74 LIMERICK TO TARBERT BY RIVER. 



being in about equal numbers. Many green islands 

 are passed near to the mouth of the Fergus river. 



At Cahiracon, on the north bank, the coast becomes 

 bold and wooded, and, with a west wind blowing strong, 

 we here experienced some of the pulsations of the 

 Atlantic. This is a very picturesque spot, and one 

 can fancy that the time may come when the wealthy 

 citizens of Limerick will have their villas along this 

 shore for sea-bathing and summer residences. Foynes 

 island, on the opposite side, with its wooded eastern 

 shore, seemed equally eligible for this purpose. Leaving 

 the low limestone district at Foynes, the country be- 

 comes more elevated ; Mount Trenchard, the residence 

 of Lord Monteagle, embosomed in wood, being passed 

 on the left. Except two large ships, close to Limerick, 

 and two brigs about half-way down, we did not see 

 another vessel till we came to Tarbert, where a few 

 small coasting brigs were waiting for a wind. Twenty 

 years, we may hope, will tell a different tale ; and that 

 this magnificent river, washing a country far more ex- 

 tensive in fertile land than the Clyde, will bear on its 

 waters a hive of busy steamers and noble merchant- 

 men. 



Tarbert is a small seaport town in the north of 

 Kerry, situated on an estuary of the Shannon, and close 

 to the western boundary of the county of Limerick. 

 There are two extensive grain stores here, the property 

 of wealthy corn merchants, which are always open for 

 the purchase of grain from the farmers in the surround- 

 ing country. Not far from the village, a tile- work has 

 been erected by Mr St John Blacker, a gentleman who 



