Page:Three Years in Europe.djvu/99

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
IRELAND AND WALES.
73

out, as it were, in the midst of high mountains surrounding it on all sides; there are two small lakes here called the lakes of Glendenlough and the whole scene is dark and gloomy. Glendenlough.The chief interest of this place lies in the ruins scattered about, of the seven churches built in the sixth century by St. Kevin, i. e., before Christianity was established in Ireland. These ruins therefore are among the very rare relics of ancient Ireland before Christianity was thoroughly established in the country. Numerous are the traditional legends told about this interesting personage St. Kevin, and of the marvels and miracles he performed. You will find in one of Moore's melodies an account of the tender affection which the gentle Kathleen felt for this stern Saint. Her love was ill requited, for when at last she followed him to his last place of repose,

"Sternly from his bed he starts,
And with rude repulsive shock
Hurls her from the beetling rock.
Glendenlough, thy gloomy wave
Soon was gentle Kathleen's grave?"

Bray is a very pretty little sea-side town in Wicklow. Bray.Thence we went to Drogheda where we stopped for about an hour and a half, and saw the spot where the fortunes of the House of Stuarts were finally decided at the battle of the Boyne. Boyne.A monument has been erected just by the Boyne "to the glorious memory of King William the Third" who, you know, was the victor in the battle.