KILKEE, CO. CLARE. -
The MacMahons succeeded the above Chiefs, as Lords of Corca Baisgin; and possessed the greater part of the baronies of Moyarta and Clonderlaw, in the county Clare. These MacMahons and MacDonnells are branches of the O'Briens, the posterity of Brian Boru and a different descent from the MacMahons, princes and Lords of Monaghan, and the MacDonnells, earls of Antrim, and the MacDonnells of Kilkee, county Clare, who were of the race of Clan Colla.
The first rise of three great kingdoms were politically unifying large areas: Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex. These three kingdoms were moved by the Germanic speech of English comprising dialects distinct from the Continental Germanic languages, cultivated by Celtic peoples whom are Christianized with their foundations settled on relations beloning to the import of Latin. Viking camps on a naval basis left the Danes from Wessex, a power battled by underlords like a feudal system about the kingdom until the missionary spread from Rome to the mainland by the people that were known as "Irish."
From having been a mere straggling fishing village, Kilkee-Gaelic St. Caiedehe's, or Kee's, church-has, within sixty years, become one of the favorite watering places of the Three Kingdoms. It is about forty miles distant from Kilrush, by water, but only nine miles by road across the peninsula on which it is built. A steam packet connects Kilrush with the city of Limerick, and, recently, other means of communication make Kilkee accessible to all who desire to visit one of the most charming health resorts in the world. Irish bridal couples affect Kilkee almost as much as American "happy pairs" affect Niagra Falls.
The town consists of two wide streets, which intersect, and there are many minor streets and lanes. The "West End," inhabited by the Kilkee "400," is handsomely laid out in squares and terraces. The town, which forms a kind of horseshoe around the head of its bay. Some of the finest cliff scenery in Ireland is in this neighborhood, and the bathing beach is without a rival on that portion of the Irish coast. The giant Rocks of Dungana, which stretch across the bay, forming a natural breakwater, are among the sights.
KILLALOE CATHEDRAL, CO. CLARE. -The sketch shows the square, battlemented tower of the cathedral, rising from the junction of the nave and transepts, and bearing every evidence of great antiquity. Most of the other portions of the edifice is the ivy. Several stately tombs occupy the ancient graveyard in which repose the remains of many of the warlike native princes of Thomond. The choir of the cathedral is now used as a parish church.
The edifice is often confounded with another ancient structure, which stands within the churchyard the pious St. Flannan, successor of St. Molua, after whom Killaloe is named.
Uí Toirdealbhaigh - a family of the Dalcassian
race; the sixth in descent from Cormac Cas, son of Oilioll Olum, King of Munster
in the 3rd century, and a sept of descendants of Toirdealbach (Father of St. Flannan),
King of Thomand. The clan name of the O'Briens and their co-relatives in the east
of Co. Clare, connecting Cashel to the O' Briens of North Munster. O'Carroll Chiefs
of the Barony of Gowran and Sliogh Liag, which is probably the Baronyof "Shillelogher,"
both in Kilkenny, were a branch of the O'Carrolls, princes of Ely; and the O'Donoghoes,
a branch of the O'Donoghoes, princes of Cashel.
It is said that King Brian Boru, of glorious memory, attended divine service in St. Flannan's Church, which is a curious stone-rooted structure. Still another very ancient church, or chapel, founded by St. Molua, stands on the adjacent island in the Shannon, but it has been allowed to fall into decay and only bare walls and broken arches remain to tell the tale of its former splendor. "There a temple in ruin stands Fashioned by long forgotted hands."