The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-10-24
HWbeeI i'm ireland.
BY John III. Black.

Trent. Near by is. Kilcrea castle, from
whose tower the McCarthys could al
most salute the McSwineys of Castle
more and Clodagh castle, which we
passed little further on.
The McSwineyS came down to these
parts from Donegal, and, of course,
must show the McCarthys that they
were not poor Irish, so Castlemore,
which they built is large and strong,
second only to Blarney. These Macs
had a habit of prying into each others
affairs-and into each others castles,
too-which made an eight-foot wall
with openings to poke guns through q
necessity. This was before neighbors
loved each other as themselves; and
10 do the other fellow as he would do
you, "and do it fust," was not consid-
cred unneighborly AS L stood in these
great castle towers could imagine
heard the voice of some Mrs. Mac
winding down the spiral stone stairs,
from the top floor, calling: "Cormac,
don't forget to pull down the portcullis
and raise up the drawbridge. before
you come to bed, for those Barretts
are up to something, I'm sure, they
are so friendly lately"
"Clodagh," said the old man mend
ing the road. names David's stone
which you will see standing in the field
beyant the turn Of the road Sure,
he was a great intirely in these parts,
long ago." and this stone is said to
mark his grave, and father and son
for untold generations have moved and
ploughed around this stone, which IS
as sacred as if an angel guarded it, for
these people have a fine reverence and
care for these antiquities which enrich
their land.
It's not seven miles to Macroom,
but it's tight on it." said the old man
by the wayside; and before we arrived
there, in our dinnerless state, it seemed
tight on to ten miles: for we We're not
used to taking into account the bit
which makes an Irish mile about an
English mile and a quarter. Most of
the natives travel in Irish yet. IF the
roads are not very good,' said the car
driver. I'VE make up for it by throwin'
in a bit with every mile
We fell in with a dispensary doctor.
who, with real Irish good nature, rode
several miles out of his way with us
TO escort us through his territory. He
has had his finger on the pulse of these
people for over twenty years, and their
hearts beat true so he says; and #
they are like him, so say we, for he
was a real Irish gentleman.
We saw good deal of the ragged
edges of Macroom. both going in and
coming out. The skirts of most of these
old towns are in tatters. But the body
OF Macroom is in good condition and
has thriving air about it. The main
street runs against the sharp end OF a
wedge-shaped block of buildings in
the market place. and splits in two, one
half running down the hill past the
castle and across the old bridge toward
BallyvouTney: the other winds up 2
steep hill Inchigeela way The castle
claims the distinction of being the
birthplace of the grandfather OF Penn
sylvania-Admiral Penn. father of Will |
liam. 1t is now ruled by Lord Ardi- |
laun, who is better known as GUM |
ness the brewer. who, with his Stout |
fortune. besieged and took the castle. |
after paying off its defenders, which is
an Improvement on the old way of |
hanging them up.
It was market day in Macroom. ana |
many country people were in town. |
Most of the older women wore long |
black cloaks with a great hood. and as |
they moved about the market place |
they gave mournful appearance to |
the scene. This great cover-all cloak |
worn by the women in parts of the /
south, although not a very beautiful /
dress. is very seryiceable, for it makes
up for ali shortcomings in wardrobe /
and can be made to cover a multitude
Of embarrassing defects in dress.
Today's lunch is the first real "ould
country meal we have had; and my
Esculapius. who is only |
two days "out" of America, and is a bit
sits staring in the poorly
iEghted dining room at something sit
ting on the corner of the table. till 7
take it by the nape of the neck and lift
Z up. disclosing a steaming teapot, for
Eseulapius had taken the cosy" for
cat. And he who with scalpel canH
divide asunder even muscles and
nerves. could not, for the life Of him,
saw off a respectable looking slice.
from the great loaf of bread on the
wooden tray; and I am sure that the
examination charged him