Beautiful Approach to Ennis. 361 



I cannot help remarking one piece of ex- 

 travagance which we noticed the magnificent 

 gate-posts in the fields ; to which the larger" 

 proportion had no gate appendant. As a sub- 

 stitute we have often seen the Irish car doing 

 duty in the gate-way. 



The country, for some little distance before 

 we arrived at Ennis, is broken into a variety of 

 hills, on which the crops appeared to be very 

 good. The immediate approach to the town 

 is delightful ; every cabin has its garden, and 

 these we were gratified in seeing highly cul- 

 tivated. Such an appearance of comfort we 

 had not before witnessed. The town is ce- 

 lebrated for its onions, the growth of which is 

 much attended to, and they are sent to other 

 parts of Ireland from this neighbourhood. 

 There seems to be also a great profusion of the 

 common fruits. I do not know that I was ever 

 more pleased with the entrance to any town. 

 In itself, Ennis is tolerably neat, and has a 

 thriving appearance ; it has a communication 

 by water with the Shannon, at the distance of 

 two miles. The remains of an abbey, in the 

 best style of architecture of any Gothic build- 

 ing we had yet seen, we had an opportunity of 

 observing at Clare. Within two miles of the 

 town is the castle of Ennis ; as a source of in- 



