The Irish standard., 1899-09-30
1t was the Scene Of Sarsfield's 8
Heroic Exploits.
GRANuaSlTUATED On The SHANNON
A Passing Glimpse Of the West
Coast of Ireland.

The west coast of Ireland is pierced
sembling the fjords of Norway but
by b, cad and deeply indented bays, re-
having even finer harborage. I have
already described Bantry, Kenmare and
Dinglc bays, with their mountainous
peninsulas and precipitous headlands,
writes a correspondent of the New York
Tribune. Tralee is smaller inlet, with
bolder sea walls, and beyond it north
ward is the spacious estuary of the
Shannon. These unrivaled harbors in
which the merchant marine of the world
might anchor at once lack nothing ex-
cept commerce. with dape water at
every turn OF the coast" the Irishman
will say, cts the aisiest country to get
out OF in the world With all the con-
vaniences of getting away, you couldn't
expect an enterprising people to stay at
home" With commerce anil manufac-
lures they would have remained, as
Englishmen have done, but without
these resources there has been AN out
going tide of Irish emigration and no in
coming tide of Irish emigration and no
incoming tide of Industry and wealth.
These splendid bays and estuaries are
abandoned to fishermen and holiday
tourists 1t is picturesque but desolate
coast, with soft and balmy climate, but
no wholesome stir of industry and
energy.
Tralee is the largest seaport in the
southwestern outstretch of Ireland, but
it is somnolent town, brooding over
its ancient traditions of the Desmonds
and Jacobite intrigue among ruined
churches and nunneries. Its group OF
assize buildings imparts semblance of
dignity to its silent streets, but the town
seems to lie outside the brisk, workaday
world. Its future is dependent upon the
multiplication of light railways and fa-
cilities for tourist travel. If southwest
ern Ireland remains tranquil and there
is no renewal of agrarian disorder it will
become the pleasure ground OF middle
class Englishmen, who already regard
Scotland as the summer home of wealth,
rank and fashion, and prefer more Sc
cluded quarter for angling and boating.
1t can never be working ground for
thriving Irish industries. The Kerry
peasants and fisher folk can only hope
to exc out a bare living by driving cars,
sailing boats and ministering to the
comfort and pleasure of English tour
lists.
At Limerick there are similar signs Of
decadence and lost opportunities. The
Shannon rolls majestically through
broad plain where there ought to be a
prosperous manufacturing city, pulsat-
ing with industrial activity Nature is
not at fault, for the broad river speedily
widens into a magnificent bay where
there is draught for the largest ships
to carry to the ends of the earth the
products of loom and foundry, and
above the city there is ample water
power, and there are resources for de-
veloping electric power at the lowest
cost. Limerick is stagnant and unpro-
gressive because little has been done to
make use of its opportunities for manu-
featuring and commerce. Bacon curing
is the chief industry, ten thousand pigs
being slaughtered weekly. Milling is
conducted on a small scale, and there is
a large mandatory where clothing is
made. The handmade lace industry
has declined, but something is still left
of it. There is big condensed milk
factory which supports suburban dairy
trade. With few other minor factories
the sum of Limerick's manufacturing
industry is completed 1t is meager
return for the natural advantages of
highly favored industrial and CONNER
cial site.
For mile and half along the Shan
non there are we'll constructed quays,
and lower down there are floating docks
and costly embankments. Something
has been done to develop the commerce
OF Limerick and TO promote trade with
America and the Mediterranean; but
the quays are deserted, and there are
few signs OF mercantile activity along
the water front. The city has the repu-
tation OF being we'll built and exception
ally clean; but in reality it is forlorn and
woebegone. The streets of Newtown
Perry, the best section, are broad and
regularly laid out, but few of them are