MUNSTEE. 427 



quarries. Kinvara, on a southern arm of Galway Bay, is tlie seat of a 

 Catholic bishop ; and a few miles to the south of it is Gort, with the ruins of a 

 cathedral. 



Amongst the towns in the eastern plain Tuam, with its rival bishops and 

 Catholic college, occupies the first place, but commercially, as well as in population, 

 BaUinasIoe can claim the precedence, on account of its great horse, cattle, sheep, 

 and wool fairs. Loughrea, on a small lough almost in the centre of the plain, is a 

 market town. Clonfert, an old episcopal city, and Poriumna, at the head of 

 Lough Derg, are merely villages. 



Mayo, in its western portion, consists of wild mountain land, but to the east 

 of Loughs Conn and Mask it extends into the central plain which stretches 

 westward to the head of Clew Bay. All the large towns of the county lie 

 in this more level tract. TFesfport, near Clew Bay, frowned down upon by 

 Croagh Patrick (2,510 feet) and Cushcamcarragh (2,343 feet), and studded 

 with innumerable islets, has a small harbour. BaUinrohe, on a river tributary to 

 Lough Mask, is a decayed market-place. Castlcbar, in the fertile valley of the 

 Moy, which flows northward into Killala Bay, is more attractive ; but most 

 prosperous of all the towns of the county is Ballina, on the Lower Moy, only 7 

 miles from the bay, and with a port accessible to vessels of 200 tons burden. It 

 was here General Humbert landed on the road to his barren victory of Castlebar, 

 after which he proclaimed the Irish Republic. Killala, on the bay itself, is merely 

 a fishing village, with the residence of a Catholic bishop. On Blacksod Bay, 

 behind Mullet Peninsula, near Erris Head, are Bclmullet and Binghamstoicn, two 

 fishing villages. 



The county of Sijgo is almost shut in by hills, which bound a beautiful 

 plain opening upon Sligo Bay. Upon an arm of this bay stands Sligo, the county 

 town, largely engaged in the salmon fishery and coasting trade. On another 

 arm, at the mouth of the Owenmore, rises Ballysadare, a fishing village, with 

 limestone quarries. On the upper course of that river is Balhjmoie, with the ruins 

 of an abbey, and near it Achonvaij, the residence of a Catholic bishop. 



Munster. — Munster comprises the whole of South-western Ireland, from 

 Galway Bay to Waterford, and is richer in fine harbours than any other part of 

 Ireland. Within it lie some of the finest mountains of the island, and several of 

 its most productive vales. Irish is still largely spoken in the counties of Water- 

 ford, Kerry, Clare, and Cork — altogether by about a fourth of the population. 



The county of Clare occupies the peninsula between Galway Bay and the 

 estuary of the Shannon. It is a region of barren hills, cut in two by the fertile 

 valley of the Fergus, and abounding in tulloghs, or winter lakes, and underground 

 water-courses. Ennis, the county town, stands at the head of the estuary of the 

 Fergus, and is the ancient residence of the O'Brians. Clare, a village with a castle 

 used as barracks, stands below. Corofin and Kilfcnora are higher ^x^ on the 

 Fergus. KilvuHh, on the estuary of the Shannon, is a favourite watering-place, 

 and has some trade in fish and peat. A railway connects it ^^ ith Kilkee, on the 



