SALMON ANGLING IN lEELAND. 189 



shipped, has within the last few years grown rapidly into importance. 

 In 1854 the Law Life Assurance Society became possessed of the 

 Connemara property, on which they had previously advanced money 

 by way of loan to the amount of 160,000/. From the chairman's 

 report for 1864, it appeared that the property paid 4 per cent., and 

 that since the auditing of the accounts the fisheries alone had risen 

 3000/. in annual value. All that this vast district required was 

 money to develop its resources. Henceforth this will not be wanting, 

 and the estate that broke poor Dick Marty n's heart will probably 

 prove one of the brightest jewels in the crown of this Croesus of 

 societies. 



Galway is rich in antiquities. At Ballygaddy, Kilbannon, Meelick, 

 and Ardrahan, there are round towers. Cromlechs and stone circles 

 are of frequent occurrence. 



Of the numerous remains of religious houses throughout Galway, 

 the ruined Abbey Knockmoy is the most interesting. It was founded 

 in 1189 by Cathal O'Conner, sumamed " The Red Hand," in conse- 

 quence of a victory obtained by him over the English under Almeric 

 St. Lawrence. Above the tomb of the founder are some curious 

 fresco paintings of great interest, as exhibiting the costume of the 

 native Irish. The Phrygian cap, represented as worn by several of 

 the figures, will some day attract the attention of antiquaries. 

 Knockmoy well deserves a visit for its architecture, which indicates 

 considerable advancement in the arts amongst its founders. The 

 Raths of the early inhabitants and the ruined strongholds of the 

 Anglo-Norman lords are also numerous. 



Every street in the quaint old town of Galway is a page of 

 romance. It is impossible to pass carved arches leading into the 

 courtyards of great gaunt-looking houses, without being irresistibly 

 reminded that each has a history. These places, now so mournfully 

 silent in all the dignity of decayed gentility, once knew better days 

 ^when the Don brought Bilboa blades, Cordova leather, port and 

 canary to the good merchants. What they could have done with 

 all these things is a mystery. That they drank a good deal of the 

 wine is highly probable, and that, being pugnacious, they used the 



