IRISH SKETCHES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 52, 25 April 1874, Page 9

IRISH SKETCHES.

(Continued.) HOTJNT MEILABY.

Another celebrated religious and educational institution visited by your humble correspondent, on tbis occasion is that of the famous Mount Mellary. Here I slept one night to realise for myself the proverbial hospitality of the Cistercian?. Here are these monks on the ■ide of this rough mountain, fighting with natural sterility, and the doors of their refectory and dormitory open to the whole world for the last forty years 1 The very night I arrived there the main house was crammed with guests, and next day after the departure of one batch, I counted sixteen strangers at the table with myself I From what I have seen and heard, I believe with many others that this " Mountain of the Lord" sheds a spiritual influence over the whole Irish Church — it is the common muster ground for lay and clerical retreats from the Giant's Causeway to Bantry Bay. As for scenery, the province of Munster may be truly called a natural fairy land. To attempt a description of Killarney alone, this letter should be at least twice its present lengtb and say not one word on any other subject. It is, indeed, fully equal to its fame. " From morn till dewy eve" a stream of sight-seers keep flowing and ebbing to and from this land of enchantment throughout the year — fancy the railroad from Mallow to this one spot having little else to do than to bring customers to this single market of ocular breadstuff's ! Another line is moving from Cork in the same direction, but more southward for the sake of Gougane Barra, Glengariffe and the Bantry Bay region. As yet, however, it does not extend beyond Macroom, about sixty-six miles from the lakes ; but good horses and cars render the journey even now very pleasant. THE BLA.CKWATEB. Then at the other side of Cork is the glorious Blackwater, and \ for one would as soon miss Killarney itself as the Irish Rhine, I have seen your Hudson, but I must lay my longing eyes on some' other Hudson before the natural poem from Youghal to Lismore can lose its place in my memory. The sanctuaries of Mount Mellary overlooking this glorious picture — the scene seems the holiday attire of nature to win us to the beauties of grace. Then the very different type of scenery on the mountain road from Lismore to Cahir, the road rnnning along the side of Knockmeldown's highest snmmit, overlooking a vale of great beauty and fertility, flanked on the other side by the still more alpine range of the Gaiters enclosing that gem ot ravines, the magnificent Glen of Aherlow — O, here is a treat for the visual palate of any connoisseur ! Farewell, my lovely native land, I may never see thee again. God save Ireland. — Fidelia in the Cincinnati Telegraph.