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



the Abbey of Kilcrea — Ci/l-Cera, or Cera's Church — founded in 

 1465 by Cormac M'Carthy, Lord of Muskerry. Driving through 

 Macroom a glimpse was obtained of its famous Castle, built by 

 the Carews in the time of King John. Admiral Sir William Penn, 

 father of the founder of Pennsylvania, was born here. 



The Gaorha or Garra— " The Valley "—watered by the little 

 River Toon — the Wave — two miles distant from Macroom, is a 

 most remarkable and interesting place, and proved a veritable 

 paradise for the Zoologists and Botanists, who explored its wooded 

 islets, and maze of waters in flat-bottomed boats. The place is 

 out of the beaten track, but would well repay a visit as being one 

 of the most unique bits of scenery to be found anywhere. The 

 river sub-divides into a maze of streamlets, there being one, it is 

 said, for every day of the year, its small islets being chiefly covered 

 with oak, under which the Royal fern, Osmunda rega/is, flourishes 

 in immense quantities. The drive was continued, the scenery 

 becoming bold and rocky, and, passing through Inchigeela, the 

 road followed the windings of Lough Allua, the largest of the 

 Inchigeela lakes, where the party lunched, and spent three very 

 pleasant hours exploring its shores and the woods on its 

 margins, and making collections. The conductor's whistle having 

 sounded the time for departure, all were driven back to 

 Macroom, where a refreshing cup of tea was partaken of at 

 Williams's Hotel before leaving by the 7.30 train for Cork, where 

 dinner was served at nine o'clock. 



There being no fixed programme for the Sunday, members 

 were at liberty to make their own arrangements for the day. 

 Nearly all decided for Blarney — (Blarna, the little field) — and its 

 famous castle, not forgetting the Blarney Stone, of which Father 

 Prout gives a most amusing and learned history. Having paid 

 their devotions, and kissed the sacred stone, visits were paid to the 

 famous groves and the Rock Close, with its rockeries and amazing 

 wealth of ferns, to the lake, where numerous water lilies in full 

 bloom were floating on its surface, while St. Anne's Hill came in 



