The Lakes of Killarney.

Manawatu Herald, 27 July 1899, Page 2

The Lakes of Killarney.

The Muchross Estate, which includes Lake Killaraey, has been sold to Thomas Gallagher, of Bally Yoland, Greencastle, Antrim. Mr Gallagher is the head of the great tobacco manufacturers' firm of the same name, and he pays £85,000 for the estate. The lakes of Killarney are a series of three connected sheets of water, the lowermost of which is within i£ miles of the town of Killarney, a market town 185 miles by rail from Dublin and 47 miles from Cork. The outflow is by the river Laune, north' west to Castlemaine Harbour. These famous lakes are situated in a basin in the midst of the mountains of Kerry, some of which rise abruptly from the water's edge densely clothed with trees from base to summit. The lower lake, Lough Leane, covers 5001 acres in area, is studded with richly-wooded islands, the largest. Ross Island, on which is an old strong-, hold of the O'Donoghues. Another island is the " sweet Innisfallen " of Moore's song, and on this is the picturesque ruin of an abbey, founded by St. Finian the leper in the 6th century. The upper lake covers 430 acres and is also studded with islands. Between the two is Lough Tore of 680 acres. Connecting the upper with the lower and middle lakes is the Long Range, a beautifully -wooded, winding stream z\ miles long. Midway in its course occurs the famous echo, caused by a lofty rock, the Eagle's Nest. Between the lower and middle lake is the fine ruin of Muckross Abbey, founded by the Franciscans in 1440. A peculiarity of the scenery is the luxuriant growth of arbutuses on the islands of the lakes.