The Irish standard., 1897-09-11
BEACTIEUI. AND ROM AN'rIe' SPOTS in
SOUTHERN IRELAND.
VERI1AHLE PARADISE FOR TOURISTS
FAMOUS LOCALITY EASILY REACHED,
BY AMERICAN VISITORS.
TIE HON: OF MUNSTER cHIvALRY
HISTORIC DISTRICT UNSURPASSED IN
THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

THE BRITISH ISLANDS,,
Now that the Great Southern and
Western railway has acquired the Nat
crford and Lismore line there should be
no obstacle in the way of making the
Blackwater Valley accessible at all
points, says United ireland. While the
rivers course was followed and tapped
by three different railway systems 1t
was not easy to insure continuity of
travel, nor could Il circular tour Inc con-
venicatly arranged. say from Cork to
Mallow, which would give visitor or in
Quiring native Il convenient chance Of
enjoying the varied charms of the Avon
more. But these difficulties must disap-
pear with the taking over the line from
Fermoy to Waterford by the Great
Southern company, and a beautiful but
neglected district will now have some
fair chance of attracting a goodly por-
tion OF the tourist traffic that is being
so carefully catered for by the associat-
ed Irish railways. Most of the tourists
who visit the south OF Ireland on reach
Ing Malfow, hurry off to Killarney or
Cork, allured by the beauty of the lakes,
Or the numerous attractions that abound
ON the pleasant waters of the river
Lee" and have only a haZy notion thslt
on departing from Mallow they are leav-
ing behind them one of the most con-
venient and at the same time, most de-
lightful tourist ccnters In Ireland. For
Mallow is at the western end of the
famed valley of the Blackwater," ia
miliar to English readers of Spenser and
associated with much of the song und
story that Munster gives to Irish litera-
ture. From here past Fermoy. Lislnoro
and Cappoquin, to Youghal, the bcauti-
full river runs by wooded slope and
castled cliff, and glcns that afford de-
licious views of hill solitudes, and lone
ly mountain nights.
AS q convenient tourist center It
would be difficult to select a place pos-
sessing the same advantages as Mallow
II has frequent and direct rail commun-
icatton westward with Killarney and
Kerry, eastward with the Blackwatcr
and Waterford, and southwark Nth
Cork and Queenstown: and It's hotels
are we'll kept and reasonable in charges
while the fishing is as good as at amy
of the other frst-class Blackwater sta
tions
TO descend the Black water from NAL
law, rail and rond are both available,
and while the railway runs north of the
river to below Fermoy, and crossing
there runs on the south bank to Cappc-
quin. there are good country roads on
north and south banks that afford de-
lightful spins by car or bicycle. But for
those who wish to journey in lcisurcly
fashion, the railway offers special adj
vantagcs. Trains run at convenient
times passing through Ballyhooly, Fer
moy, Lismore, and Cappoquin, and these
last three stations are the principaI
points of interest in this attractive Jour
| ney.
military and commercial center is beau
tifully situated on the river in the heart
OF the Naglc country, and from It there
is rail communication with Mitchcs-
! town for its famous caves, and erich
/, COnvamOre" and Sweet Castlchydc" are
within a very short drive or walks dis
tance. The town is Il famous fishing re-
sort, we'll preserved wnters extending
far above and below it, and at the prin-
ripal hotels II Is easy to make arrange
I mcnts for enjoying the fishing or other
attractions of the district. ltallyhOoly is
! the station for C0nvamorc, and II Is
| still possible to imbbc there, some OF
! the famous lemonade that in pleasant
days of desniory travel, inspired the cr-
ratio muse of Robert Martin.
From Fcrmoy a railway journey by
| wood and water and an hca,hcry hill,
| brings the traveller into "Saintly Lis
! more This Is the center of BlarkWat-
cr scenery, and the spot around which
cling most of these associations that add
historic interest to the rivers nttrac-
tions. In the early ages of Christian
| faith in Ireland, St. Carthage ntI
from his Iabors by its rivers banks, the
rough h-and-rcady Danes converted its
cloistcrs and halls of learning into
armed camps, Strongbow's victorious
men alarms trampcd through its
streets, King John as Lord of ireland
received within its towers the homage
of rccrcant native princes, and in n later
time Spencer and Raleigh paused i'll
their pursuit of Desmond to admire its
beauties, while the miserable Second
James, in his flight before his Dutch
| son-n-aw, saw here almost last
glimpse of the land his cowardice had
! lost.
But time that has worked such
changes in races and rulers, could not
| effect the natural advantages of Lis