448 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



second morning of his visit, the reader continued, the sun rose 

 without a cloud, and an early start was made for Lough 

 Sheelin. The party rowed across Lough Kinale, and up the 

 Inny to the village of Finnea, where a larger and stronger 

 boat was procured, and Lough Sheelin was soon reached. A 

 line was made for Church Island, which lay some three miles 

 to the north east. The island derives its name from an ancient 

 ecclesiastical edifice which stands in its centre. Some interest- 

 ing birds' nests were found here, built in very unconcealed 

 positions, which tended to show how free from disturbance the 

 place was. From Church Island the party proceeded to Ross 

 Castle, which stands on a wooded eminence overlooking the 

 lake. This castle is in ruins, with the exception of the central 

 tower, which has been recently restored. There is a story in 

 connection with this castle — one of the romantic tales that 

 often hang round these shattered relics of strife and insecurity. 

 It was in the Commonwealth time. Ross Castle was held by 

 Myles O'Reilly, the Black Baton, who had espoused the 

 Republican cause. He had an only daughter, who was beloved 

 by a young baron who was lord of a castle which may still be 

 seen standing, in picturesque decay, on an island in the lake a 

 few miles north of Ross. The latter had strong sympathies 

 with the Irish Royalist cause, and when war broke out found 

 himself opposed to the father of the girl he loved. But worse 

 was coming. The Royalist party in that district were defeated, 

 and a price was set upon his head. Owing to treachery 

 within his own walls he was compelled to fly from his castle, 

 and he found a refuge on Church Island, where the baron's 

 daughter rowed at intervals with provisions. But she was 

 suspected by her father, who shut her up in Ross Castle, and 

 demanded of her the outlaw's hiding place. Indignantly she 

 refused any information ; better for her lover to die of hunger 

 than to suffer an ignominious death at the hands of his enemies. 

 Left alone on the island, deserted, though not through her 

 fault, by the only one who knew his retreat, the chieftain died 

 of want. His body was found by some fishermen and conveyed 



