Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-09-18
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS SEPTEMBER 49, 9oTWW PAGES
Up THR STANTON.
Abilene Girl Describes . Beautiful
Trip in ireland.

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Trip in ireland.
For the Reflector.
SLIGO, Ireland, Sept. 1--WE left
Kinaloe early in the morning on the
steamer 1.-THE Countess Cadagan" to
sail up the Shannon to the once fam.
GUS city Of Athlone.
1t was q beautiful day, the river
was calm and still, scarcely . ripple
marring the smooth surface. After
about ten minutes sail we came to
the expanse Of the river called Tough
Derg, or % 1t is often styled 1.-The
Queen Of Irish Lakes" This is Ger.
tainly one Of the prettiest Of the many
lakes with which the country
abounds. The shores are well
wooded, and are made up OF sloping
upland dotted here and there with
the white thatch.rooied houses Of the
peasants, and in the distance, like a
purple mist, the heath-clad hills Of
Glare, Galway and Tipperary. Here
are the remains Of Brian Boru, old
fort and castle, where the fairies, or
"little people" hold nightly revels,
secure from disturbance for 1t Is 8
dangerous thing to disturb them as
they are all powerful. A little farther
up the stream we see in Scariffe Bay
the Holy Island or"lnniscalthra" as it
is called. Centuries ago this island
was famed for its educational inst.
buttons, but now it is a mass Of ruins.
There are one or two round towers in
very good preservation and the ruins
of many old abbeys and churches.
Then we pass several small villages
and as we 60 farther up stream, the
beauty Of the surrounding country
increases. Wooded capes here and
there, the sloping shores, through
whose luxurious foliage, may be seen
the ruins Of many an ancient castle
and stately mansion, the ever chang.
Ing panorama Of water and over all,
the shadow Of the mountains whose
lofty SUBMITS tower high above US.
On passing through Victoria lock
we see two strongly built towers.
These we're erected to guard the pass
Of the Shannon between the Con.
naught and Leinster provinces and
mounted eight guns. Here we
catch a last glimpse Of Lough Derg
for the river has grown more narrow
and the surrounding country seems
to change in character. The shores
are now rolling meadows where Craze
large herds Of cattle, and the hay.
makers, for tits haying time, pause
to watch us out of sight.
We soon come to Cloumacnoise,
often called "Seven Churches. 1t
is said that as early as the sixth cen.
fury, St. Herman founded an abbey
and hourishing city sprung up
around it. 1t was destroyed during
the invasion Of the Norsemen, and
the sunken grave stones, and crumb.
ling walls Of the old churches and
abbeys are mere monuments Of d
'ormer glory.
But now we are approaching Ath.
one, our journeys end. At short
distance from the city almost in the
middle Of the river may be observed
\ pile Of stones which marks the spot
where the three counties Of West
Meath, Roscommon and Kings Co.
meet. From the steamer we obtain
\ birds eye view Of the city, once the
greatest military center Of Ireland.
Almost every spot in or about Ath-
one has historic interest, but when
ts former glory is considered special
historical items could be but made.
luately recalled.
NAME NJ PRENDERGAST.