The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-25
letter fFcTn TreIa RG--No. 3.
rrespondence of Cambria Freeman.l ]


LIMERICK CITY IRELAND.
November 6, 1871.
FRIEND MAo-I believe my last letter left
me musing on
ST. MARI's sTEEPLE,
eating On the grand and gorgeous scenes
around me. After feasting my eyes on the
quaint old Castle of Carrigogupnel, which
looms up in the distance, among the wooded
hills of the beautiful Tervoe, upon the rock
impeded Currasour, ths fortified Castle Of
King John, and hest Of other sights and
scenes, descended by the same dilapidated
stone stairway with more difficulty than
had experienced in ascending il. In this
steeple is very fine chime Of bells, which
are rang only on some great occasion. The
present chime ef bells was put there when
the Catholics lost possession of the Cathedral
There is curious tradition and interesting
legend connected with :be origin 81 bells. The
legend as told to me is too long for present
recital, but the tradition is that the Cath
olics, seeing that their grand old church was
about to pass into other hands, gathered at
night and took down the bells, and for the
better safety thereof buried them in the bed
of the river Shannon. The Same tradition
says that these bells are heard once every
seven years Ginning some plaintivo, melan-
choly air. as if mourning over their watery
dom. | have met several persons who be-
lieve in this tradition, but none who claim
to have ever heard the Ginning Of the bells.
Accompanied by intelligent friend, |
stro!ed about the city until we came to the
head of George street, which is graced by a
splendid
STATUE OF o'CONNELL.
The great and illustrious Irish tribune
stands. life size and with book in hand. on a
high pedestal, forcibly reminding one of the
mighty genius, tho towering intellect, the
master mind of the immortal Dan, whose
every thought was for his down-trodden
country. One is lost in admiration as he
stands facing that mute statue and is carried
back in fancy to the stormy days of '29, when
with herculean offGrts he labored to wiring
Catholic Emancipation from a bigoted and
tyrannical London Parliament. THIS city
often echoed his stentorian strains Of burning
eloquence. as he exposed in vivid coIors the
CALLING tyranny, the slavish statutes. the
perfidy, plunder and persecution practised
by the false hearted British usurpers upon
the enslaved Irish nation. In this too were
held soma Of the most lively meetings Of the
Young Islanders, when the sage philosopher
Smith O'Brien. the daring and fearless Mitch
ell, the dashing, silver toned Meagher and
the other fiery, spirits who thought to arouse
to action the Irish people and induce them
to make an effort to throw IF the yoke Of
English msruIe.
Just as | was on my way to visit some of
the many magnificent churches for which
this city is famed. the friend who was with
ms introduced me to Mr.. Michael Hogan,
THE BARD OF THoMOND,
and before | was many minutes talk inc %
him | was struck by the force Of the adaee.
. Inn ENr ba :,
ture's poet. His large. prominent eyes are
a sufficient index to the genius within, for
when he speaks Of poetic subjects those olbs
seem to dance with delight. lie received
almost no education and yet he can mount
| the Parnassian beights aud travel ever the
richest fields of the sweetest poesy and song.
and gather in his flight such a garland OF
beautiful similss, lofty imagery and highs
flown metaphors would adorn the brow of
/ the goddess of poetry. lie presented me
with volume of his poems and his photo
graph, which | certainly shall preserve as
pleasing souvenirs of my visit to Limerick
In reading bis Battle Poems" one would
imagine that he heard the cleaving. clashing
and changing of the ponderous battle-axes
as they dealt death and destruction to the
perjured invaders. With regret did take
leave of this talented author. fully impressed
that Limerick has a poet of whom it may
well feel proud.
The public buildings of Limerick are in
keeping with its enterprise. Going along
George and Patrick streets have seen as ex-
tensive and beautiful store, as Stewart's or
Lord & Taylor's, of New York Any stran,
ger visiting this place must admire the many
BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES
in which the city aboucds. | have visited
| since | came here ten Catholic churches
alone and yet have not seen them ALL The
rich and beautiful architecture and the cost
ly and highly artistic designs Of the most of
them are sufficient evidence that the people
OF this city cannot be wanting in anything
that pertains 20 their spiritual welfare. The
outskirts of Limerick abound in splendid
walks and promenades. The other evening
l could imagine l was walking down Fifth
Avenue or Broadway, New York. there was
such living stream of female beauty. ac>
companied by well>dressed, manipulating
gents. promenading up and down the Grand
Parade.
A walk up William street led me to old
GARRYowEN,
or Owens Garden. The place which Is now
pointed out as Garryowen is large neglect
ed space of green sward outside the city
limits. Here l was told was born the beau-
tiful but unfortunate Ely O'ConDor, the he
roine of Gerald Griffin's highly interesting
newell, The Co!legians." The gentle Ely,
or, as her proper name was, Ellen O'Han-
lon, was woed ard won by an accomplished
respectable villain named Hardress Cregan,
or more properly, Seaman. Cregan, as he
is called in the novel. was too polished and
refined ruflian to love, as his wife, the
coufiding, simple Ely. and so employed a
brute called Danny Mann. or Sullivan, TO
murder her. The deed vas done. and Scan
Ian was arrested. tried. convicted and sem
fenced to be hanged. The day of execution
came and Scanlan's relatives thought to con-
vey him in a carriage to the garows. He
got In. but the horses, though whipped and
beaten almost to death, would not stir At
length the prond murderer had to get out
and walk to the galIows amidst the SCOTS
and Jeers Of an excited public. The horses
then jumped and Tranced away as if proud