Read the copy these stories were drawn from on the Internet Archive.
- 128
- stories drawn from it
- 128
- placed on the map
- 9
- counties: Donegal, Cork, Kerry and more
- 877
- words in the passages on this page
The stories, best first
page 3 of 3 · 128 in all
Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.
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Norse fortress ruins on Torry Island
Tory Island · townland · Donegal
The ruins of a fortress on Torry Island were said to have been erected by a Norwegian sea king, and the island's name was explained as derived from Runic etymology meaning consecrated to Thor.
Read the passage
I was sorry that it was out of my power to visit Torry Island. It is about twelve miles from shore, and I am informed that it is an interesting spot Here are the ruins of a fortress, erected by £rick of the red nrta, one of the Norwegian Sea Kings, whose roving rule extended around these isles and coasts. The name of this island is of Runick etymology, and
10 TORRY ISLAND.
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog
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Steatite Deposits Near Convoy
Convoy · town · Donegal
Near Convoy the author observed a magnesian stone or steatite easily cut like wood, used locally as tobacco pipe bowls, which withstands fire and weathering better than sandstone commonly used in cathedral ornamentation.
Read the passage
is a fiiToiuite field of excursion and research to the present professor of mineralogy to the Dublin Society. Here I observed immense tracts of red granite, porphyry, serpentine, and primitive limestone, adapted to the uses, as marble, of the statuary and the.manufacturer — ^white, flesh-coloured, dove, and blue. Near Convoy I observed a kind of magnesian stone or steatite, that might be appUed to many uses in architecture and the arts; it is as easily cut and carved as a piece of wood: it beigrs the fire so well ^ that it would answer for crucibles. The countrypeople use it as bowls for tobacco pipes, and it stands the effects of air and moisture. I should imagine it would be of infinite use in ornamental architecture, as a material for those deUcate carvings and tracery, mullions and fretworks, of the Gothic style of building. It seemed to stand the weather much better than the soft sandstone of which these ornaments are usually formed in cathedrals, and which has proved so perishable. On the contrary, I observed this material in walls and other exposed places, and there was no sign of decomposition or exfohation from the weather. It appears that in the ancient ecclesiastical architecture of Ireland, they made use of this steatite.
110 ANCIENT BX7ILOBR8 MINERALOGISTS.
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog, Chapter 40
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Sights near Killarney seen in a single day
Muckross · townland · Kerry
Despite only having one day in Killarney for business, the author managed to see Muckross, Torc Mountain, Mangerton, and the Devil's Punch Bowl, claiming to have seen more in four hours than most tourists would in the same time.
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c^» or gig, you take an excursion from Killamey town for ten miles along this new road toward Kenmare, which I travelled — ^you will see Upper, Middle, and Lower lake, more to your satisfaction than if you went into a boat. I remained but one day in Killamey — ^business, not pleasure, brought me. To be sure, when business was done, I was not such a dull dolt as not to make the most of my time, and see Mucruss and Turk mountain, and Mangerton, and the Devil's Punch Bowl. In a word, Mr. Reader, even suppose you were at the lakes — even suppose you are young and active, and made the most of your time, yet I am bold to say, that I saw as much in four hours as you could, or ever will do in the same space of time.
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog, Chapter 149
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Dow Castle, seat of General Hart
Doe Castle · electoral division · Donegal
Dow Castle, an apparently ancient fortress belonging to General Hart, was visible from Lough Salt Mountain but seemed neglected by its owner.
