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INNISFALLEN, KILLARNEY. -The old Irish called this romantic
spot, in the Gaelic language, Inis-Faithlenn-the island of Faithlenn,
or Fallen, which would seem to have been the name of some Irish chief,
or saint, of high distinction in remote ages. The island is 21 acres
in extent, and contains much of what is most beauteous in fair Killarney.
St. Finangobhar, or the Leper, so called from having been afflicted
with a distressing form of cutaneous disease, founded here a monastery-remnants
of which are pictured in the left foreground of the sketch-in the
middle of the seventh century. |
Innisfallen, as it is now spelled and pronounced, is situated in the
Lower Lake of Killarney and has been admired by generations of pleasure
seekers. Sir Walter Scott-ever susceptible to the beauties of nature-revelled
in its charms, and Thomas Moore devoted to it stanzas that have made its
loveliness world-famous and immortal. How sweet, yet sad, is the cadence
of his lines:- Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well, May calm and sunshine
still be thine; How fair thou art let other tell, To feel how fair, yet
still be mine. Sweet Innisfallen, long shall dwell In memory's dream that
sunny smile, Which o'er thee on that evening fell, When first I say they
fairy isle!
| MUCKROSS ABBEY, KILLARNEY.-The ruins of this renowned
abbey, reproduced with fidelity in the sketch, are situated on Castlelough
Bay - one of the arms of the Lower Lake of Killarney, and contiguous
to the pretty little hamlet of Cloghreen. Muckross Hotel, built by
the Herbert family for the accommodation of tourists, is in the immediate
neighborhood. Our erudite friend, Professor Joyce, of Dublin, gives
romance a dab in the face when he declares that Muc-ros-the Gaelic
spelling of the name-means, in Irish, "the peninsula of the pigs!"
"Muc" standing for "pig" and "ros" for "peninsula." |
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Others claim that the original name was "Irelough"-Anglice "Westlake"-but,
in either case, the old monks, who had a great eye for scenic beauty,
chose the beautiful spot for the founding of the abbey, under the patronage
of one of the princely McCarthys, while they yet ruled over "deep-valley'd
Desmond." It is said that the original church was burned in 1192. The
Four Masters mention the foundation of the structure, whose remains are
shown above, in 1340, while some say it was established for the Franciscans
in the middle of the Fifteenth century. The ruins comprise those of the
convent and the church, and present many beauties of ecclesiastical architecture.
The chief entrance is through a superb Gothic doorway, deeply bearded
in ivy, through which is seen the great eastern window, as in a picture.
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