424 THE BIMTISII ISLES. 



contuvy. Em y rale and Glasshiif/h arc unimportant places in the north-western 

 part of the vale. Balh/hai/ is the principal town in the southern hills, while 

 Cadkblaiiney and Carric/inincross are more important towns on the margin of the 

 maritime plain, tlio one near a hike at the head of the Fane, the other on the Glyde. 



The county of Cavax extends along both sides of the Upper Erne, which rises 

 in Lough Gowna (214 feet) on its southern border, traverses Lough Oughter in 

 its centre, and before leaving it enters the Upper Lough Erne. This river sepa- 

 rates the county into two hilly portions, of which that in the west is the loftier 

 and less hospitable. "Within the latter rises the Owenmore, the head-stream of 

 the Shannon. Caran, the seat of rival bishops, lies in a fertile plain, and with 

 Bclfurhcf, on the navigable Erne, and CootehiU, between tlie Annalee and a small 

 lough, it is the only noteworthy place in the county. Kibnove, a village to the 

 south of Cavan, was anciently the scat of a bishop, BaUyconncU, in the western 

 hills, is known for its romantic position. 



Fermanagh stretches along both banks of the Erne, which within its limits 

 expands into the Upper and Lower Loughs Erne. The tract to the west of these 

 lakes rises into lofty hills (Cuilcagh, 2,188 feet), but along their western shore 

 level tracts occur, where wheat and oats are grown with success. Eiumkillen, 

 midway between the lakes, on an island of the Erne, is an important military 

 station. Cutlery and plait are made. The Portera Royal School, the " Irish 

 Rugby," is near, and on Devenish Island, 1 mile below, there are ruins of 

 ecclesiastical buildings and a round tower. The inconsiderable towns of Neictoxcn 

 Butler, Lisnaskea, and Louihertitotcn are in the eastern portion of the county. 

 Belleek, on the Lower Erne, manufactures pottery. 



DoxEGAi-, the north-western county of Ireland, is a wild highland région 

 (see p. 383), rich in picturesque scenerj^ but only to a small extent capable of 

 cultivation. LiJfonJ, the county town, is a wretched village on the Foyle, 

 opposite Strabane. Stranorlar, in the valley of the Finn, tributary to that of the 

 Bann, has become of some importance as a tourists' head-quarter. On the hilly 

 peninsula of Inishowen, which lies between Loughs Foyle and Swilly, are 2IoviUe 

 and Greencastle, on Lough Foyle ; CarnJonayh, at the head of Trawbeaga Bay, 

 and near Malin Head (226 feet), the northernmost point of Ireland; and Biincrana, 

 a growing watering-place, on Lough Swill}-. Far more important than either of 

 these is Letterhenny, at the head of the lough just named. Ratltmelfon and 

 RothmuUen, on the western shore of Lough Swilly, are hardly more than fishing 

 villages, though nominally market towns. Along the coast, facing the open 

 Atlantic, we meet with the fishing villages of Dunfanaghy, on Sheep Haven ; 

 TJunyJon-, at the back of Aran and Rutland Islands ; Ardara ; and Kil/yhegs. 

 Boncrjal, on the bay of the same name, and at the mouth of the Eask, is interesting 

 as the old capital of the county, but is a mere village, ranking far behind 

 Ball y ah an non, at the mouth of the river Erne. 



CoNNAroHT. — This province occupies the extreme west of Ireland, between 

 Donegal Bay and the river Shannon. Its population is the most purely Celtic of 



