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KILLALOE. 



This is a picturesque little town, perched on a hillside, 

 OTerlookinp^ the Shannon, at a point just below the entrance 

 of Lough Derg. It is one of the chief stations resorted to 

 by large numbers of wandering anglers, who fish the 

 lough in the famous green drake season. There is fair 

 hotel accommodation, and some private lodgings, but when 

 the May-fly carnival is on \^sitors must not expect too much 

 as the resources of the hostelries are greatly overtaxed. 

 Only one piece of free salmon water is left to the public, out 

 of all that they formerly jiossessed ; and we must, I suppose, 

 be grateful for this small mercy. Here, as elsewhere in 

 Ireland, trout-fishing is free, and* the trout are of large size 

 and excellent edible qualities. In the drake season, boats, 

 and capable men to manage them, are scarce, and intending 

 visitors should make their aiTangements well in advance. 

 I fished Killaloe from Castle Connell, which is only an easy 

 drive down stream. But this I did because there were three 

 young London anglers at the hotel, two of whom played tin 

 whistles, and the third was great on the banjo. This trio 

 were too exhilarating for a man with nerves, and to 

 avoid the risk of a funeral, I drove to and fro. 



Fishing with natural May-fly on Lough Derg is the 

 great attraction which brings to Killaloe a large number of 

 anglers in the spring of the year. A light double-handed 

 trout rod — whole cane, with split cane top — is the correct 

 weapon for this purpose. A fine natural gut cast is tied to 

 a "blow line" of floss silk, about the substance of thick 

 w^orsted ; and this can, with advantage, be spliced on to an 

 ordinary winch line. Two hooks, one an inch above the 

 other, are used, and on these are impaled the live flies. A 

 Ijreeze is necessary to fish successfully, because the gossamer 

 silk line is then blown well in front of the boat. Two men 



