The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1880-10-02
Our European Letter

Vur european aIttaCF'
Special correspondence of the Gazette.
LAKES OF KILLARNEY, IRELAND. I
August 81, 1880. I
From Galway we proceeded
through Limerick and along the ri
yer Shannon, some one hundred and
fifty miles south, to the famous
Lakes of Killarney. We were to
pass within fifteen miles of Barney
in whose castle is the "Blarney
Stone" of worldwide fame, and as a
tour of ireland could not be COM
plete without visit to the Cause
way and the Blarney Stone we made
the detour.
The Barney Stone is fastened in
to the wall of the Castle by strong
iron bands, and suspended one hun
bred and twenty feet from theground.
1t is so difficult of access that few
of the visitors and "pilgrims," who
flock from all parts Of the world ven-
ture to kiss it. The only way OF
reaching it is by leaning out over
window four feet from the wall;
feat that was not undertaken by a
single one of the many visitors dur
ing our stay. One adve furious
young lady of our own party, how
ever, concluded that it would not do
to return home and confess her fail
ure to kiss the Blarney Stone. Her
efforts were crowned with success,
and though she lost her bracelet, that
went ringing down to the rocks be-
low, the applause of the pilgrims
compensated in a measure for her
loss.
The Castle of Blarney is in fair
state of preservation and the owner
has kept up the grounds in fine
condition. We inquired in vain, the
history of the Stone to which is attri-
buted the marvellous power of in
vesting whoever kisses it with the
sweet persuasive powers Of wheed-
ling eloquence."
We only learn that
"There lisa stone there,
That whoever kisses,
Oh! he never misses
TO grow eloquent.
Yis he may Chamber
Into lady's chamber,
Or, become member
OF Parliament"
"a clever spouter
He'll sure turn out, or,
An out and outer,
To be let alone.
Don't hope TO hinder him,
Or to bewilder him:-
sure he's pilgrim
From the Blarney Stone!
We have made the circle of the
Lakes of Killarney and conclude
they have been rather over rated
Were they clear like our Lake
George and other northern lakes at
home, their claims would be more
forcible.
which is five miles long by three in
width, they are narrow and rather in
significant. The water is colored
nearly black by the peat, that gives
color to the scenery to such an extent
that the whole valley is named the
'Black Valley"
With all these drawbacks, the COM
bined effect of lakes and mountains
form scene of beauty not often equal
led. The mountains, from their pecu-
liar formations, their compact group
ing and the rich shrubbery, possess a
beauty of their own. One of them, the
Purple Mountain" that wears rose
ate hue in the sunshine, is charming
feature in the general view. The lakes
seem to be dropped .dowr at the base
OF tho mountains as mirrors in which
their majestic peaks may ever be re-
flected.
To the Irish people the lake regions
are invested with peculiar interest,
having been the scene of many of their
battles and were the homes of some
of their kings and magnates. Here
we're the homes of the O'Donohue, the
McUarty, the O'Brian-kings of por-
lions of Ireland-whose tombs also are
here. The great agitator, O'Connel,
was born here and his brother is still
living here. Tom Moore lived here
and here he wrote many of his charm
ing songs.
The .'Pass of Dunloe" is a narrow
pathway between the Macgilicuddy
Rocks and Purple Mountains, and can
only be traversed by ponies, or on foot
The mountains are precipitous, and
sometimes the cliffs overhang the mar
row pathway threatening to crush the
adventurous traveller.
We left Macross by stage, and drove |
twelve miles to the Gap of Dunloe,
where we took guide, who was also |
buglar, and the three ladies had each
a pony and driver, whilst and anoth-
er Yankee preferred to take it on foot.
Soon after entering the Gap we found
the cottage of the famous beauty, Kate
Kearney, so celebrated in song that
we of America know almost as much
of her as do her own people. Here we
were met by the famous Kate's grand
daughte who had a black jug of
goats milk in one hand and bottle
of "mountain dew" in the other, of
which she solicited us to buy.
We were so disappointed in the an
ticipation of seeing the beauty of Kate
transmitted to her granddaughter,
that we were too disguised even to
buy her milk or whiskey. She is one
of the ugliest of the homely girls, and
not so witty as a score of others who
followed us all the way through the
Gap.
l fancy we formed an imposing caval-
cade as we marched through the Gap,
led by the guide and musician, who re-
sounded his bngle to awaken
the echos that few repeating themselves
through the hills.
III IL. 4.