Lough Corrib, its shores and islands: with notices of Lough Mask ... Illustrated, etc

Front matter

LOUGH COI RIB, ITS SHORES AND ISLANDS : WITH NOTICES OF LOUGH MASK. BY SIR WILLIAM R. WILDE, M.D., VICE-rRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY ; CHEVALIER OF THE SWEDISH ORDER OF THE NORTH STAR ; AUTHOR OF "NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO MADEIRA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN. " THE BEAUTIES OF THE BOYNE," " CATALOGUE OF THE MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY ;" etc. etc. $lhistrafrb toit|i nunurous ffittoob ©ngrafrhtgs. DUBLIN: MCGLASHAN & GILL, 50, UPPER SACKVILLE- STREET LONDON : LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 1867. DUBLIN : at tijc (BmScrsltp BY M. H. GILL.

Preface

. The Preface — usually an ex post facto excuse for writing — shall be short. "Well acquainted in days gone by with the Shores and Islands of Lough Corrib, and not insensible to the beauties of Lough Mask, I was not a little surprised, when returning to the old nest there a few years ago, to find that, notwithstanding its perfect accessibility, this interesting district was comparatively unknown to tourists, and the true character and history of its monuments were neither appreciated nor understood by its inhabitants. In the hope of removing, in part at least, some of those deficiencies, and as a pleasing occupation during leisure hours, I have written this book, for many of the illustrations of which my readers are indebted to

PREFACE.

. the liberality of Sir B. L. Guinness, to whom, and to Mr. Lynch Staunton, and to the various other friends in the West, of all classes and denominations, who have promptly afforded whatever information I required, I beg to return my best thanks. I had intended appending some notes on the zoology and legends, &c, of the district ; but sub jects of so much more general and popular interest crowded upon me towards the conclusion of the work, that, together with my anxiety to produce the book during the present season, I am compelled to apolo gize for the Appendix, the subject matter of which I hope to bring out on a future occasion. The Map contains only those roads which apper tain to the tourist's route. 1, MeHRIOX-SQU ARE, DUBLIN, August 24, 1867. Pasc, CONTENTS.

Chapter I

— Introductory. Character of the Scenery of the West. Objects of the Tour, and special Subjects of Interest. Route from Dublin to Galway. An Hour's Ramble through "The City of the Tribes." Its Celebrities, Name, and History. The River Gallieve, and Lady Gallvea. Plan of the Excursion. Hotels and Conveyances, 1

Chapter II

— Description of Lough Corrib. Lough Corrib : its Direction, Name, Extent ; Ancient Territories adjoining ; Sources, Rivers, 'furloughs ; Division ; Knochmagh ; Scenery and , Mountains surrounding Lake; Geology, Mines, Natural Woods ; Drain- \ age; Navigation, the Eglinton Canal; Outlets, the Friars' Cut, ... 18

Chapter III

— Galway to Annaghdown. Parish of St. Nicholas. Terrilan Castle. Annals of Galway. The De Burgos. Menlough. Parish of Oranmore. The Lower Lake. Clare- Galway Parish, Castle, and Convent Church. Ancient Ploughs. Knocknatuath ; the Battle of the Chieftains ; the Irish against the Irish ; the Book of Howth ; the Engagement, and the Rout. Cregg Castle ; Athcloiggeen ; the Hag's Castle, 39

Chapter IV

— Annaghdown to Ktlebeg. Annaghdown Parish, and Ancient Bishopric ; St. Brendan. The Desmond and O'Donnell Costume. The Monastery and Abbey. Ancient Tombs. The Nunnerv. Window of Modern Church. The Cloichtheach of CONTENTS. VI Page. Annaghdown. The Castle and Holy Wells. Castle Creevy. Kilcoona Parish ; Church, and Round Tower. History and Writings of St. Coona. Parish of Killeany. Cloch-an-TJaibher Castle. Lee's Island. Knock Ferry and Kylebeg, "3

Chapter V

— Kylebeg to Inchiquin Cargin Parish, Church and Castle. Killeens. lniscreawa. Annals of Lough Corrib. Irish Pagan and Christian Architecture. Cahergal. Clydagh. Killursa Parish. History of St. Fursa. Inchiquin. Castle of Annakeen. Cairns. Giants' Graves. Church of St. Fursa. Early Irish Church Architecture. Ross-Errilly. The Locust Plague. Moyne Castle. The Black River, 87

