BLACK'S GUIDE ΤΟ IRELAND EDITED BY R. T. LANG ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS, PLANS, ETC. FIFTH EDITION LONDON ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK DA980 LANDSCAPE INTRODUCTORY NOTES YEAR by year Ireland is becoming better known to English and Scottish tourists; but even yet there are many who do not appreciate that "the emerald gem of the western sea" contains the finest scenery in the United Kingdom, and much which will compare with any to be seen in the whole range of the more favoured Continent. There is a peculiarity about Irish scenery which requires to be understood by every traveller. This is its suddenness of change, by which one may be passing through a land of commonplace, yet within a mile or two of some of the most beautiful scenes in Nature. Further, as a general rule, it may be taken that the best scenery of Ireland lies around the coast. In the great inland plain, the only really beautiful parts are those around Enniskillen. There are many pretty scenes in inland Ireland, but they pale before the magnificent richness of the seaboard and its immediate district. The first consideration of the traveller is the method of reaching Ireland, and some information on the various routes is given on another page. A word or two, however, may be permitted on the most popular route-that from Holyhead to Kingstown, or Dublin. There are two lines from Holyhead, the mail route of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, and the North Wall route of the London and North-Western Railway. Both possess a truly magnificent passenger steamer service; and, indeed, in these days when Germany is claiming the records of the sea, it is good to know that on the mail route we have still the fastest boats sailing from any port. The four splendid steamers of the City of Dublin Company, the Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connaught, are each twin-screw steamers of 3000 tons, with 9000 horsepower, and an average speed of 24 knots. They are fitted out in the most sumptuous style, and, owing to their length (372 feet) and special build, display little inclination to "pitching," always more productive of mal de mer in unseasoned travellers than the steady roll. Intending travellers should write to the Company (15 Eden Quay, Dublin) for an interesting booklet regarding these boats, which gives a great deal of useful information about them. Their only rivals are the new boats of the London and North-Western Railway Company to North Wall, and the traveller will find it difficult to place one ahead of the other. The Kingstown service occupies 24 hours in crossing, the remainder of the journey being by rail to Dublin; the North Wall service occupies from 3 to 4 hours, but carries the traveller right up to Dublin. From both landing-places there is direct communication with all parts of Ireland. It is possible for the tourist to "do" Ireland in ten days, but such can only be with a rush. To visit Ireland with any sense of enjoying all its main beauties, not less than a month is necessary. Should the traveller be unable to devote so much time at one period to the journey, it will be better to take the country in sections. These may be roughly classified as: 1, Kerry; 2, Wicklow; 3, Connemara ; 4, Donegal; 5, Antrim; 6, Clare; 7, Down; and 8, Waterford. Not less than a week should be devoted to any two of these districts, and many of them will easily occupy a week in themselves. The Kerry trip should be taken in preference to merely Killarney. The charm of Killarney's name is great, but the lakes and their district only constitute a part of the charm of south-west Ireland. No visitor should omit Parknasilla and Glengariffe from this itinerary ; |