The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

MUNSTER. 427
quarries. Kinrara, on a southern arm of Galway Bay, is the seat of a
Catholic bishop ; and a few miles to the south of it is Gorf, with the ruins of a
cathedral.
Amongst the towns in the eastern plain Tiiam, with its rival bishops and
Catholic college, occupies the first place, but commercially, as well as in population,
BaUinasloe can claim the precedence, on account of its great horse, cattle, sheep,
and wool fairs. Loucjhrca, on a small lough almost in the centre of the plain, is a
market town. Clonfert, an old episcopal city, and Portumna, at the head of
Lough Dorg, are merely villages.
Mayo, in its western portion, consists of wild mountain land, but to the east
of Loughs Conn and Mask it extends into the central plain which stretches
westward to the head of Clew Bay. All the large towns of the county lie
in this more level tract. Wesfj)ort, near Clew Bay, frowned down upon by
Croagh Patrick (2,510 feet) and Cushcamcarragh (2,343 feet), and studded
with innumerable islets, has a small harbour. BaUinrohe, on a river tributary to
Lough Mask, is a decayed^ market-place. Castlcbar, in the fertile valley of the
Moy, which flows northward into Killala Bay, is more attractive ; but most
prosperous of all the towns of the county is BalUna, on the Lower Moy, only 7
miles from the bay, and with a port accessible to vessels of 200 tons burden. It
was here General Humbert landed on the road to his barren victory of Castlebar,
after which he proclaimed the Irish Republic. KiUaJa, on the bay itself, is merely
a fishing village, with the residence of a Catholic bishop. On Blacksod Bay,
behind Mullet Peninsula, near Erris Head, are Belmullet and Binghamstoicn, two
fishing villages.
The county of Sligo is almost shut in by hills, which bound a beautiful
plain opening upon Sligo Bay. Upon an arm of this bay stands Slicjo, the county
town, largely engaged in the salmon fishery and coasting trade. On another
arm, at the mouth of the Owenmore, rises Ballijsadare, a fishing village, with
limestone quarries. On the upper course of that river is BaUijmote, with the ruins
of an abbey, and near it Achonraij, the residence of a Catholic bishop.
MuNSTER.—Munster comprises the whole of South-western Ireland, from
Galway Bay to Waterford, and is richer in fine harbours than any other part of
Ireland. Within it lie some of the finest mountains of the island, and several of
its most productive vales. Irish is still largely spoken in the counties of Water-
ford, Kerry, Clare, and Cork—altogether by about a fourth of the population.
The county of Clare occupies the peninsula between Galway Bay and the
estuary of the Shannon. It is a region of barren hills, cut in two by the fertile
valley of the Fergus, and abounding in fuUoghs, or winter lakes, and underground
water-courses. Ennis, the county town, stands at the head of the estuary of the
Fergus, and is the ancient residence of the O'Brians. Clare, a village with a castle
used as barracks, stands below. Corofin and KUfcnora are higher up on the
Fergus. Kilrush, on the estuary of the Shannon, is a favourite watering-place,
and has some trade in fish and peat. A railway connects it with Killcco, on the