Then her lord to a bird was soon transformed, That rested its wing on her shoulder fair; But the lady screamed and swooned away When a cat sprang forth from the empty air. For a woman must fear for the one she loves, And a woman’s heart will break in twain, When she knows that her hand has struck the blow To the man she had died to save from pain. And thus the Earl must sleep as dead Till the silver shoes of his steed are worn, By which every seven years, they say, To Kilkea and back to the rath he’s born. And swiftly they pass, that phantom band, With the Earl on his charger gleaming white, So we think ’tis the shade of a cloud goes by, With a shifting beam of the moon’s pale light. PEERS HERVEY. _ADARE CASTLE_ “Peaceful it stands, the mighty pile By many a heart’s blood once defended, Yet silent now as cloistered aisle, Where rung the sounds of banquet splendid.” GERALD GRIFFIN. This name is a corruption of Athdare, or Ath-daar, signifying “The ford of oaks.” The present village is situated on the west bank of the River Maig, nine miles south-south-west of Limerick. Desmond Castle, on the east bank, commands the river pass, and near the northern entrance to the castle were formerly the remains of a gateway and wall, traditionally supposed to have belonged to the ancient town of Adare. The ruins of the fortress are extensive. They consist of an outer and inner ward, separated by a moat, which in former times was crossed by a drawbridge. There are three entrances to the outer ward, the chief being a square gate tower in the west wall which was defended by a portcullis. There is another entrance on the north, as well as a doorway opening on the river. The chief buildings are situated near the water’s edge. They consist of the great hall which is 75 feet long by 37 feet in breadth. It is lighted by three windows of rough masonry in its south wall and by one on the west, with fifteenth-century “ogee” heads inserted in the older workmanship. The doorway on the east opens to the river. The chief entrance and porch were on the north side. The base of one of the sandstone jambs remains, showing it to have been of thirteenth century date. The walls are 3 feet thick, and the roof, which had a very high gable, was supported by four pillars.