name is now given to a large stone, upheld by an iron clamp, below the parapet. The Blarney Stone was a byword in Ireland before 1799, the year in which Milliken wrote the now celebrated song, "The Groves of Blarney." Since then the stone and the ruin where it is placed have attained a world-wide renown, and "blarney" is a synonym for flattery wherever the English language is spoken. Webster, in his dictionary, has defined it "smooth deceitful talk-flattery." It is certainly very curious that a few lines, remarkable only for their absurdity, should have gained for this place, which possesses nothing remarkable in itself, such a wonderful notoriety. There are several versions of the song, which may be found in most collections of British poetry. The following, which will serve as a sample, is from Croker's "Popular Songs of Ireland :". "The groves of Blarney, Of sweet silent streams, That spontaneous grow there, By the sweet rock close. 'Tis there's the daisy, And the rose so fair, The sweet fragrant air." The "Reliques of Father Prout" contain a version of the song, from which we extract the following: "There is a stone there, Hotel is a large and admirably managed establishment. It is in a central and convenient position for visiting the best scenery. The Manager personally supervises the arrangement of boating and other excursions with a view to comfort and economy. The tourist who is pressed for time may see in a single day, cursorily, of course, the chief objects of interest in this attractive region. To enable him to do this, he should start early from his hotel and visit Muckross Abbey and the Tore Cascade by car, and returning to his hotel, should take another car to the Gap of Dunloe, having, previous to starting, arranged to have a boat to meet him at Lord Brandon's cottage. If the tourist has two days, the excursion to the Gap and his visit to the various places of interest on the Lakes will consume one, and the excursion to Muckross, Torc, and, if he desires, the ascent of Mangerton, will occupy the second. It will be well to study carefully the geography of the region before setting out upon these excursions. The accompanying map will be found valuable for this purpose. Before starting, the keeper of the hotel should be consulted, and his choice adopted in the selection of guides and conveyances. The tariff for cars, boats, and guides is fixed, and the tourist should insist always on an adherence to its provisions. The following excursion comprises all that tourists generally will care to visit, and the whole may be accomplished in a single busy day; but visitors who can do so, should by all means take a second day for the visit to Mangarton, Muckross, and Torc Cascade. one Leaving Killarney, we pass, on the right, the workhouse and the lunatic asylum, and, on the left, the Roman Catholic cathedral, an elaborate Gothic building. On an eminence (2 miles) are the ruins of Aghadoe, an interesting group, comprising a castle, the origin of which is unknown, and of which there remains only the fragment of the tower about 30 ft. in height, and the church, which is an oblong structure, comprising two chapels, erected in 1158, the other being of more recent date. We next pass Aghadoe House, the seat of Lady Headley, and reach Dunloe Castle and the Cave of Dunloe (5 miles). The Cave, situated in a field near our route, was discovered in 1838; the stones which form its roof contain words written in the Ogham character, supposed to have been used by the Druids. Hall, in his 'Hibernia Illustrata,' says, "This cave must be regarded as an ancient Irish library, lately disinterred and restored to light. The books are the large impost stones which form the roof; their angles contain the writing. A library of such literature was never heard of in England before, and scarcely in Ireland, and yet it is of the highest antiquity." 34 miles farther, and 8 miles from Killarney, is the Gap of Dunloe. Near the entrance stands the cottage said to have been inhabited by the beautiful Kate Kearney, and in which her reputed granddaughter now resides. The GAP OF DUNLOE is a wild, narrow pass, about four miles in length, between the hills known as Macgillicuddy's Reeks and the Purple Mountain. The little river Loe runs through its whole length, expanding in its course into five lakes. The height of the rocks on either side forms a striking contrast with the narrow road and the name is now given to a large stone, upheld by an iron clamp, below the parapet. The Blarney Stone was a byword in Ireland before 1799, the year in which Milliken wrote the now celebrated song, "The Groves of Blarney." Since then the stone and the ruin where it is placed have attained a world-wide renown, and “blarney" is a synonym for flattery wherever the English language is spoken. Webster, in his dictionary, has defined it smooth deceitful talk-flattery." It is certainly very curious that a few lines, remarkable only for their absurdity, should have gained for this place, which possesses nothing remarkable in itself, such a wonderful notoriety. There are several versions of the song, which may be found in most collections of British poetry. The following, which will serve as a sample, is from Croker's "Popular Songs of Ireland:" "The groves of Blarney, Of sweet silent streams, That spontaneous grow there, By the sweet rock close. 