[Illustration: BAY OF DUBLIN FROM HOWTH CLIFFS] LEINSTER Described by Stephen Gwynn Pictured by Alexander Williams [Illustration] BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY 1911 Beautiful Ireland LEINSTER ULSTER MUNSTER CONNAUGHT _Uniform with this Series_ Beautiful England OXFORD THE ENGLISH LAKES CANTERBURY SHAKESPEARE-LAND THE THAMES WINDSOR CASTLE CAMBRIDGE NORWICH AND THE BROADS THE HEART OF WESSEX THE PEAK DISTRICT THE CORNISH RIVIERA DICKENS-LAND WINCHESTER THE ISLE OF WIGHT CHESTER AND THE DEE YORK LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Bay of Dublin from Howth Cliffs _Frontispiece_ Killiney Bay and Bray Head 8 Near Abbeyleix, Queen's County 14 The Port of Dublin 20 A Hawthorn Glade, Phoenix Park 24 The River Liffey at Palmerston 32 Portmarnock Golf Links 38 The Meeting of the Waters, Woodenbridge 42 St. Kevin's Bed and the Church of the Rock, Upper Lake, Glendalough 46 On the River Boyne at Trim 50 The Bridge of Slane, River Boyne 54 On the River Slaney at Ballintemple 58 [Illustration: LEINSTER] I Leinster is the richest of Irish provinces, the heart of Ireland, and for beauty it can challenge any of its sisters, save in one respect only: it lacks the beauty of wildness. What it has to show of most beautiful lies within twenty miles of the capital. There is no city north of the Alps which has so lovely surroundings as Dublin--or so varied in their loveliness. Sea and mountain, plain and river, all come into that range of exquisite choice. But everywhere in it the beautiful frame of nature has been modified and beautified by man. Since it is not possible, in the small space available, to describe exhaustively the features of this great province, which stretches from the sea to the Shannon and from the Mourne Mountains to Waterford Haven, a selection must be made and indicated at once. First, then, the county of Dublin itself, infringing a little on Kildare. Secondly, the Wicklow Mountains and their glens. Thirdly, that rich valley of the Boyne, which was the heart of the ancient kingdom of Meath. But, before details are dealt with, some general idea of the topography must be given.