SUBURBS OF LIMERICK — WEST OF CLARE. 69 



bespeaking the good taste of their founders in their 

 choice of a situation. Passing the demesne of Lord 

 Clare, whose umbrageous woods shut out the river alto- 

 gether, and proceeding a mile or two farther along fields 

 of deep red friable soil, you reach the suburbs of the city 

 of Limerick, where those who are curious in such matters 

 may have an opportunity of inspecting, by dozens, some 

 of the poorest and most wretched cottages in Ireland. 



My time was too limited to admit of my visiting the 

 western portion of the county of Clare, where I was 

 informed that at Miltown Malbay very extensive and 

 judicious improvements are going on. The district 

 round Corofin, to the north-west of Ennis, is famed for 

 its rich pastures. The south-west division, embracing 

 the union of Kilrush, noted for its evictions and its 

 poverty, is situated on the coal formation, (not usually 

 favourable for agricultural enterprise ;) but the whole 

 of the north bank of the Shannon, from Limerick to 

 Kilrush, is well worth the inspection of persons in 

 quest of land. 