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the tenderest foliage, grow here in luxuriance. As a fine well-managed farm, a highly kept and wooded demesne, possessing in perfection ocean and mountain views, and still better, as affording me, from its hospitable 'owner, the most kind and gracious reception, I know of no place in Ireland that surprised or satisfied me more. Nearer yet, as from our magnificent standing we seemed like visitors from another world looking down on the incumbent coast, stood Dow Castle, belonging to General Hart, apparently an ancient fortress, but seeming not to enjoy much of the care or presence of its owner. Northward of Dow Castle lay the Sands of Rosapenna, a scene that almost realised in Ireland the sandy desert of Arabia; a line of coast and country extending from the sea, deep into the land, until it almost meets the mountain on which we stood, and exhibiting one wide waste of red sand; for miles not a blade of grass, not a particle of verdure, hills and dales and undulating swells, smooth, solitary, desolate, reflecting the sun from their polished surface of one imiform and flesh-like hue.* Fifty years ago this line of
* I have been informed by a friend resident in the neighbourhood of Rosapenna, that the blowing of the sand to iu
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog
As the companion tells it
As you pass through the Doe Castle area, you are near Dow Castle, belonging to General Hart. Seen from the heights of Lough Salt Mountain, it appeared to be an ancient fortress, but it seemed not to enjoy much of the care or presence of its owner. The writer described it while looking down on the coast like a visitor from another world. Northward of the castle lay the Sands of Rosapenna, a wide waste of red sand stretching deep into the land, with not a blade of grass for miles.
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Mountain Sarcophagi and Giants' Graves
Cavan · town · Cavan
The author describes gigantic tombs, called giants' graves, found on the same mountain as the vitrified fort, of the same antiquity as cromleachs and usually found in similar localities across Ireland, France, Jersey and Guernsey.
Read the passage
* I have since seen many of these giants' graves, which are evidently of the same antiquity as cromleachs, and usually found in the same localities. They are to be found in France, Jersey, Guernsey, as well as Ireland. I make more particular mention of them in my recent tour in the west of Ireland.
88 rANNAT.
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog, Chapter 34
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The Protestant church at Skull
Skull · town · Cork
The author describes a plain, well-attended Protestant church at Skull standing on a high elevation over the sea, whose bell and white walls create a tranquil scene on Sunday mornings.
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Having abundant business to call me away from the village of Skull, before I took my leave of my valued friend, and his hospitable attentions, he asked me would I go and see his humble little church — "A plain building/' said he, " and fitted for perhaps as plain, and yet as ample a congregation as any in Ireland; few parishes, even in Protestant Ulster, can boast of a better filled house of worship.** We walked, therefore, some hundred yards to this unadorned, but neat building, which stands on a high elevation over the sea; and when its modest little belfry and white-washed walls send their bright shadows over the water on a calm and sunny Sab-
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog, Chapter 93
As the companion tells it
Coming up through Skull in Cork, you pass a Protestant church that stands on high ground over the sea. A traveller once walked there with a friend who called it a plain building, yet fitted for as ample a congregation as any in Ireland. Few parishes, even in Protestant Ulster, could boast of a better filled house of worship. The church itself is unadorned but neat, with a modest belfry and white-washed walls that send their bright shadows over the water on a calm sunny Sabbath morning.
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Origin of the surname 'Lieutenant'
Kenmare · townland · Kerry
A poor man near the mountains between Cork and Kerry explains that his landlord, an O'Sullivan Bear by descent, is nicknamed 'Mr. Lieutenant' because he had once served as a lieutenant in the militia under King George. Otway uses this to illustrate how surnames and nicknames arise in Ireland.
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''Oh, your honour, sure he's after carving King George in the Militia."
Thus, in Ireland, and all the world over, have sirnames originated in arbitrary nicknames.
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog, Chapter 120
As the companion tells it
Somewhere around here, a poor man explained that his landlord, an O'Sullivan Bear by descent, was called Mr. Lieutenant because he had served as a lieutenant in the militia under King George. As Otway noted, this is how surnames in Ireland originated in arbitrary nicknames, and indeed "all the world over."
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Skull's older name as St Mary of the Schools
Skull · town · Cork
The village of Skull, called in older Catholic days Sancta Maria de Scholia, is traditionally remembered as the Maynooth of Munster, a former centre of learning.
Read the passage
* This was, as tradition informs us, the Maynooth of Munster.
A PABfiOKAfiE^ 187
Internet Archive sketchesinirela00otwagoog, Chapter 73
As the companion tells it
As you pass through Skull in Cork, this village was once known by its older Catholic name, Sancta Maria de Scholia. It was traditionally remembered as the Maynooth of Munster, a former centre of learning.
This book is in the public domain; how the books' rights are judged. The passages are quoted as the scan has them, spelling and all; a story's place is the gazetteer's best reading of the text and can be wrong.