Chapter VI

— Inchiquin to Inchangoill and Cong. County of Mayo. The Islands of Lough Corrib. Inishanboe. Parish of Shrule. Ballycumn, Ballisahiney, and Moceara Castles. Forts. Parish of Cong. Inchangoill. St. Patrick's and the Saint's Churches. Stone of Lugnaedon. South-east border of Cong Parish. Castletown. Inchmicatreer. Cross. Ancient Churches of Kilfraughaun and Killarsagh. Moytura. Lackafinna. Lisloughry. Cong Islands. Kinlough. Ashford. Strand Hill. Cong, 128

Chapter VII

— Cong Cong Village. Rivers. Annals. St. Fechin. The Abbey, and its History. The O'Duffys. Ireland's last Monarch. Ashford. The Street Cross. The Irish Language. Reliques ; the True Cross ; the Tooth of St. Patrick. The Black Bell. Wayside Monuments. The Castle of Aughalard. Caves. The Pigeon Hole, 161

Chapter VIII

— The Battle and Battle-field of Moytura. The Primitive Irishman. Fomorians. Partholan. Nemeth. The Firbolgs. Tuatha de Danaan. The Plain of Moytura. Knockma. Ceasair. Kin°-s Eochy and Nuadh. The Battle-field. The Warriors, Druids, and Physicians. Existing Monuments ; Cairns, Caves, Cahers, Stone Circles, and CONTENTS. VII Page, Pillars. The Four Days' Fight. The Meane Uisge. Sepulchral Um. Standing Stones at Inishowen. The Dagda and the Fathach. Nymphs field Monuments. Caher Mac Turc. Belor of the Magic Eye. The Neale Monuments. The Hill of Cam. Caher Robert. History of the Moytura Manuscript, 210

Chapter IX

— Lough Mask. Parish of Ballinchalla. Lough Mask Castle. Edmond de Burgo. Inishmain. Eogan-Beil and St. Cormac. Inishmain Abbey. Ancient Fort. The Penitentiary. Inishowen. The Hag's Castle. Ross Hill. St. Patrick's Church. Upper Lough Corrib. Doon and Castle Kirk. St. Fechen's and St. Enna's Wells. Caislean na Kirka. Maam, 249

Chapter X

— Maam to Galway. Parish of Kilcummin. Oughterard. Lemonfield. Gnomore and Gnobeg. Killeroon Church. Aughnanure Castle. Killannin Parish. Lough Naneevin. Kilbrecan. Ross Lake, Castle, and Churches. The Fossil Wood. Teampul-beg.-na-Neave. Moycullen Parish and its Churches. The Battle Stone. Danesfield. Rahoon Parish. Conclusion, . . . LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. No. Name. Drawn by. Engraved by. Page. I. Terrilan Castle, ........ Wakeman, .... Oldham, .... 40 2. Menlough Castle, „ .... „ .... 45 3. Clare-Galway Abbey, „ .... ,, .... 52 4. „ „ Ploughs, Rogers, Shepherd, ... 53 5. Tollokyan Castle, . . ■ Wakeman „ .... 62 6. Annaghdown Ruins, ,, .... Oldham, .... 67 7. „ Tomb „ . . ." . „ .... 69 8- ., Church Window, . Photograph, ... ,, .... 72 9. „ Window Ornament, Wakeman, .... „ .... 73 10. „ Castle, , „ .... 75 11.

