In Lettertinlis is Lough na Luracann (loč na luaċraṁán). The luricawn, leprechaun, cluricawn or Loghrey-man is well-known to folklorists. His red cap and Liliputian pipe are familiar to old peasants. I was gravely informed a few weeks ago that the luricawns and the mná ride had now all left Ireland.

In Castletownshend are, what is called Nelson's monument, a pile of stones which was erected to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar by some mariners belonging to a war sloop which was stationed in Castletownshend at the time of Nelson's victory, and Swift's tower, where the Dean is said to have written his "Carberiæ Rupes."

In Gortbrack a great murder was committed during the Cromwellian wars, the details of which are to be found in McCarthy's "History of the McCarthys of Gleannachroim."

The Ordnance Map marks the disused graveyard of Kilcloonagh in Bawnishal. Now, a Papal document of 1199 mentions a parish of Cluainechi (Cluain eiċ) between Glenbarrahane and Aughadown. This may be the place. A holy well is marked in Crosslea. This probably explains the name.

In Scobawn (Scóż bán, white flower) are Portaduna (Port a dúnaid, landing-place of the Dun), and Lisnacaheraghmore (lios na cataraċ mór, the lis of the big cahir). It was doubtless the cattle garth of the Caher of Knockdroma,

Near Toe Head (Toe, Tuat, tribal land) are Duneendermotmore; Tranadough (Tráiż na duṁac, strand of the sand heaps), and St. Bartholomew's well. At Toe Head a great tithe riot took place in 1823, and several lives were lost.

Among the inlets of the sea are: Coosnagoloor (Cuas na 3-colúr, Pigeon Cove); Coosnagroghoge (Cuas na 3-crotóz, Pollock Cove); Coosnamarc (Cuas na m barc, Boat Cove).

Smorane, this word is said to be derived from Smórán (burnt land). Others refer it to Smúpán (which correctly represents the word as pronounced by the people), the name applied to water impregnated with oxide of iron.

There are several place-names here which I cannot explain, such as Lisarankin (also called Lisarohane), Bluid, Killahangal, Farrandeligeen, Moneyvollihane, etc.

Bluid. The Four Masters (anno 1598) mentions uj m-Blojo, which was held by some Dalcassian septs, and is still the name of a deanery in East Clare. Dr. O'Brien says it was the old name of the Barony of Lower Ormond in Tipperary. It looks the same word as Bluid.

Farrandeligeen may be Fearann deilgín, land of little thorns, and Moneyvollihane, Muin' a' molċáin, owl's thicket.

2

Horse Island seems to have been formerly used as a cemetery. The practice of burying the dead in islands near the coast seems to have largely prevailed formerly. The Skeams Islands and Low Island (off Myross) were similarly used.

About 150 years ago there was a linen manufactory at Killahangal. Dr. John O'Donovan writes this name as Giolla h-aingil. Giolla (which originally means a servant) enters into many Irish surnames, such as Gillmichael (servant of St. Michael), Gillmurry (servant of Mary), Gillchrist (servant of Christ), Mac Gilla Patrick (Fitzpatrick) (servant of St. Patrick), etc., etc.

In Lettertinlis, the O.S. marks Lisfahy (probably Fahy's garth). Fatao was a common name of the O'Driscolls, an offshoot of whom were called the Clann fataid. From the McCarthy Reagh Inquisition we learn that part of Collybeg (conterminous with the present parish of Aughadown, and held by a younger branch of the O'Driscolls), was called Slught-Fahy (i.e. Sljoċt fataid, race of Fathadh).

When Mathew O'Finn was Bishop of Ross (1309-1331) he recovered some of the diocesan property, which was wrongfully withheld by Barrett and Carew. From the latter he recovered 150 acres of wood and 150 acres of pasturage in Fornath, Corkbeg, Tyrofynachta and Knockhanly. The first two seem to be identical with Forenaught and Currabeg, neighbouring townlands in the parish of Castlehaven.

Rea is Rej, a mountain flat, and Bawnnagollupy is Bádun na 3 colbčać, the enclosure of the three year old heifers.

NOTES.

