List of Illustrations

VOLUME I.

PAGB

29

THE ROCK OF CASHEL (See page 271) Frontispiece MUCKROSS ABBEY

II THE CHIMNEY - TOPS, GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

17 MAP OF IRELAND

(facing) 22 THE CLIFFS OF MOHER

25 MCCARTHY MORE'S CASTLE ST. DOULOUGH

41 PEAT - CHOPPERS

47 A WEST OF IRELAND FARM

55 BOG LAND, KERRY A JIG DANCER

69 THE GENUINE IRISH PEASANT BOG LAND, KERRY AN IRISH LASS

99 A BROOCH FROM THE HILL OF TARA

107 THE HILL OF TARA

113 ROUND TOWER, ARDMORE

59

83 87

viii

List of Illustrations

PAGB

DUNLUCE CASTLE

149 LIMERICK PIGS

157 TORC CASCADE

161 A COTTAGE SPINNER

165 A COTTAGE LOOM

169 EMBROIDERING

173 NEW GRANGE

• 177 DUBLIN CASTLE

199 ENNISKERRY

207 GLENDALOUGH

217 ST. KEVIN'S KITCHEN

221 THE VALE OF AVOCA

225 THE MEETING OF THE WATERS

229 REGINALD'S TOWER, WATERFORD

235 SIR WALTER RALEIGH'S COTTAGE, YOUGHAL 239 KILKENNY CASTLE

245 ST. CANICE'S STEPS AND THE ROUND TOWER, KILKENNY

253 RHINCREW CASTLE

257 CAPPOQUIN.

261 LISMORE CASTLE

265 THE CROSS OF CASHEL

273

Romantic

Ireland

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY

IN times past books of travel were frequently

written for the perusal of "a few intimate friends." Such was the purpose of a little pamphlet entitled “A Trip to Ireland," which a few years ago fell into the hands of the writer. Its author and place of publication are unknown, but it bore the date of 1836.

The writer of this book has not the excuse of this unknown author and admirer of Ireland's sylvan, historical, and romantic beauties for compiling the present work, nor is he possessed of the belief that he is called upon to attempt the task of merely imparting knowledge to the untravelled. But, since his atten

tion was thus first directed to Ireland, — with the result that he has made a more or less intimate acquaintance with the allurements and charms of this delectable, if impoverished, land, — he has come to believe that there are a large number of interested people who would be glad to have an attractive presentation of some of the sights, scenes, and incidents which come to those who are fortunate enough to be able to sojourn there for a time.

In other words, this book is a record of, and some impressions of, a few of those everpresent charms of the green isle which have so permeated its history, its romance, and its literature.

As a record of a pilgrimage, this book will doubtless appear less satisfactory than as a presentation of facts relative to both the storied past and present-day affairs of the country, though it deals not so much with political issues and economic aspects as it does with the more pleasing and more tangible features of historic sites and scenes.

It is not expected that this book will escape criticism; probably it will not. It is impossible to attempt to compress a history of Ireland, a monograph on its ancient civilization, a treatise on manners and customs, or even an account of its architectural remains, at all consistent with the deserts of the subject, within the confines of a work such as this.

All that is claimed is that it is a résumé of the facts and the romance which, garnered from various sources, have impressed themselves upon the minds of the collaborators of this book in their journeyings through Erin's Isle.

It is hoped, however, that these chapters, or, perhaps, more assuredly, the pictures with which they are adorned, will awaken a curiosity on the part of some to know more of Britain's sister-isle.

Unfortunately, to many travellers — and to most American travellers — Ireland is a mere name, with a handle at either end, Queenstown in the south, and Londonderry or Moville in the north, where ships stop, in the dead of night, to land or embark the mails.

Usually, travellers from the Western world are in too much of a hurry to partake of the delights of London or the “ dainty prettiness” of the Thames valley, the sanctity of the cathedral precincts of Canterbury or Salisbury, or