Westropp was born on 16 August 1860 at Attyflin Park, Patrickswell, County Limerick. His relatives were landowners of English origin and had lived there since the mid 16th century. He displayed an early interest in antiquities, making notes on topography, ancient buildings and folk life whenever his family would make trips into the neighbouring counties.
He attended Trinity College Dublin and graduated in 1882 with an MA. A degree in civil engineering followed in 1885, at which time he was apprenticed to Bindon Blood Stoney, who was engaged in a project to widen and dredge the entrance to the Port of Dublin. After he finished his training, Westropp became the assistant surveyor for County Meath, but soon abandoned his professional work to pursue his archaeological interests. He spent the remainder of his life researching antiquities along the western seaboard.[2][3]
He drew many detailed sketches of buildings, grave slabs and other archaeological remains throughout Ireland. Many of these sketches are held by the Royal Irish Academy. His publications are widely available in libraries throughout the west of Ireland.[4][5]
County Clare
Folklore
Ancient Irish "charms", sketch by WestroppPlan of Cashlaungarr by Westropp (1913)
While surveying the field monuments of County Clare, he became fascinated by the variety and descriptiveness of the folk tales he heard being recited by the locals. Over the course of several years, he gathered these tales, beliefs and customs and published them in a series of articles which appeared in "Folk-Lore: Transactions of the Folk-Lore Society" between 1910 and 1913. In 2006 these folk-tales were published on the internet by the County Clare Library.[6] Many of these tales have since been lost to living memory. His writings later provided the foundation for the work of the Irish Folklore Commission.
The Normans and prehistoric sites
Westropp also undertook research into the early history of Clare and Limerick (which the Normans called Thomond) and published his finding in three historical essays covering the years 1275–1287, 1287–1313 and 1313–1318, respectively. He then focused on the palaces of early Killaloe, other prehistoric stone-forts and the 'peel towers'or tower houses, eventually publishing several articles about his findings.
Westropp, Thomas J. (1900), "The Cahers of County Clare: Their Names, Features, and Bibliography", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 6 (1900 - 1902): 415–449, JSTOR20488784
"Kilkee and its Neighbourhood", Journal of the North Munster Archaeological Society, II, pp. 212-28, 1911–13, Vol. III, pp. 38-52, 108–23, 153–69, 344–61, 1913–1915
Prehistory
"Prehistoric Remains (Forts and Dolmens) along the Borders of Burren, in the County of Clare", Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 5th
Part I. The Eastern Border, vol. 35, 1905, pp. 205–229, JSTOR25507448
Part II. West Cormomroe, vol. 35, 1905, pp. 342–361
reprinted as Archaeology of the Burren: Prehistoric Forts and Dolmens in North Clare by T.J. Westropp, CLASP Press, 1999, ISBN1-900545-10-1
"Prehistoric Remains (Forts and Dolmens) in the Burren, Co. Clare (Continued)", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 1 (4): 343–367, 1911
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1913), "Prehistoric Remains (Forts and Dolmens) in the Corofin District, Co. Clare. (No. XI) (Continued)", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 3 (3): 232–260, JSTOR25514298
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1915), "Prehistoric Remains (Forts and Dolmens) in Burren and Its South Western Border, Co. Clare: Part XII: North Western Part", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 5 (1): 45–62, JSTOR25514392
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1915), "Prehistoric Remains (Forts and Dolmens) in Burren and Its South Western Border, Co. Clare: Part XII: North Western Part (Continued)", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 5 (4): 249–274, JSTOR25514430
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1916), "Notes on Certain Primitive Remains (Forts and Dolmens) in Inagh and Killeimer, Co. Clare: Part XIV (Continued)", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 6 (2): 97–120, JSTOR25514459
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1917), "Notes on the Primitive Remains (Forts and Dolmens) in Central Co Clare Addenda: Part XVI (Continued)", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 7 (1): 1–20, JSTOR25514479
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1917), "Prehistoric Remains in North-Western and Central Co Clare: Part XV. Addenda. West Clare", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 7 (1): 67–74, JSTOR25514483
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1896), "The Distribution of "Cromlechs" in the County of Clare", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 4 (1896 - 1898): 542–549, JSTOR20490514
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1902), "The Cists, Dolmens, and Pillars in the Eastern Half of the County of Clare", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 24 (1902 - 1904): 85–106, JSTOR25502708
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1902), "The Cists, Dolmens, and Pillars in the Eastern Half of the County of Clare", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 24 (1902 - 1904): 107–132, JSTOR25502709
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1906), "The Cists, Dolmens, and Pillars of the Western Half of the County of Clare", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 26 (1906/1907): 447–472, JSTOR25502749
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1896), "Magh Adhair, Co. Clare. The Place of Inauguration of the Dalcassian Kings", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 4 (1896 - 1898): 55–60, JSTOR20490502
Folklore of Clare : a Folklore Survey of County Clare & County Clare Folk-tales and Myths, Clasp Press, 2000, ISBN1-90054-512-8
reprint of A Folklore Survey of County Clare and County Clare Folk-Tales and Myths, published 1910/1913 in Folk Lore : Transactions of the Folklore Society.
Ecclesiastical
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1911), "Cahermurphy Castle and Its Earthworks, with Certain Forts near Milltown-Malbay, County Clare", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 1 (2): 117–137, JSTOR25514147
Westropp, T. J. (1898), "Notes on the Lesser Castles or 'Peel Towers' of the County of Clare", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 4th, 5: 348–365, JSTOR20490552
"Promontory Forts in the "Irrus," County Clare", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 5th
Part I. The Kilkee Group, vol. 38, 1908, pp. 28–47, JSTOR25507654
Part II. Loop Head and Cross Group, vol. 38, pp. 221–231, JSTOR25513923
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1902), ""The Ancient Forts of Ireland." Being Some Further Notes on a Paper of That Name, Especially as to the Age of Motes in Ireland", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 24 (1902 - 1904): 267–276, JSTOR25502716
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1921), "The "Mound of the Fiana" at Cromwell Hill, Co. Limerick, and a Note on Temair Luachra", Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 36 (1921 - 1924): 68–85, JSTOR25504223
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1919), "The Ancient Places of Assembly in the Counties Limerick and Clare", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 9 (1): 1–24, JSTOR25514522
Westropp, Thomas Johnson (1912), "The Promontory Forts and Early Remains of the Coasts of County Mayo. Part I. The North Coast (Tirawley and Erris)", The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 6th, 2 (1): 51–59, JSTOR25514206
References
^Obituary Notices. In: Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Sixth Series, Vol. 13, No. 1 (30 June 1923), pp. 108–110.
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