'Tis there's the daisy, And the rose so fair, The sweet fragrant air." The "Reliques of Father Prout" contain a version of the song, from which we extract the following: "There is a stone there, "A clever spouter He'll sure turn out, or To be let alone! From the Blarney Stone!" The "groves," the adjacent lake, and the caves, supposed to have been used as prisons, may be visited, but they are not of especial interest. ROUTE 3. CORK TO KILLARNEY. (Via Mallow Junction.) 63 miles; first class, 11s. 6d. ; second, Ss. 4d.; third, 5s. L EAVING Cork from the station of the Great Southern and Western Railway, we pass, 5 miles, Blarney station. (See Route 2.) MALLOW JUNCTION (19 miles.) (Hotel: Queens' Arms), at which point our road branches off to Killarney. Mallow is a pretty town of about 9,000 inhabitants, agreeably situated on the Blackwater river. It was once a fashionable bathing, place. The castle on the riverat the east end of the town, is the residence of Sir Denham Norreys. After leaving Mallow, Gazabo Hill is seen, 44 miles to the left, a conical hill with a ruin on the summit; 20 miles distant is Mill street, near which is Drishane Castle, the seat of J. Wallis, with an extensive park. Soon after we reach KILLARNEY, 41 miles (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST.") Killarney has ample hotel accommodation. The Railway Hotel is a large and admirably managed establishment. It is in a central and convenient position for visiting the best scenery. The Manager personally supervises the arrangement of boating and other excursions with a view to comfort and economy. The tourist who is pressed for time may see in a single day, cursorily, of course, the chief objects of interest in this attractive region. To enable him to do this, he should start early from his hotel and visit Muckross Abbey and the Tore Cascade by car, and returning to his hotel, should take another car to the Gap of Dunloe, having, previous to starting, arranged to have a boat to meet him at Lord Brandon's cottage. If the tourist has two days, the excursion to the Gap and his visit to the various places of interest on the Lakes will consume one, and the excursion to Muckross, Torc, and, if he desires, the ascent of Mangerton, will occupy the second. It will be well to study carefully the geography of the region before setting out upon these excursions. The accompanying map will be found valuable for this purpose. Before starting, the keeper of the hotel should be consulted, and his choice adopted in the selection of guides and conveyances. The tariff for cars, boats, and guides is fixed, and the tourist should insist always on an adherence to its provisions. The following excursion comprises all that tourists generally will care to visit, and the whole may be accomplished in a single busy day; but visitors who can do so, should by all means take a second day for the visit to Mangarton, Muckross, and Tore Cascade. Leaving Killarney, we pass, on the right, the workhouse and the lunatic asylum, and, on the left, the Roman Catholic cathedral, an elaborate Gothic building. On an eminence (24 miles) are the ruins of Aghadoe, an interesting group, comprising a castle, the origin of which is unknown, and of which there remains only the fragment of the tower about 30 ft. in height, and the church, which is an oblong structure, comprising two chapels, one erected in 1158, the other being of more recent date. We next pass Aghadoe House, the seat of Lady Headley, and reach Dunloe Castle and the Cave of Dunloe (5 miles). The Cave, situated in a field near our route, was discovered in 1838; the stones which form its roof contain words written in the Ogham character, supposed to have been used by the Druids. Hall, in his 'Hibernia Illustrata,' says, "This cave must be regarded as an ancient Irish library, lately disinterred and restored to light. The books are the large impost stones which form the roof; their angles contain the writing. A library of such literature was never heard of in England before, and scarcely in Ireland, and yet it is of the highest antiquity." 34 miles farther, and 8 miles from Killarney, is the Gap of Dunloe. Near the entrance stands the cottage said to have been inhabited by the beautiful Kate Kearney, and in which her reputed granddaughter now resides. The GAP OF DUNLOE is a wild, narrow pass, about four miles in length, between the hills known as Macgillicuddy's Reeks and the Purple Mountain. The little river Loe runs through its whole length, expanding in its course into five lakes. The height of the rocks on either side forms a striking contrast with the narrow road and the |