The record-union., 1894-05-12
The Return Of the O'DOnOghue.

Copyright, 1894, by Edgar L. Wakeman. AL
rights reserved.
There are few qualities in the charm
of Killarney, which, after all, comprise
that indescribable, intangible something
that holds the traveller to the spot as his
first and last idolatry in nature.
One of these is the ever-present films
Of cloud ceaselessly stretching their witch
ing reaches across mountains and ming
ling with the forest undulations them
selves, Let the upper skies be never SO
clear and radiant, these tender, ghostly
painters are ever at work weaving their
sweet and gentle spells.
Another is rare and infinite contrast,
though ever blending seeming. in all the
marvellous foliage, of this sylvan region.
Still another, is one which can never be
rightly told, 1t is alone felt. 1t is the
heart-th,ob the soul gives back to nature
in her loveliest form and mood, not in
elation, but IL a placidity and tranquil
lity which gently balance between mel
sncholy and exaltation, the ineffable
tenderness from loving nature to the
nature loved.
Entirely aside from historic or religi-
Gus association of thought, and with
every ruin, shrine or legend, so quicken
ing to the imagination, expunged, for
these simple physical facts alone the Kill
larney region will ever remain the most
beautiful spot in all the world.
Forest is here in trackless waste where
the red deer hide; in grove, in copse, in
T. al
nights. Shrubbery IS here IN such luxu-
rance that its richness and profusion
cannot be elsewhere equaled outside the
tropics. Water is here in such glints
and gleamings as no pen or brush can
ever titly depict; in lakes that starlle one
as if in sudden awakening conscious
ness of SURPRISING dream; in torrents
solemn and mighty; IN cascades flmy
as streams OF lace; In rivers torturOuS
and wild, songful and murmurous; in
pools deep, dark and silent. Mountains
are here with soft and billowy ascents,
with crags and cliffs majestic. where
eagles nest and scream, and with peaks
above the clouds.
All these in all forms are Killarney's,
so tenderly, so sweetly and SO sublimely
intermingied that the reverent heart,
full of its Surprising loveliness, tnrob-
bing with loftiest exaltation, cannot less
than eXclaim:
Here stood the great Artifcer and
lovingly builded and blessedp'
TO every human heart, with the thrill
of homesick longing TO its birth spot that
knows for its own youth-tide picture the
bills and lakes OF Kerry, there is a subtler
witch-wand still. Tenderer than all its
verdure, sweeter than its winsome ma
ture-presenceS, kindlier still than face of
mountain, vale or lake, are these gentle
and intangible wraiths with which joy
and sadness have peopled all these sylvan
courts down a thousand misty years.
Not SageS nor courtiers, not even kings
nor saints are these. They are the good
people, of the lovely region, an endless
scourge to the sordid, the cruel and the
unjust, and as certain in their rewards to
the gentle, the merciful and the good.
Or all the fairy brood which holds lov-
ing place in the secret affections of the
Kerry peasantry, none is cherished with
greater reverence than the wrath or
spirit or arragnt (specter) OF a chieftain
who, many hundreds of years ago, ruled
over the region in the heart of which
sleeps these wondrous Killarney Lakes,
which, in ancient times, were known
throughout Ireland as Lough Lean.
This ruler was the O'Donoghue. So
wise, noble and virtuous was this great
prince, so grand were his benefactions,
so stern his justice-for to this day is
pointed out the prison of stone where his
own son was lncarcerated for wanton
mischief-so beneticent and kind his
reign among the lowly, that death came
to him not as to ordinary mortals, but in
the nature of strange and beautiful trans
lation.
During a great feast at his court and
while revealing to his rapt listeners the
joys. sorrows, conquests and miseries OF
his descendants, ne strobe suddenly from
among them out upon the unyie1ding
waters OF the silyery lake. When hail
way across, the gray haired chieftaln
turned and stretched his arms out in
gesture of blessing toward his people.
Then, with radiant smile upon his face,
he waved them farewell with the COM
posed air OF one going upon a brief jour-
ney, and suddenly disappeared within
the bosom of the enchanted lake.
1t was not for those who saw the O'Don-
oghue thus depart to ever again set NOR
tai eyes upon his noble form and feat
ures. But, from time to time. he revisits
his ancient domains. He often appears
in the guise OF great chieftain, mounted
upon milk-whIte steed and followed by
numberless youths and maidens, who
innocently disport on moonlight nights
in the pure waters of the lake, but who
vanish from sight as the first rays of the
morning streak the eastern sky.
Again he is seen upon his white charger
SLOWLY ClEClluS LIE SHORES LD6 lake.
Oftenest, however, he comes on foot and
alone, bland, old, white-haired pill
grim, beaming upon all he sees, seeking
the suffering and distraught, and bring
ing his coming, which is always in tile
glorious May time, If seen by many,
sure portent for abundant harvests fol
the year.
There are those with such sour and
sceptical natures as 10 doubt that the
O,Donoghue ever existed; above all. thai
his kindly wrath is from time TO time
encountered upon kiIlarney's dreamful
shores, but to such it must be seriously
said that there is not a family in all
Kerry which does not boast of at leasl
one member, living or dead, who has
been blessed with loving look from his
dear old eyes or an encouraging nod from
his silyery head. or OF confidential ac-
ulaintance with some true soul who mas
If this be not enough 10 settle all contro-
yersy. then the writer of these true tales
is willing to add that. at the time of ths
Donoghue's return in May time of 1855
he himself met the venerable parsonage
hearing from his own lips enough tS
prove beyond question the substance o
the events OF his visit as here related
and. that in the language of the good fo1E
of County Kerry. "'twere rubbing grass
to a fat pig to say more"
Tt was the widow Neny who first saw
the O'Donoghue, on the occasion of bis
last appearance at Killarney, and her hui
between the boisterous Owenreach Rivel
and the great highway leading from