76 Scenery and Antiquities of 



present from 12 to 16 feet high. A fine and never-failing 

 spring of water near the entrance suppHed the fort. It has 

 never been tampered with by any restorer, and is a good 

 example of a pre-historic fort. After leaving Ballykinvarga, 

 we returned homeward, calling on our way at the ancient 

 castle of Leemaneagh. It consists of a tall tower, built in 1480, 

 to which a large Tudor house was attached a century later. 

 This castle belonged to a branch of the O'Brien family of Clare. 

 A gateway and arch have the arms of Conor O'Brien, dated 

 1643. Many other places possessing both historic and pre- 

 historic interest are situated within reach of Lisdoonvarna. 

 The examples we have referred to may suffice to point out 

 what an interesting antiquarian centre it is, in addition to the 

 curative properties of its famous spa. 



KILKEE TO LOOPHEAD, 



We left for Ennistymon, where we were fortunate in seeing 

 an extremely fine waterfall under favourable conditions. The 

 river was in flood, and the mass of water was enormous, 

 sufficient to drive several factories and light the town by 

 electricity. We took the train from here on the West Clare 

 line for Kilkee. Time will not permit us to speak of the many 

 interesting places on our way. Our time is all too limited for 

 Kilkee and vicinity. After seeing all the watering places of 

 Ireland, none of them can approach Kilkee for magnificent 

 cliff scenery, wave effects, or the extreme purity of its air. The 

 town is built around a horseshoe-shaped bay, called Moore 

 Bay. It is about one mile around. The old portion of the 

 town, where the shops, telegraph, and post office, banks, and 

 other public buildings are is on the eastern side ; also the rail- 

 way station. The water flows in from the Atlantic over a 

 ledge of rocks that breaks the force of the waves approaching 

 the strand, which has a gentle slope over a floor of fine, firm 

 silver sand. It is sheltered from the north by the lofty cliff of 

 George's Head. Outside the town, both north and south, are 

 great sea cliffs, against which the huge Atlantic billows strike 