Kilcoona Round Tower, .... Photograph, ... ,, .... 79 12. Cargin Castle, Miss E. L. Staunton, „ .... 88 13. Inniscreawa, §9 14. Cahergal Fort, Wakeman, .... „ .... 95 15. „ Steps, „ .... , 96 16. Clydagh, Photograph, ... „ .... 97 17. Annakeen Castle, ,, .... . 100 18. Ross-Errilly, Wakeman, .... U2 19. D'Arcy's Cottage, Photograph, ... ,, .... 130 20. Ballycurrin Castle, Wakeman, .... , 131 21. Inchangoill, Lugnaedon's Stone, . „ .... Shepherd, ... 136 22. „ Inscription, .... „ .... Oldham, .... list of illustrations. IX No. Name. Drawn by. Engraved by. Page. 23. Inchangoill, St. Patrick's Church, Photograph, . . . Oldham, .... 142 24. ,, Saints' Church, . . Wakeman, .... „ .... 143 25. „ Bearded Capitals, . „ .... „ .... 145 26. ,, Choir Arch, .... Photograph, ... ,, .... 146 27. ,, Greek Cross, . . .

The Black Bell, ' „ .... A. Oldham, . . 197 46. Wayside Monuments, Fairholt, Electrotype. . . 198 47. Aughalard Castle, Wakeman Shepherd, . . . 199 48. Plan of Kildun Cave, M'Donagh, .... A. Oldham, . . 205 49. „ Cooslogha Cave, .... „ .... „ .... 206 50. Cooslogha Cave, interior, .... Wakeman, .... Shepherd, . . . 207 51. Cairn ofthe Hurlers „ .... 219 52. „ of First Day's Battle, ... „ .... „ .... 222 53. The One Man's Cairn, , Oldham, .... 224 b X list of illustrations. No. Name. Drawn by. Engraved by. Page 54. Sepulchral Urn, Wakeman, .... Mrs. Millard, . 225 55. The Flagstones of Caelchu, ... „ .... Shepherd, ... 228 56. Caher-Speenaun, „ .... Oldham, .... 230 57. Nymphsfield Circle, W. Wilde Shepherd, . . 234 58. „ „ Wakeman, , .... 237 59. Long Stone of The Neale, ... „ .... Oldham,. . . 240 60.

Neale Inscription, ....... Rubbing, .... „ .... 241 61. Eochy's Cairn, Wakeman, .... „ .... 243 62. Lough Mask Castle, Rubbing, .... Shepherd, ... 250 63. Inishmain, Doorway in, ... . Wakeman, .... Miss Keely, . . 254 64. „ Abbey, „ .... Oldham, .... 255 65. „ Capital of Pillar, . . „ .... Shepherd, ... 256 66. King Beil's Fort, „ .... „ ... 257 67. The Penitentiary, „ .... „ ... 258 68. „ Interior, . . . Rogers, Oldham 259 69. The Hag's Castle, W. Wilde, .... Shepherd, ... 261 70. Dun Aengus, Cheyne, Oldham, .... 265 71. The Hen's Castle, Wakeman „ ... 271 72. Lemonfield, „ .... Shepherd, ... 282 73. Aughnanure Castle, „ . . . Oldham, .... 288 74. „ Window '. „ . . . Shepherd, . . . 290 75. St. Annin's Church, R. Willis Oldham, .... 296 76. The Fossil Yew, Kinahan, ... „ .... LOUGH CORRIB.

Chapter I. Introductory

character of the scenery of the west, objects of the tour, and special subjects of interest. route from dublin to galway. an hour's ramble through "the city of the tribes." its celebrities, name, and history. the river gallieve, and lady gallvea. plan of the excursion. hotels and conveyances. Westward, ho ! Let us rise with the sun, and be off to the land of the West — to the lakes and streams — the grassy glens and fern-clad gorges — the bluff hills and rugged moun tains — now cloud-capped, then revealed in azure, or bronzed by evening's tints, as the light of day sinks into the bold swell of the Atlantic, and leaves his reflection in long level streaks of crimson, green, and orange, among the greyish purple robe of twilight, when the shadows of the headlands sink deep into the placid waters of the lake.

But, whether seen in sunshine or in shade — curtained by the mist, or B THE SCENERY OF THE WEST. with the bright light of morning playing upon the brown scores and landslips on the mountain side, or when the streamlets form threads of molten silver as they gleam through the purple heather and the yellow-lichened rocks ere they leap into the lake — the land we invite you to is ever beautiful in outline, and graceful in form ; and as the warm breezes, carried on to us with the great Gulf stream, steal in among the West Connaught, Joyce Country, and Conna mara ranges — the Jura and the Alps of Ireland — and give fitful atmospheric changes to the colouring of the landscape, from bright early dawn to sombre eve, scenes of beauty and sublimity are presented that leave us nothing to envy, even in the everlasting snowtops with their vine-clad slopes and dark pine-robed sides, the mighty glaciers, the rushing ava lanches, nor the deep ultramarine skies of other lands.

