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
BANGOR, a small town 21 m. N. of Downpatrick on Carrickfergus Bay. See
ruins of Abbey founded by St. Carigel (555), with Ch. (1623). Near it
is Groom's Port, where Schomberg landed with K. William's forces at
the Revolution.
COMBER, a thriving little town on Strangford Lough, 13 m. N. of
Downpatrick, with pleasant lake scenery. See ruins of Mount Alexander
Castle; fine strand at low water, and most excellent race-course. In
this place the tourist will hear much of a famous female spinner,
Anne MacQuillin, some of whose finest yarn, spun into 105 hanks to
the pound of flax, actually measured 214 English miles per pound. To
spin this required about a fortnight, and could only be done in mild
weather. At Castlereagh, 4 m., see ruins of ancient Castle. At Drumbo,
5 m. S.W. of Castlereagh, see ruins of Ch. and round tower, formerly
an Abbey founded by St. Patrick; and 2 m. N. the Giant's Ring, already
noticed as in the vicinity of Belfast. It is an ancient circle and
mound of earth 842 paces in circumference, with a Druidical altar in
the centre, consisting of four masses of stone, with a larger one
laid horizontally. On the bank are the remains of a round tower. It
is worth observing, that although there are some lofty mountains in
its vicinity, yet a person standing at the Cromlech in the centre has
his view completely bounded by the earthen mound, beyond which the sky
alone is visible, and the effect sublime. About 3 m. distant on the
banks of the Lagan is Newtonbreda, a pretty village with extremely
handsome Ch.; and near to it the elegant seat and park of Belvoir.
Saintfield, 5 m. S.W. of Comber, is an improving town; near which is a
Danish rath worth seeing.
DONAGHADEE, the station for the Scottish packets, about 22 m. N. of
Downpatrick, a comfortable town. See Gothic Ch. and new market-place.
The pier forms a pleasant walk. See the rath 70 feet high on a natural
mount, 140 feet in all. The summit is capable of holding 100 persons,
and the view, over the channel, of Scotland and the Isle of Man is
very extensive. Whilst in this vicinity, the tourist will be amused
by a marine trip to the Copland Isles, on one of which, Cross Island,
containing about 30 acres, there is a light-house constructed of
limestone found on the spot. In one of them is a cemetery with the
ruins of a Ch., also several cairns. See Portavo and ruins of Temple
Ch. on the beach, on the spot where St. Patrick landed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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