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More Information on Irish Townlands
The Following extracts have been taken from a "Ward Locks Killarney & S.W. Ireland", undated, poss.c.1920.
KERRY - GENERAL
| The word Kerry comes from the descendants of "Cair", although others believe it is from "Cairich" meaning Rocky.
It is also called the County of St. Brennan, for he lived and died here. He was a sailor...tradition has it that he discovered
before 600 years before Columbus.
The southern part of Kerry was formerly owned by the O'Sullivans, O'Donoghues & O'Mahonys. There is an admixture of people of Spanish & Portuguese blood in the people living within reach of the coast. This part of Ireland was known from the very early days, for Ptolemy speaks of Kenmare Iron. There are numerous veins of ore, copper especially, but few if any are now worked, as the profitable ore has been removed. Amethyst is found on Kerry Head, and Kerry Pearls in some of the rivers and lakes. Kerry people, even the poorest, used to have astonishing classical knowledge - the peasants often knew and spoke Latin well and read Homer in the original. This was in the days of hedge teachers (teachers who had originally intended on becoming priests, and started their religious education on the Continent, but for one reason or another did not go into that vocation. Teaching was the only other profession open to them, and excellent teachers they made !) The silence and solitude of Kerry are very striking: there are few industrial centres, railway lines and the largest Towns,
Tralee, Killarney & Listowel, are prosperous and neatly kept.
KILLARNEY
The great charm of Killarney is the infinite variety of its scenery. The extraordinary wealth of trees and rare flowering plants, the noble
shapes and great height of the mountains, and the varied and gorgeous colouring are the first things to impress one in Killarney.
The finest general view of the lake country is that from the elevated ridges at the Southern end of the Upper Lake, on the road from
Kenmare. Scattered throughout the district, numerous memorials of greatness or piety of the past - the mystic stone circles, the
venerable abbeys of Aghadoe, Innisfallen & Muckross; the ivy-clad ruins of Castles - are found, enchanting and blending with the
views of woods and lakes.
Killarney is a fair sized market-town, but owes its fame entirely to the fact that it is the centre of some of the loveliest
scenery and most beautiful excursions in Ireland. The Town contains a couple of wide streets, but most of the throughfares are narrow
and unattractive. The place is almost entirely dependent of the influx of visitors.
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Items of Interest c.1920
| Parish Church of St. Mary | (C.of I.) in Early English Style. The interior is richly decorated. | |
| St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral | Designed by Pugin, a limestone building of Early English Style. | |
| Bishops Palace | Adjoining Catholic Cathedral | |
| Fransiscan Friary | Stands in ornamental grounds near the railway station. | |
| Killarney House | Was the chief private residence. Destroyed by fire in 1913 (not rebuilt) | |
| Muckross House | Elizabethan Mansion in white Portland Stone, overlooking Middle Lake. | |
| Flesk Castle | Occupied elevated position to the South of Killarney Town | |
| Southhill House | Occupied elevated position to the South of Killarney Town | |
| Lakeview House | On Northern Shore of Lower Lake | |
| Aghadoe House | On Northern Shore of Lower Lake | |
| Cahernane House | Mansion house of Herbert Family. |
KILLARNEY - LAKES & BRIDGES
| There are three lakes in number, the Upper Lake, Middle or Muckross Lake and the Lower Lake or Loch Lein. The Upper & Middle Lakes are
connected by a tortuous stream, the Long Range, ending in the rapids under the Old Weir Bridge.
The lakes, fed by many mountain streams, lie in a valley bounded by the Tomies and Purple Mountains on one side and the Fordal-Torc-Mangerton group to the other. The Lower Lake is 5 1/2 miles long by 3 miles broad, and has 30 islands, large and small. The Middle Lake has 4 islands and the Upper Lake, whose waters are 5 feet higher than the other lakes, has 8 islands. The Lower Lake discharges into the Atlantic by the river Laune at Castlemaine Harbour. The Upper Lake, at one time known as MacCarthy Mors Lake, studded with elfin islands and encircled by mountain-peaks, towering abrupt and dark to the sky, whilst their bases are clothed with foliage. It was this Upper Lake which Sir Walter Scott considered to be the "grandest sight he had ever seen". The Long Range, connecting the Upper & Middle Lakes and combining the beauty of all three. It is some 2 miles in length. In places yellow and white water lilies abound and the Osmunda fern grows to a great size. A little further on is the Eagles Nest, a conical hill rising some 1,100 feet, the current then beings to grow swifter, and the noise of rushing waters reaches the ear. Soon the Old Weir Bridge, a picturesque bridge over the famous rapids, is in sight. Another bridge following the stream to the Middle Lake is known as Toothache Bridge so called from teh legend that whoever touches their gums with the waters flowing beneath this bridge will never suffer from Toothache ! KILLARNEY - DUNLOE CASTLE
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| On the summit of a small hill about 7 miles from Killarney, and commanding a glorious view, stands Dunloe Castle. Originally
erected for the defence of the Gap of Dunloe, the fortress withstood some severe struggles during the reigns of Henry & Elizabeth.
A late owner, Mr. Howard S. Harrington, an Irish American, expended large amounts of money in collecting trees and plants from all parts of the world.
He liked to be called the Chieftain of Dunloe.
KILLARNEY - GAP of DUNLOE |
| The Gap of Dunloe, a wild gorge some 4 miles long, running due south, strewn with boulders and separating the Macgillicuddy Reeks
fro mthe Tomies and Purple Mountains. The gates of this romantic and gloomy valley are almost perpendicular rocks, which in places approach
so closely as scarcely to give room. Kate Kearneys Cottage is a recognised stopping place. The journey through the Gap is rough, and
can only be continued on foot, on ponies or by trap. The best way to see the Gap is on foot.
Along the valley great rocks rise either side in wild confusion apparently ready to topple over and crush the visitor. The narrow torrent is twice crossed by road, the brawling waters intensifying the desolate but sublime character of the scene. Huge boulders appear above the path, and shattered fragments of rock strew the mountain slopes. The Purple Mountain with all its chromatic beauties; the Tomies with glowing lights and intense shadows; the Reeks with their aspiring summits. The "Echoes" at Cushvally Lough must not be missed. Repetitions spring from the mountains, caverns and hollows; a perfect torrent of thunder rushes from the peaks and ravines and is hurled back by the precipices of the Purple Mountain. The coloring of the Purple Mountain is often ascribed to the heather, but the name was really given because of the purple colouring of the slates and stones: this hill, 2,739 feet high, is best ascended from the Gap. |