INISHANNON, COUNTY CORK. -The small but picturesque
village of Inishannon-Gaelic Inis-Eoganain, Owenan's or Little Owen's
Island-is situated on the left bank of the sparkling river Bandon, below
where it receives the joint tribute of the Ballymahane and Brinny rivers,
before it opens on the deep inlet of Kinsale Harbor, so famous in Irish
history. It is only a few miles from the old Head of Kinsale, and has
in its neighborhood many interesting ruins, including those of Ship-pool
castle, erected ages ago by the Anglo-Norman family of the Roches; and
Dundaneere castle, near the junction of the Bandon and Brinny rivers.
Inishannon itself is a modest, quiet Irish hamlet, neatly kept and well
arbored, as may be observed in the sketch. In the main street appears
the inevitable Irish jaunting car, the driver of which appears to be
"asking his way" of the ladies on the sidewalk. He is, probably, driving
some English tourist to see the ruins of the old castles referred to,
and is not quite sure of his "bearins." Every person he meets, however,
will be glad to set him right, without "a tip" or the hope of being
tipped; for, in Ireland, except in a few overdone districts, the people
are still hospitable, "and 'stranger' is a holy name."