Let us then be off to the Far-West, to which (with a choice for a warmer region) the inhabitants of other portions of this island were transplanted some centuries ago ; — to the ancient home of the aborigines — the land of the Firbolgs, the Tuatha de Danann, and the Milesians — the last resting place of the Celt, ere, fulfilling the destiny of his race, and the earliest impulses of mankind, he has followed from the cradle of humanity the declining sun. Here we can view the battlefields and civic vestiges of our Pagan ancestors, crowded with caves and cairns, raths, tumuli, monoliths, and stone circles, memorials of one of the earliest human occu- «■ OBJECTS OF THE TOUR. 3 pancies in North-western Europe ; or investigate the small primitive churches that mark the footprints where the early Christian Missionary replaced the Druid Priest; or linger by the thorn-shaded holy wells, or admire the noble abbeys and extensive monasteries of the learned and artistic Fran ciscans and Augustinians. , Let us first take a peep at the " City of the Tribes," of the Blakes, Bodkins, and Browns, Ffonts, Martins, Morrisses, Lynches, D'Arcys, Athys, Frenchs, Joyces, Kirwans, and Skerretts, &c, and then launch on the blue, island-studded waters of Lough Corrib, where, traversing its breadth in a trim and commodious steamer, or gliding into its glassy bays in a rowboat, we can enjoy some of the most picturesque scenery in the land, explore the natural curiosities, and speculate upon the influences and actions which, in remote times, produced these fantastic forms and disruptured chasms that present at the western termination of our great limestone formation ; — or examine the architecture of the old feudal castles and ecclesiastical buildings along its peaceful shores.

Our object is rather to interest the reader and the tourist in the history, antiquities, and scenery of this portion of the West, than amuse him with tales respecting pigs, pipers, praties, or potheen ; fools or fiddlers ; bailiffs, bullocks, or buckeens ; graziers, gaugers, or ganders ; wayside waiters, with their dry jokes for the "gintlemen," or wandering dancing masters, and poetasters, once so common b2 WHAT TO AVOID. in the West. We do not claim your sympathy for face tious car drivers, cunning codgers, or knowing gossoons ; nor present to you miserably clad spalpeens, ragged urchins, wretched peat hovels, importunate beggars, lying guides, oppressed tenantry, griping landlords, or tyrannical agents. We have nothing to say about priests or patterns ; politics, peelers, or parsons ; soldiers, soupers, or sauggarths ; Young- Irelanders or old ones ; Fenians or Bepealers.

There is still plenty of fun, frolic, and folk-lore in the West ; but, for the present, we have no stories to relate about friars or fairies ; and we have no opinion to obtrude upon you respecting tithes or tenant-right ; High Church or Low Church ; Ultra montanism or Muscular Christianity ; we have no official ad vertisements nor railway puffings, with which to enrich our pages or our publisher ; nor can we stop to repeat Syphie Burke's "Costello Shentlemen," or gossip among the "Rakes of Galway " about — " The herrings and the haikes, And the Bodkins and the Blakes." We may look at the turnips, and taste the murphies ; but we promise not to remind you of the fearful scenes of the famine,* or anticipate the ravages of a Rinderpest. We * See the Author's "Irish Popular Superstitions," Dublin, 1849; and the Treatise on the Famine of 1847, in the Irish Census Commissioners' Report for 1851, vol. v., part THE START. have no desire to introduce imaginary conversations in broken English, to amuse our Saxon friends at what is styled "the vulgarity of the lower order of Irish."

We wish to take you, as intelligent tourists, with eyes to see and hearts to admire the beauties of nature ; where the stately ruin or the cultured demesne blends harmoniously with the graceful outline of the surrounding landscape ; where your architectural or antiquarian tastes may be gratified ; your historic knowledge increased by the legend or the annal; your scien tific inquiries into the geological structure and biological productions of the country obtain a wide scope ; and the hitherto neglected resources of a portion of our island may be glanced at if not profoundly studied ; and we hope to bring you back from your pleasant and cheap excursion on Lough Corrib in good health and spirits, pleased with the scenery and the inhabitants of the West, satisfied with our guidance, and better acquainted with an, as yet, undescribed district than you have been heretofore by flying visits to this portion of the Emerald Isle.

