The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-02-03
letter from EreIand--Eo. III.
Correspondence of Cambria Frecman.l

Correspondence of Cambria Freoman.l
Dublin CITY. IRELAND, Jan. l8. 1872
DEAR MAC-At last have reached the
gay and beautiful metropolis Of Ireland ]
would not consider myself in Ireland if did
not visit Dublin. by some called the NewY York
Of America. the Paris of France, the Rome
of Italy. / am not going TO describe it in
this letter, as | iatend to spend couple Of
weeks here, 20 | will now commence where
left off and continue my description Of the
places that have seen.
Within about two miles of Thurlcs is the
celebrated
HOLY CROSS ABBEY,
overlooking the winding SUR. in the midst
of a rich. pastoral country. This once noble
Abbey, now fast moulGering into decay, was
built by DoDald O'Breu towards the end of
the twelfth century. 1t was called the
/ Abbey of the Holy Cross from the fact
/ that Pope Pascal ii. gave a small portion Of
/ the TRUE CROSS to Irish prince. who, on
his return from Rome. deposited it in this
monastIc seat. This precious relic, set in
gold and adorned with precious stones, was
preserved there until the Reformation. when
it was taken possession of aud saved perhaps
from humiliation by the powerful family of
the Ormonds. By them it WAS soon after
given to the Catholic hierarchy and believe
is still preserved 10y the Archbishop of the
diocese. Ths holy relic. have been tod,
measures only two inches in length. is very
thin, and secured in the shaft of an episCO>
pal cross and enclosed in a gold case. a
full description Of these venerable ruins
would occupy more space than you coI'd
aff Jrd to give. so | will have to travel on.
After filing nearly dozen pages of my note
book with sketches Of these grand old ruins.
hastened back to Thurles just in time to
take the train for
TEMPLEM1aE.
This is nice little town, having a couple
of gsOd hutes and several welstocked and
tasty looking dry goods and grocery stores
In the centre OF the town is an enormous
tree. sufficient in the summer time to almost
shelter the whole town, aud in the winter il
Looks ike threo score of giants rolled into
one, and stretching forth their bleak. bare,
long arms as if supplicaling heaven for pro
f lection against the !ude wiutry blasts that
sweep over the Galiees. In this town are a
police aud soldiers barracks, as a standing
menace to the hot blooded Tips and to re-
mind them that if they uutstep the IegaE line
in their endeavors to bring happiness and
. Contentment to this country, there are Brit
ish guns and bayOuets ever ready to put
down rebellion" and to perpetuate a state
OF slavery disgracelul almost as that which
! existed in cur own country before the late
War. Near the town is Loughmore Castle
once owned and occupied by the O'Fogartys
: but now a mass Of ruins. Some centuries
e ago the O'Fogartys, Organs and O'CIrrols
were 'iords" Of all they surveyed and woe
= to the Saxon shOnecn who was daring enough
o their rights to dispute" About two miles
. from Templemore is the celebrated Barnane
Ia no nI Il .l,,II ~
wellian. called Garden. This is a great re-
sort in the summer ume for English tourists
n and i"deed it is well worth visit as It !.
n surrounded by beautiful and magnificent de-
- mssuss, ponds, hot-hOuses, GUNNER huus es
I etc.