Many, in fact most, of the tribe-names mentioned in the Genealogy of Corca Laidhe as occupiers of O'Gillamichael's land have become extinct. Ua Meiceidiż is probably still preserved in Mac Eady or Eady, a surname that still survives in West Cork. Ua Buadajz survives as a nick-name of some families of the O'Sullivans, Ua Ceartaiż (O'Carty) which is entirely distinct from Mac Cártaiż (MacCarthy) is also obsolete. It is probably preserved in Carty's Island in Roaring Water Bay, also in Cloontycarty (Cluaint' uj Ćeartaiż, O'Carty's meadows) near

Macroom.

The name Dorc was preserved in Twovintirrydurk (i.e., tribal land of the O'Dorc people), a district mentioned in the McCarthy Reagh Inquisition.

In Carew's account of his march to Dunboy we read:-"The 26th (April 1602) we departed Rosse over the Leape to Glanbrean (Glenbarrahane) where we encamped, and I went to Castlehaven to vewe the castle and harbor, not removing Captain Gawen Harvey's company (which had the guard hereof), and the same night the Lord Barry and the White Knight sent out a part of men to the Downynge (The Downings, par. of Ross), which was possessed by the rebles, who preded the town and kylled one of the ward."

"Great O'Donyvane, as the Irish call him, whose father was a notorious reble, doth much spoyle about the Leape, Castlehaven, Bantry, etc.”—(Letter of Rev. Urban Vigors, dated July, 1642. "Cork H. & A. Jour.," July, 1896.)

THE MAMMOTH CAVES OF CASTLEPOOK,
NEAR DONERAILE.

BY ROBERT W. EVANS, LL.B., B.L.

S considerable public attention has been drawn to the Castlepook Caves (which are situated on the estate of Miss Neligan, about two miles north of Doneraile), owing to the discovery of the remains of Mammoth Hyena and other extinct mammalia on a recent occasion, perhaps a description and plan (as the caves are exceedingly labyrinthine) of these subterranean corridors might be interesting to the readers of the Journal.

About twenty years ago, when a small boy, I first visited these caves, and since that period I have thoroughly explored every portion of them. During our earlier visits my brother and I always carried a line, because a person losing his way amid the intricate network of chambers would have but a small chance of finding it for several hours, during which period his supply of candles would probably run out. However, after the first six or seven visits I found the precaution of using a guiding line unnecessary. While a student at Queen's College, Cork, my friend, Mr. James Porter, B.E., of Bandon, lent me "Dawkins on Cave Hunting," and I came to the conclusion that Castlepook Caves would be ideal bone caverns; especially as I had found several bones in the cave, which, however, as they were lying on the surface I was unable to determine whether they were ancient or modern remains brought in by the foxes which frequent the caverns. I may mention here, for the enlightment of those who are unacquainted with bone caves, that the bones which are lying on the surface are as a general rule modern bones; while the prehistoric bones lie under the stalagmite floor, or are embedded in the breccia (which is the name given to rubble cemented into a solid mass). The pickaxe which I carried into the caves was not sufficiently powerful to break through the heavy coating of stalagmite where I commenced operations, and I did not endeavour to excavate where the floor was thinner, as I thought that I might be unable to distinguish the prehistoric bones from the remains of the foxes' numerous feasts. This was in 1895, and as I was busy at collegiate studies at the time, I resolved to leave off excavations till I had made a thorough exploration of the cave superficially. However, in the meantime, a greater authority in the person of Mr. R. Ussher, of ornithological fame, came along, and made the discoveries which have rendered the caves famous. From the

æsthetic point of view Mr. Ussher's visit had unfortunate consequences; because as reptiles spawn when the sun shines-so the labours of Mr. Ussher attracted numerous undesirable visitors to the cave, some of whom imagining that the eminent naturalist was searching for minerals came in thinking to get rich, and seeing the glittering carbonate of lime imagined that the stalactites must be precious, and broke them off by the hundreds.

