The Scientific Tourist through Ireland: in which the traveller is directed to the principal objects of antiquity, art, science & the picturesqueWalford, Thomas
History
The Scientific Tourist through Ireland: in which the traveller is directed to the principal objects of antiquity, art, science & the picturesque
Walford, Thomas
Ireland -- Description and travel
CARRICK-ON-SHANNON, or CARRICK DRUMRUSK, 78 m. from Dublin, is the
largest and shire town of the county.--See the New Prison. Hall
observes that many of the tombstones in the Ch.-yard are of a musical
nature; for if struck with the knuckles, they ring like a dull metal.
FENAUGHT, 8 m. N.E. of Carrick, is a wild open district, presenting
little worth notice except the venerable ruins of what was once a
celebrated Divinity School of the Culdees. It is picturesquely overrun
with ivy. The E. window is considered as a specimen of very curious
workmanship; and the tourist must not fail to notice a line drawn
across the middle of the eastern gable, with a figure on the N. side,
about 12 feet from the ground, said to represent an evil spirit who
was very troublesome to St. Cullin, the founder, during the period of
its erection, this black gentleman acting the part of Penelope towards
her suitors, and pulling down in the night what the Saint and his holy
comrades had set up during the day. To check the troublesome intruder,
the Saint blessed some ropes and drew them one night along the top
of the building, when the Spirit, like a fly in a spider's nest,
got entangled in the ropes, and being unable to extricate himself,
was caught by the monks in the morning, who gave him some sound
correction for his offence, but set him loose again upon the public,
as is too often done by our modern police, and pretty much, perhaps,
for similar purposes. 1/2 m. dist. two Druidical Altars.
JAMESTOWN, 2 m. S.E. of Carrick, a small town with ruins of a
Castle.--Visit Carrigallan and Clongorrin Castles, about 12 m. E.
Lough Bofin lies to the S. About 1 m. from Rusky, is a view which Mr.
Hall considers one of the finest in Ireland, looking into Roscommon
across Lough Bofin or Achary.
LEITRIM, 3 m. N. of Carrick, is a small town, or village, but gives
name to the county.--Visit Lough Allen, encompassed by high mountains
and more than 30 m. in circuit, presenting a most picturesque
landscape. It is the first depository for the river Shannon, which
rises a few miles distant on Quilca hill in Fermanagh, and tumbles
down the mountains in tremendous cascades. On Inse Island see ruins of
a Ch., a place of high religious estimation as a cemetery.
MANOR HAMILTON, 22 m. N.W. of Carrick, deserves notice from its
romantic situation among mountains; a small neat village forming a
good station to visit the western district. Here is a Castle built in
the reign of Elizabeth. 3 m. N.W. a grotesque Castle of the O'Rourkes.
Dromahaire is a small town seated on the river Boonid, worth visiting
on account of its Abbey, (1508) which presents a pleasing specimen
of Gothic ruins. Visit the romantic and picturesque Lough Gill; also
Lough Melve, ornamented with wooded islands and venerable ruins. At
Lurganbuy, the beautiful residence of Mr. Wynne.
MINERALS.
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