Leaving the Broadstone Terminus of the Midland Great Western Railway by the 8.30 A. M. train for Galway, and running for a great portion of our way along the Royal Canal, through which we were formerly dragged at the rate of four miles an hour to Alma Mater by a pair of gerrauns, we traverse the uninterrupted plain that extends across the island from East to West, for 126 miles, from the Channel DUBLIN TO GALWAY. to the Atlantic Glancing at O'Connell's round-tower monu ment as we start : getting glimpses of ancient raths, bar rows, churches, and some of the ruined castles of the Pale, as we proceed, we obtain views of the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains on our left ; and, passing rapidly over the valley of the -^Rye-water, where, leaving Carton Demesne, it courses to the Liffey, we proceed onwards to Maynooth, where the noble keep of the ancient castle of the Fitzgeralds contrasts with the formal modern buildings of the College of St. Pa trick, where the parochial Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland are chiefly educated.

We rush by the mud hovels of Kil cock, in the county of Kildare ; over portions of the great Bog of Allen, with its thousands of unreclaimed acres, ten anted by grouse and hares ; and pass within view of Clo nard, the ancient seminary, whither, even in the time of Alfred, our Saxon neighbours came in hundreds to be in structed. On with us over the Boyne Water, with greater speed and safety than it was crossed in 1690; through the fat lands of Westmeath, over the Brusna, into Mullingar ; beside the clear trout-full waters of Lough Ennel (now styled Belvidere), and beyond it catch a distant view of the famed Hill of Ushnach, second only to Tara and Emania in importance in early Irish history ; margining the site of the rath and crannoge of Moate — glancing at sections of the great esker that stretches from east to west, and formed .the ancient boundary between the north and south portions of ATHLONE .AND ATHENRY. 7 the kingdom — we speed onwards to the noble Shannon, the fords and toghers of which were so often invaded and de fended by the Lagenians and Connacians ; and here, over the splendid iron railway bridge, enter Connaught.

Onwards still we pass, under the batteries of Athlone (Aih ALuin, "the Ford of Luin"), which Ginkell wrested from S^. Ruth in 1691 ; — along the intersecting stone walls and patches of russet bog through the county of Roscommon ; across the deep sullen waters of the Suck, winding through the low callows and green inches of Ballinasloe, the seat of the Clancartys, and the site of the greatest stock fair in Eu rope* — forwards through the county of Galway, by the lovely Abbey of Kilconnell — passing Woodlawn, the resi dence of Lord Ashtown ; then to Athenry, the city of "the ford of the king," crowded with ancient remains, civil, military, ecclesiastical, and domestic. Coursing now along the northern margin of the great plain, once the hunting ground of Queen Meave, that sweeps the lower edge of the Burren hills, and on which stand the towns of Gort and Loughrea, and the round towers of Ardrahan and Kilmacduagh, we * Ballinasloe — in Irish, Beal-ath-na-Sluaigead, "the mouth of the ford of the hosts," which shows that it was a place of meeting, and pro bably of barter, like that at Telltown, in Meath, in early times.

The oldest name of the place was, however, Dun Leodha, or Dunlo, from its dun, or fort, which formerly stood over the Suck, but was removed in 1838, when the Roman Catholic chapel was built on its site. The Earl of Clancarty's eldest son takes his title from this name. < CONNAUGHT AND THE ATLANTIC. rush by Derrydonnell Castle, and soon feel the western breezes playing upon us from Galway Bay, as it indents the shores and laves the walls of the old castle of Oranmore ; we cross the great level, studded with the feudal halls of the De Burgos, and get a foretaste of the Petræa, upon which our pilgrimage in search of the picturesque and beautiful is about to commence. But the sterility in the foreground is relieved by a view of the blue hills of Clare, and occasion ally in clear weather with glimpses of the distant Isles of Aran, that sentinel the magnificent bay of Galway, and break the swell of the mighty waves of the Atlantic.

