. vi., p. 306. Dermag is mentioned in Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba."

5 Published with the Trip. Vita," vol. ii., p. 465 and 466, alluded to in vol. i.,

p. 71.

6" Ann. Ulton." The word "sarughadh" does not mean technically "profanation," but "violence," literally, "in spite of." See Revue Celtique, vol. xviii., p. 77. 7 Ann. Loch Cé."

Jour. R.S.A.I.

Vol. XIV., Fifth Series.

Vol. xxxiv., Consec. Ser.

2 A

6

Calendar of Enghus. "Saruighim," to injure, oppress,' in O'Brien's Dictionary. "Sarugad," act of wronging, violating, overcoming, contempt of orders or privileges,' Glossary of Brehon Laws. The direct meaning is violation,' or 'violence,' and as such it appears in our literature for 'assault, defeat,' and even cattle-robbery.' The attempt to confine the violence at Domnach Patrick to a church is not necessitated by the Irish text; neither was 'crucifixion,' nor even torture,' a very probable act against monks or clergy in pre-Danish times; nor would it have been passed by with so little notice by monkish annalists. Several deeds in the "Register of the Abbey of St. Thomas the Martyr in Dublin" describe the church lands of Donaghpatrick. They commence in 1227 with one of Hugh, son of Hugh de Lacy; but, though many particulars about the site and bounds are given, no castle, but only a "court" (curia)," is mentioned (the very word in the Latin "Life") as standing near the church.

50 1

SECTION OF THE MOTE OF SLANE.

SLANE, MEATH. A great simple mote with two fosses enclosing an annular space stands on the summit of the hill close to St. Patrick's monastery. In the "Life of St. Patrick" by Murchu maccu Mactheni (c. 698) we are told that the saint on his way to Tara camped at Fertaferfeic (Slane), which was called "from certain fosses dug (said a fabulous tale) by the slaves of Feccol Ferchertni," a pre-Christian prophet of Bregia. Slane fort also appears in the "Temair V" poem, ante 1023.* The Normans under Richard Flemmyng "made a mot "5 at Slane in 1176; but the Irish destroyed the house (meison) and slew its garrison. As the "mot" held 100 men, with women, children, and horses (or 500 men, as elsewhere), and was, it seems, easily destroyed, it was evidently an enclosure slighter but more spacious than the "mount." It very probably

1 Ed. J. T. Gilbert, pp. 19, 27-30. 2 Migne's "Lexicon" gives" curia

as equivalent to "mota."

3 Ed. Rev. A. Barry, p. 19, and also given by Dr. Stokes with the "Trip. Vita." Mactheni wrote at the request of Aed, Bishop of Sleibthe, who died 698. The work is found in the "Book of Armagh," written 807-812. Numerous entries in old authors identify Slane with Fertaferfeic. The "Annals" call Ere, Bishop of Slane, "Bishop of Fertaferfeic," 613. The "Calendar of Denghus" adds beside Sid Truimm." Was the sidh the mote on Slane hill? See also Colgan, “Trias Thaum,

pp. 20-60.

4 Loc. cit., p. 41.

566

Song of Dermot and the Earl" (ed. Goddard Orpen), lines 3174, &c. The Slane fort is mentioned in the continuation of the "Annals of Tighernach,'' 1176:

They attacked the caislen of Slane, and slew Richard Plemendach and 500 men." Annals of the Four Masters."