The National tribune., 1893-01-12


"That verse;" said Mr. Burns. in his grandest
manner :" is one of lot of very fine ones
written by John Connolly, the patriot poet of
Macroom, along about IVA. Come away home
with me to Youghal and I'll read the whole lot
to you out of book"
but tell you l saw the young lady write
it," replied the girl acidly.
Pooh! What of it, if you did? Here is
another just like it:
whoever means to shake off gloom
Let him repair sweet Macroom
For here his cares lie will entomb
And think more of sorrow.'
"There; maybe you'd like to maintain that
your young lady with her diamond wrote that
too"
"I'll 90 bail she could never write anything
half that mean" replied the girl triumphantly.
yah Let's 20 out of this, Lieuty. The
ignorance Of the Irish makes me blush for my
country"
"Shure your blushing will lose you little
blood as long as you follow that nose of yours
up so close"
Then we left the girl to enjoy her triumph
while we went out to inspect the town, which
is nicely situated on the River Lee where
it is joined by the Sullane and the Foherish.
! am not an expert census guesser, but should
say Macroom has about 800 people, but it has
no large industries. The country is agricultur-
al and the town supplies its wants from plenty
tradesmen, who appeared to be busy, az very
few people were to be seen hoping each other
do nothing.
The inevitable jaunting-car took US out to
Macroom Castle one of the residences of the
Earl of Bantry. 1t is said to have been built
in the reign of King John, and it looks old
| enough to have been built in the reign of Noah.
1t boasts no architectural beauty, but its odd
looking tower, looming above the silvery Sui
lane, is very pleasant sight. 1t is covered
with varicgated ivy, which, we were told, is the
most beautiful specimen Of Irish ivy in the
world. AS have not seen all the others am
not disposed to argue about it. Admiral Sir
William Penn the father of the founder of
Pennsylvania. was born here, and / felt Obliged
to the old gentleman for his share in furnish
ing me a State to be born in.
Then we drove along the Lee to where Car
rigadro Castle stands on rock in the middle
Of the river. 1t is queer, romantic old place,
full of surprises in the way of secret passages,
gloomy dungeons, and excellent opportunities
for stepping-of places into the future.
AS we sat upon the coping of a battlement
about as wide ordinary dining-ro and
looked down upon the beautiful Lee, Mr. Burns
said
Gimme another cigar, you great American
smokestack, and III tell you pretty story
| about this old stone pile"
He lighted up, and after telling me the cigar
was mean enough to have come from a Suffers
| tent, lie opened
You see it was away back when the stars
| were young and the moou hadn't rot wrinkles
| in his horns, there was great chief lived here
oh, he was hurrah of fellow, and his name
| was Ma Bockaish McGrue, and he had a beau
| tiful daughter, Malta. She was so beautiful
| that the poor fish in the Lee there used to
| drown themselves from staring at her with
| their mouths OPEN and all the dudes in Coun-
ties Cork aud Kerry had cOrns on their knees
from falling down and worshipng her. Now
| there was poor peasant, / disremember his
name, bat he was humpback and had game
| leg. lie saw the beautiful Malta one day. She
WAS riding out with her father, aud what did
| the bloody idiot do but fall in love with her, as
| many the better man had done before but be
knew she would never look at him, so he got
of his feed and pinned in despair over his hard
lot because he had it bad.
One day lie was wandering along up the
Lee yonder when he heard the click. click of a
Laprechauns hammer. He slipped up slyy
and caught the little broguc- maker, and made
him tell where he kept all his store of treasure.
To gain his liberty the Leprechaun not only
endowed him with great riches. but changed
him into the handsomest of men, and gave him
every grace aud accomplishment. Then he
came to the castle, where old McGrue was de.
lighted to see him, aud Malta hadn't talked to
| him five minutes until she was all broke up
over him. They were married just as quick
rs tho priest could be found, and they lived
| happy ever after"
Then Bnrns shook me so angrily came near
pitching of my perch, as he growed:
Say, old man, tho next time | show symp-
toms of telling you ~ Irish fairy tale, you just
kick tne on the shin before you fall asleep, will
yeu?"
Carrigadroid was quite fortress, aud defied
Cromme!fs army until he made a lot of Quaker
guns and came hauling them up with oxen to
| besiege the place, when the garrison threw up
the sponge and made treaty, captivating
upon honorable terms; then Cromwell built
the bridges connecting the rock with the two
banks of the river, and gave it its present
name, Rock of the Bridge.
Carrigaphooka Castle, about three miles from