The Irish standard., 1908-10-31
BEAUTIFUL lakes
Of KILLARNEY
Were Called in an Old Poem
The Tenth Wonder of
the Emerald Isle.
In Ages Long Past O'Don-
oghue of Ross Owned the
Romantic Spot.

The romantic beauties Of Killarney
we're celebrated ages ago. and In very
ancient poem are called the tsnth
wonder Of Ireland" The Irish name ID
Loch Lsns-ths Lake Of Learning" a
name by which 1t 10 still recognized
among the people. and . name derived
in all probability from tho monks who
at one time crowded the monasteries
at Innisfallen, Muskross and Aghados,
and taught the wisdom Of books AZ
we'll as tbs science Of sanctity to all
the country side. The Upper, Middle.
and Lower Lakes are the common til
ties: they are formed by numerous
smaller lakes that exist in the sur.
rounding mountains. and may be de.
scribsd rs immense reservoirs for the
several rivers that how into them. The
only outlet for the water thus collect
ed is the narrow and rapid river Laune
channel along which they proceed
to the Atlantic through the beautiful
bay Of Dinsle.
ireland, whose every foot Of ground
teens with legends Of saints and he
roes. Of warriors and little people,"
has her full supply in this favored
srot. The existence Of the lakes is
accounted for in q highly picturesque
manner. All the tales seem to have a
common source-the neglecting to
, close the entrance to an enchanted
fountain, which caused an inundatton
and flooded the land with water in q
single night. The legend of the O'Don-
oEhue Us 80 closely related to Killar-
ney. and has been so frequently re-
ferrsd to by writer's. that perhaps it is
the most familiar Of all. For it is told
that when the water overtlowed the
country Of tho mighty chieftain. COW
ering all in the lovely valley, 1t did
not perish, but still exists beneath the
lake.
That in ages long past o'Donoghue
Of Ross was lord here and that his
sway was just and generous IL an his
torical fact, though there We're two
branches Of the old race. and the one
Of whom .the legends are related. has
long since passed away. Annually.
since his death-or rather, disappear
ancs-he Is said to revisit the pleas
ant places among which he lived. AL
though he i'd supposed to come in state
only on May morning, he has been
seen. too, on various occasions, and
j, lucky is the man or maid who catches
glimpse Of hin-xood fortune being
assured forever after.
There are three ways Of getting to
the Upper Lake-one by water. an
other by the Kenmare road. and the
other by proceeding through the Gap
of Dunloe-the latter in itself one Of
the greatest Of Killarneys wonders.
The entrance to the Gap 10 sudden
revelation-the visitor is convinced
that there is about to dawn upon him
a scene rarely paralleled for wild
grandeur end stern magnifcence; the
singular character of the deep ravine
would seem to confirm the popular tra-
dition that 1t was produced by a stroke
of one Of the giants Of old, who divid-
ed the mountains and left them apart
for all time.
Along tho banks Of the river 10 q
circuitous path. On the right the
Reeks with Carrsn-tuel, the highest
mountain in Ireland, look down upon
the dark glen. The road often passes
along the Drinks Of precipices and then
descends into absolute pits. The dark
stream is called tho Loe.
Tho rocks along the Pass are Of the
most Srotesque forms. and one Of them
is called, from its singular shape,
"O'Donoghue's heart" although" |"
declared the guide. I'VE always know
his heart was big one, but never
thought it was 10 hard" Famous in
song 10 the Gap Of Dunloe as the IA
@vored haunt of Kate Kearney. There
has always been a Kate Kearney here
and some lassie to lay claim to that
charm which warned off tho wooers:
"From the glance Of her eye. shun
danger and fly,
For fatals the glance Of Kate Kear-
ney!"
Going through the narrow channel
that leads from the Upper to the Mid
die Lake. ore reaches. about half way.
the famous Eagles Nest-the most ex-
citing Of the Killarney echoes. The
rock derives the name from the fact
that for centuries it has been tho IA
vored residence Of the royal birds
their eyrie being secured by nature
against all human invaders.
Putting into a creek on the oppo-
site side Of the river, the echoes are