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| KILLORGLIN, COUNTY KERRY. - The above picturesquely situated village stands on the Laune river, which connects Lough Lene, Killarney, with Castlemaine harbor, an inlet of dingle Bay. Killorglin has advanced in importance during the last half century, because of the influx of tourixsts, who obtain from this point one of the finest views of the McGillicuddy Reeks, the King of which is lofty Carrantuohil-the highest mountain in Ireland. Near it is also situated the charming lake ofCaragh, which is by many preferred to Lough Lene itself. The Laune river is spanned at Killorglin by a fine bridge, which is strong enough to stand the sudden and violent freshets produced by heavy rains in the adjacent mountains. It is said that "pearls of price" were obtained in great numbers from the Laune in olden times, and that many of them graced the fair necks of the wives and daughters of the gallant Desmond chiefs. A few of these precious gems have been found in the river even within this century. Edward Walsh alludes to the richness of the Laune pearl-fishery in his poem of "Aileen the Huntress," thus; A circlet of pearls o'er her chite bosom lay And now to the beautiful Aileen come down- Erst worn by thy proud queen, O'Connor the Gay, The rarest that ever she light in the Laune. |
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