We must keep a sharp look out to the south-west to see " the round tower of other days," standing by the lone sea shore, and cutting tall and dark against the leaden sky that is now obscuring the outline of Black Head on the distant Ca side of Lough Lurgan,* catching a view of Mutton Island and its light-house, beside which we could recently admire those great leviathans of the deep that brought us in six days to American land — but by which, alas ! we lost our cash, the Government its subsidy, and the London directory some of its credit. * * * * Well, while we "mourn the * Lough Lurgan is the ancient Irish name for the bay of Galway. The Round Tower of Roscani, alluded to above, stands on the Mur rough, in the parish of Oranmore, and is about four miles from Galway ; and with those of Kilmacduagh, Meelick, Aran, Kilbannon, Inishcaltra, Killcoona, and Ardrahan, forms the eighth of those remarkable structures in that countv.

THE CITY OF THE TRIBES hopes that leave us," we still expect to see that good time come, when, with capital and common prudence, the great natural and geographical advantages of the nearest seaport in the old world at which to launch us for the new will be appreciated. Swiftly we glide over the salt water estuary of Lough Athalia, into the great terminus of Galway, at 1.45 o'clock, and out through it into the enormous lime stone hotel, built, "regardless of expense," by the original directors of the railway; and from whence, after a "bit and a sup," we emerge among the beggars into Eyre-square, surrounded by hotels, club-houses, banks, private residences, and coach offices, whence the great " Bian" can forward us to " anywhere," and in which we can choose our news paper according to our politics or polemics.

Down let us pass through William-street, to look at the old mansion of Geoffrey Lynch, the " Spanish Parade," and on by the house where the skull and crossbones commemorate the scene of the "Warden of Galway;" among the turf-kishes, and potatoe baskets, and the carts of sea wrack — along through handsome groups of blue-eyed, black-haired, bare footed colleens, with their graceful carriage, red petticoats, and blue and scarlet cloaks — down to the Fishmarket gate, erected to defend the peaceful burgesses against the "Fe rocious O'Flahertys," where we may see the Aran fisher man, in his knee-breeches and pampootas, bargaining with the silver-haired Claddagh crone, whose shrimps are jumping GALWAY CELEBRITIES. out of her apron ; where the cockles are smacking their lips with the heat, the johndories are alive, and the lobsters are playing pitch and toss with the crabs ; till we reach the bridge, in the bright stream beneath which — "The trout and salmon Played backgammon," long before Dick Millikin immortalized that feat in song, or the gifted Father Prout heard " The Bells of Shandon," or wandered by the banks of " Sweet Castlehyde."

Give a look at the Queen's College, and the Eglinton Canal ; carry your eye along the bright gleam, where the waters of the lake in one unbroken line pour over the weir, and arrange for a few days' fishing with Mr. Miller on your return. Do not stop to see which of the six sal mon now hooked will be killed first, but get round to the Wood-quay, for there goes the steamer's first bell at £ to 3 o'clock. Now, that we are on the quarter deck, and have made the acquaintance of Ellis, the polite and intelligent Captain of the " Eglinton," and arranged with that most attentive and careful of clerks, Mr. O'Hara, let us, while the steam is getting up, have a short chat about Galway, the Metropolis of the West, a corporate town, a Bishop's see — the last lo cality of a " Warden" in Ireland — the birthplace, or the early home or school residence of Kirwan the chemist, and Kirwan the orator; of Duald Mac Firbis, the genealogist and PRIDE, POVERTY, AND DEVOTION antiquary ; of Roger O'Flaherty* and James Hardiman, the historians ; and of Father Peter, who was for so long a period " the man for Galway."

