Trout Fishing in Wicklow 185 



reaching Ballysmutton Bridge, we walked 

 a couple of miles or more down the river 

 before putting our rods together, and even 

 when we did make a start our fishing was of 

 a perfunctory character. The Liffey here- 

 abouts is a pretty, turbulent stream holding 

 a goodly number of moderate-sized fish, but 

 the water is bigger and the fish larger below 

 Ballysmutton and on towards " Naas." Ere 

 we reached the bridge we each had creeled a 

 decent let of fish, but none worthy of special 

 mention ; the largest perhaps, about three 

 quarters of a pound, found a resting-place 

 in my basket. 



Having taken our rods to pieces and 

 rested awhile, we resumed our march 

 towards Blessington, and there dire and 

 dreadful misfortunes awaited us, insomuch 

 so that we there and then re-named it 

 " Cursingtown," by which name it appeals 

 to our memories even to this day. The 



