. Romantic Ireland . to Carrick-on-Shannon, something over a hundred miles,in steamboats of really comfortable, if notexactly luxurious, appointments. It is the tourist traffic mostly that is cateredfor; and the traveller, in the season, is likelyto find the company mixed, though by nomeans is it of the tripper class. The itinerary comprehends much that isbeautiful and much that is historic. From Limerick, one usually makes his wayby train, although he may go by car or coach,— such a trip is well worth while, — andembarks upon the tiny steamer at Killaloe. Here, at the lower end of Lough Derg,
. Romantic Ireland . to Carrick-on-Shannon, something over a hundred miles,in steamboats of really comfortable, if notexactly luxurious, appointments. It is the tourist traffic mostly that is cateredfor; and the traveller, in the season, is likelyto find the company mixed, though by nomeans is it of the tripper class. The itinerary comprehends much that isbeautiful and much that is historic. From Limerick, one usually makes his wayby train, although he may go by car or coach,— such a trip is well worth while, — andembarks upon the tiny steamer at Killaloe. Here, at the lower end of Lough Derg, nearKillaloe, stood in the ninth century BrianBorus palace of Kincora. The mound onwhich it was built is all that remains of aplace that displayed, twelve hundred yearsago, the greatest glory of the proud Irishkings. Many were the events of historical momentwhich took place here, though, as a palace ofgreat splendour and magnitude, it may havebeen exceeded by Tara and Emania. The memory of Brian Borus life here. The Shannon and Its Lakes 109 places him in the annals of the worlds greatrulers as every inch a king/ Neither on the Irish throne, nor on thatof any other kingdom, did there ever sit asovereign more splendidly qualified to rule;and Ireland had not for some centuries knownsuch a glorious and prosperous, peaceful, andhappy time as the five years preceding Briansdeath. He caused his authority to be notonly unquestioned, but obeyed and respectedin every corner of the land. So justly werethe laws administered in his name, and soloyally obeyed throughout the kingdom, thatthe bards relate a rather fanciful story of ayoung and exquisitely beautiful lady, whomade, without the slightest apprehension ofviolence or insult, and in perfect safety, atour of the island on foot, alone and unpro-tected, though bearing about her the mostcostly jewels and ornaments of gold. Thislegend will be further recalled by the memoryof the well-known verses beginning Rich andrare were the gems
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1905
