Strangeness and uniqueness of its situation--Love of the strange and beautiful among ancient Irish Churchmen--The Shannon--Views from Clonmacnois--Small size of its remaining ruined fanes--Its round towers and crosses-- Wondrous beauty of its smaller round tower--Petrie's theory of the origin of round towers--Destruction of Clonmacnois-- Vandalism manifest--Occupation by the Danes--The nunnery-- Clonmacnois founded by St Kieran--De Lacy's ruined castle-- Beauty and diversity of scenery of the Shannon; historic interest of so many places on its banks. KNOCK AILLINN 111 Third most historic hill in Ireland--Beauty of the view from its summit--On it is the largest fort in Ireland-- Anciently the Residence of Kings of Leinster--The hill of Allen; Finn's residence according to all authentic documents; but no trace of earthworks on it--John O'Donovan's opinion about it--Probable confusion of the names Aillinn and Allen--Probability that Aillinn was Finn's dun--Immensity of the folk-lore about Finn; as widespread in Scotland as in Ireland; extraordinary way in which he impressed himself on his age; does not seem to have been a lovable personage--Dermot O'Duibhne--Real name of the Campbells of Argyle--Finn, the most powerful man in Ireland in his time--His name incorrectly spelt _Fionn_. "KILDARE'S HOLY FANE" 126 Not much scenic beauty about Kildare--The Curragh--Few ancient remains in Kildare--Its round Tower--Kildare once a large place; famous on account of St Brigit--Its "bright lamp"--Moore's noble lyric, "Erin, O Erin"--St Brigit's life in the Leabhar Breac; extracts from it--Her benevolence and charity; her love of the poor and the sick; she was buried in Kildare. GLENDALOCH 138 Its weird situation--A good central point from which to make excursions--"Sugar-loaf" mountain; its horrible modern name, and grand ancient one--Glendaloch the most celebrated place in Wicklow--St Kevin; his youth; his piety; he did not drown Kathleen; he only whipped her with nettles--Kevin the most popular of Leinster Saints--"St Kevin's bed"--Glendaloch an almost utter ruin--Ancient Irish monasteries; their great wealth--Antique gold ornaments--The evils of Danish raids--How well the Irish fought the Danes--Round towers--Their uses--Books destroyed by the Northmen--Halo of legend and romance that is round Glendaloch. "LORDLY AILEACH" 157