82 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



cott families. These woods are truly magnificent, and 

 covering, as they do, to the top, the undulating hills, 

 and being principally oak, the foliage from a distance 

 gives you the idea they are heath-covered mountains. 

 The River Clodiagh flows through the demesne, 

 from Lowry's Bridge to Portlaw, and a more beautiful 

 valley than it is I don't think exists in Wicklow. The 

 view to be had from Clonegam Hill, near the little 

 churchyard, is very grand and expansive, command- 

 ing the greater portion of the demesne, with miles of 

 country around, and the Comeragh mountains in 

 the distance, while underneath we have the mansion 

 and the courtyard, of which we get almost a bird's- 

 eye view. 



The gardens are nothing to speak of, nor 

 are the pleasure-grounds, though, of course, the best 

 of fruits and flowers are grown in them. The vast de- 

 mesne of Curraghmore, containing, as it does, 4,000 

 acres within the wall, and 3,000 acres in the Portlaw 

 and Baylock woods, has nothing artificial to boast of. 

 It is all naturally grand and beautiful. The house is 

 built at one end of the extensive courtyard, and is of 

 modest exterior, though within the last few years the 

 present Marquis has done much to change its 

 appearance, and it is now vastly improved. For the 

 last thirty years the different heads of the family have 

 been getting plans and specifications for its remodel- 

 ing and doing up, but none pleased until the pre- 

 sent Marquis got the aid of Mr. Samuel Roberts, 

 the well-known and able friend of art, of the Board 

 of Works. This gentleman furnished the necessary 

 plans, and under him was the work done ; and now 

 the old house looks like a modern one, built for comfort 



