The Sidney herald., 1960-04-13
q TRIP TO IRELAND

a royal Send-off to the wide Allan
tic by the town of Youghal. Yong
hal, Co. Cork, is perhaps the most
fascinating town in the south of
Ireland with its old quarters and
it's modern and fashionable sea-
side resort. 1t is truly the Long
Island" of Cork City. Here, we are
told, Sir Walter Raleigh introduced
the potato into Ireland. Youghal
was, in recent years, given "ye
ancient look" of the New England
States for the purpose of filming
part of the movie "Mobie Dick"
Further inland on the Blackwater
is the town of Cappoquin, quiet
but charming. A few miles from
this town, on the slope of the
KnockmeaIdown mountains, is
situated the Cistercian Monastery
of Mount Melleray. It's romantic
story has often been repeated. In
1882 the land was first leased from
Sir Richard Keane. The place, at
that time, was called "Scrahan,"
"the coarse land" and never was
a name better justified. The only
habitation in Scrahan was a dere-
lict cottage. 1t contained a kitchen
and two small roomS-thiS was the
new monastery housing six monks.
They called the cottage by the ap-
prOpriate name of Bethlehem and
Scrahan was called Mount Mel
leray. But this derelict spot became
the refuge of many a starving per-
son during the famine of 1848.
Gradually the community of
monks began to grow and new
buildings began to change the
landscape of Scrahan. The COM
munity at present numbers about
$50 monks. In this great family
each of the thirty two counties of
Ireland is represented. Several
members have come from England,
Cuba and Australia. The commun-
ity has branches throughout the
world including New Melleray,
Dubuque, Iowa.
Not far distant inland on the
BlackWater river we come to Lis
more. Here, surrounded by aged
oak trees and spacious lawns
stands the majestic Lismore Castle
the property now of the Duke OF
DevonShire. 1t is not really a caS-
tie but the Dukes private home or
more correctly, his summer resi-
dence. At one time this was reput-
ed to be the refuge of King James
II of England. The site for this
stately castle is aptly chosen be-
cause nearby is a very profitable
fishing area So it is with many
towns and villages on the banks
of the BlackWater: Fermoy, Bally-
hooly, Castletownroche, MalloW
They are enlivened by a scenery
that is simple yet natural anC
beautiful and not at all affected by
touriSm which tends to make area:
of this kind commercial and mech.
anical. It's townlandS are dotted
with castles and private mansion.
mute monuments of distant anC
not too distant history.
During my itinerary 1 visited, o
course, Barney Castle, just fou
miles outside Cork City. Tn
! Barney Castle of to-day is tn
! third to be erected on the sam
! site. This present building wa
! erected in 1446 by Dermot Mac
: Carthy, King of Munster. The Cas-
d tie reaches a height of 100 feet
measured by the number of ston
slabs in its spiral staircase; ther
= are 120 steps, just as solid to-da
= a when they were first laid. TIL
Castle is known now more so fC
its legend rather than its long hi:
u tory and its stronghold again.
, Cromwell. The legend, 1 need M
= mention, concerns the "Blarne
:, Stone'-a block of limestone fol
: feet one inch long by one foot OF
inch wide and nine inches dee
- The stone is said to give the gift
oratory in exchange of a kiss.
p you see there is some reason f,
- saying that it is plaStered wi
American lipStick. Looking arour
America at present one wonde
- whether the politicians too MAJ
~ a pilgrimage to Barney Castle!
made this visit to Barney with n
- two brothers and a neighbor. V
had great difficulty in convinci1
~ our friend to kiss the Blarn
Stone. But l did not want to pre-
the issue; knowing him as I di
1 knew he had enough of the G
ne already. He finally consented
carry out u wishes. But almC
Ta Immediately a strange obseSSi
be took hold of him: on the way hor
n he hardly said a word. So 1 {
ar beginning to doubt the Blarn
n Stone. Perhaps it should be &C
verted into a headStone in memo
of all those deluded by
"Blarney?"
ist These are but a few highlights
elf a pleasant trip to Ireland-eve
ill though it was out of season yet
IN was enjoyable. The reader m
lie. object that / have recorded OF
m the bright spots and hours. Su
he I have become a martyr to chez
ne fitness. Indeed cheerfulness
= something of a national failil
Perhaps Chauncey Olcott and G
Graft, Jr., had the same idea WI
thew wrote: f'when Irish eyes