The most beautiful portion of the cave, Fairyland, when I first visited it several years ago, absolutely surpassed anything I ever saw in its fantastic stalactital grandeur. Now it resembles a journalist's description of Port Arthur after the late memorable siege. The beautiful festoons of pendants, the fantastic stone draperies, no longer exist. The giant stalactite, which I imagined was destined to hang in solitary grandeur for ages, and even the fine stalagmital pillar which, standing in the gloom, reminded one of Lot's wife changed into a column of salt, were broken off and sold by the ignorant barbarians who followed in the wake of Mr. Ussher, who himself deeply deplored the ruin of which he was the unwitting cause.

I shall now proceed to give a short description of the geography of the cave, which will be easily understood by reference to the accompanying plan.

The first few chambers are not very interesting, but mention may be made of the fact that the first remains of hyena which were discovered in Ireland have been unearthed by Mr. Ussher in the Hyena Hall, also down in the Cathedral is a curious little well, representing a baptismal font, and is the only spot in the caves which permanently holds water, though in wet weather a pool some feet deep makes its appearance in the Abyss. Let us now go on to the Reception Room, renamed the Elephant Hall, after Mr. Ussher had found the scapula of a baby mammoth protruding from the earth under the stalagmite floor. From this Hall one can go into several interesting chambers; turning to the right after some awkward tortuous movements, not good for the stiffbacked, the explorer finds himself in the beautiful Fairy Hall, which is the widest chamber in the cave, though not really so high as the corridorshaped portions of the cavern. From the roof hang countless stalactites, which, with the beautiful blue limestone roof, are now, alas! soiled with the smoky autographs of intrusive and mischievous camp followers. Beyond the Fairy Hall the cave is uninteresting, except as a training ground for football players. One can travel on all fours, sustaining many bruises en route, to the Earthquake Chamber and Hall of Agonies-the latter inferno, so-called by Mr. Ussher on account of the excruciating torture which he underwent in endeavouring to con

duct excavations there. In the Earthquake Chamber is a rocking stone, which must weigh considerably over a ton. Retracing our steps to the Elephant Hall we now start off through the beautiful Bride's Gallery which is the longest, and, with the exception of the sombre Abyss, the highest chamber in the cave. It is over 120 feet long, and is over 20 feet high in the deepest portion, which is near the middle of the gallery. There are two fashions in which one can travel through the gallery, either along the ledges, which remain of the upper floor, or along the lower on terra firma, which is, perhaps, safer. Now let us again to the Elephant Hall and start for Fairyland, which, alas! scarcely deserves the name since the vandals committed the acts to which I have referred. There are (or at least were) three methods of reaching Fairyland. At one time it was extremely difficult to get there, but now comparatively easy. Number one is through a little passage at the left hand corner of the Elephant Hall, and down through the Valley of Death; however, as Mr. Ussher's men in the course of their excavations have dug up the valley, the drop is now too deep to be accomplished with safety, so we will go to the second, and now practically the only way-down through the cellar under the floor of the Bride's Gallery. When Mr. Ussher visited this spot, after seeing it marked in the accompanying plan, he said that he did not conceive how any mortal being could have got down through this tunnel, notwithstanding the fact that my wife, sister, and Miss Thompson, of Harcourt Street, Dublin, accompanied me through the passage, Virgil says, "Facilis decensus averni." But here the descent is purgatorial in the extreme. It was by enlarging this tunnel that Mr. Ussher unwittingly gave the vandals an opportunity of entering Fairyland. The third entrance is by way of the awful sombre Abyss, which I shall now describe. This is the deepest, most remote, and most awe-striking chamber in the cave. The way in from the Valley of Death is now blocked up by the earth thrown up during the recent excavations. There is a kind of passage through an upper tunnel which is scarcely accessible; but I think the only practicable way is now through the Bride's Gallery, and on in the manner of the serpent through a narrow tunnel, where one can hear one's heart beating like the thumping of a piston, When last year I conveyed Mr. Ussher into the Abyss, we were accompanied by Mr. Thompson, of Howth, and a small dog, and the four of us made a queer jumble in the narrow passage leading thereto. After we had made the descent of about 20 feet into the deep gallery we intended to travel along through to the Valley of Death, a journey in which I was accompanied on a former occasion by the above-mentioned ladies. After one gets out of the Abyss (and before he reaches the Valley of Death) he has to go through movements that would do justice to a contortionist, and