THE KILLEEIES. 35 



cultivation. An excellent public road runs along its 

 whole extent. This farm would at present be let for 

 £120. 



From this point to the Killeries the valley widens 

 and improves, the natural produce of the soil being 

 sweet short grass in the low grounds, with strips of 

 verdure running up the hollows of the mountains. 

 Several good stock-farms might be got in this quarter ; 

 but for many miles in this direction not a sheep or 

 head of cattle is at present to be met with. The sheep 

 were said to have been stolen during the famine, and 

 the holders of the lands had not the means of putting a 

 new stock on them. 



At the foot of the valley we came upon the harbour 

 of the Killeries, which is an arm of the sea running up 

 between high mountains for some eight miles, till it 

 receives the waters of the river Errive. There are here 

 some cottages for sea-bathing ; and certainly few spots 

 in the British islands could be selected, which unite 

 more beauty and grandeur of scenery with such perfect 

 retirement. 



Passing down the south side, a view of the Atlantic 

 is got in the distance ; while on the opposite side of the 

 narrow bay towers Muilrea, the highest mountain in 

 Connaught, rising directly from the sea to a height of 

 2700 feet. The road then leaves the sea and crosses 

 the moors to the south-west, affording a fine view of 

 the Connemara mountains. We are now in an unpro- 

 mising tract of country ; the moors are very barren, 

 and not a sheep or a house to be seen on them for 

 miles. 



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