It contained in early days the chief establishments of the Dominican, Franciscan, Ca puchin, Augustinian, Jesuit, and Carmelite Orders in Con naught, and was at one period the principal trading and commercial city in this portion of the United Kingdom, and in that respect considered second only to London and Dublin. It was formerly renowned for its foreign trade, and celebrated for the hospitality of its merchants ; but, while the latter remains unimpaired, the former is, alas ! at a low ebb ; and, with immense natural capabilities and vast resources, the Metropolis of Connaught, and the great western seaport of Europe, with a population of 16,967 persons in 1861, although it still manufactures whiskey, flour, and pa per ; beer, brushes, and boats ; besides the ordinary neces saries of daily life, lacks the energy or means of raising * Roderick O'Flaherty, descended from the Chieftains of the West, and to whom reference is here made as connected with this locality, was one of the most learned Irishmen of the day : his principal works are the " Ogygia or Chronology of Irish Events," written in 1C65, and his " Chorographical Description of West or H-Iar Connaught," the MS. of which, written in 1684, was printed by the Irish Archæological So ciety in 1846, and carefully edited and annotated by the late James Hardiman, the only commentator at the period capable of doing justice to the great historian of the West.

O'Flaherty died in indigence at Park, near Galway, at a very advanced age, in 1717. THE LADY GALLVEA itself from the applicability of the old adage of "pride, poverty, and devotion." The name of Galway has given rise to several philolo gical speculations ; but it is plainly derived from that of Gailleamh, the daughter of Breasil, the prosperous King of the Firbolgs, who, it is said, having — " Bathed in the full cool stream, The bright branch was drowned ;" and whose monument stood on the river's bank at the time the original of this ancient Irish distich was written in the Dinn Seanchus, a MS. of great antiquity, still in existence. The rock at which she was drowned is marked on the western bank of the river in the celebrated Map of Galway, made in 1651, when the Lord Deputy Clanricarde pledged the City of the Tribes to the Duke of Lorraine ; and is thus referred to on the margin of that remarkable document : — " The rock where the woman Galvea is said to have been drowned, from which the city of Galway was named."

Har diman in his notes to O'Flaherty's " West Connaught," says, " Here it is intended by some of the spirited inhabitants of the town to restore that remarkable monument, by erecting a column on the spot, with the above inscription, in order to distinguish the place from which so large a portion of that part of Ireland has been named." And now that the Crimean guns, which were pointed against the Railway Hotel in Eyre-square, have been removed from the grasp of CAHIR GALLIEVE. the "Irish Republic virtually established," we really think some of the public spirit alluded to by our deceased friend might find vent for itself in commemoration of the lady who left her name to the locality, and give at least one statue to the Metropolis of Connaught.* In ancient Irish writings the city of Galway is styled Dun Gaillve, the Doon or fortified place at the mouth of the River Gaillve ; and in the modern vernacular it is always called Cahir Gallieve.

It is related that the river of Galway was dry on se veral occasions, both in summer and winter ; so much so, that articles dropt therein centuries before were then discovered, as in A.D. 1178, in 1190, in 1647, and in 1683, &c\ * With the exception of the white marble statue of William III., formerly standing on the bridge of Boyle, where in olden days we saw it dressed in " Orange and Blue," even after its head had been cut off, and thrown into the river, and which is now preserved in the public grounds of that famed locality, there is no public statue in the province of Connaught ! f Mr. Kinahan, of the Geological Survey, has very ingeniously en deavoured to account for these droughts, by supposing that the water of the Galway river had suddenly found its way through some of the old subterranean passages, one of which exists at Castlegar, leading across into Lough Athalia.

These outlets, previously choked up with sand, became clear at very low tides. See the " Geological Magazine" for November, 1866, for his Paper " On the formation of the Rock Basin of Lough Corrib." " The passage to the Castlegar outlet was closed about fifteen years ago by the Board of Works, to facilitate the navigation of the Lough." It had previously been closed by the Lough Corrib Navigation Company — see note, page 32. GALWAY DIOCESE. The present arms of Galway are an antique galley, bearing a shield with a lion rampant at the masthead, and hav ing this motto, " Laudatio ejus manet in seculum seculiZ The Wardenship of Galway, last held by the Rev. James Daly, of the Dunsandle family, was done away with in 1840, and the title of city reduced to that of town. It is in the Protestant diocese of Tuam, which includes the whole region of South-west Connaught ; but the town and parishes of St. Nicholas and Rahoon form a special Roman Catholic diocese, and the jurisdiction of its present Bishop, Dr. Mac Evilly, has lately been increased by his accession to the administration of the ancient sees of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.