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MUNSTER 9
Travelling by this line of rail you will have on
your right the Comeragh and the Knockmealdown
mountains which divide the valley of the Blackwater
from the valley of the Suir. But it may possibly be
your pleasure, as it will certainly be your profit, to
explore also the Suir valley, which divides the Co-
meraghs from the outlying mass of Slievenamon, and,
farther west, curves northward from the base of the
tall Galtee ranges.
I came last into Munster by motor car, driving
from Kilkenny
to Clonmel over the southern shoulder
of Slievenamon (Sliabh na m-Ban, the Witches' Mountains),
and a finer journey could not be taken. We
struck out through rich pasture and tillage, keeping
this shadowy dome which rose from the plain as our
objective, till the pass began to define itself. But
it was when we had crossed or were crossing the
pass that the real beauty began. Slievenamon was on
our right, well wooded; facing us, as we ran south,
were the Comeraghs, and a low foot ridge thrown
out from them, between which and us ran the Suir.
The valley is wider than that of the Blackwater,
with less of what may be called fancy wooding; but
it can fairly hold its own; and the quay
by the shining, swirling river is as pretty
at Clonmel
as heart
could desire.
From Clonmel to Lismore a road carries you