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| COLERAINE, CO. DERRY. -One of the most charming of Irish love ballads is that which describes the charms of sweet "Kitty of Coleraine." It has been sung by, at least, two generations of the Irish of the North and is by no means unknown in other sections of the island. The thriving town pictured above is charmingly situated on the right bank of the Bann, four miles from the sea. It is 47 miles north-northwest of Belfast, with which it is connected by rail. Many streets diverge from the central square, or "plaza," as it would be designated in Spanish America. The place has a population of about 5,000, and does a brisk business in fine linens, paper, leather and other branches of industry. Its fine salmon fishery yields a yearly rental of about $25,000, resulting from license fees. Since the river was deepened, in 1873, vessels of good size can anchor at the quay. The name, according to Joyce, is derived from an incident in the life of St. Patrick. When the great missionary, in his journey through Ulster, arrived in the neighborhood, he was hospitably received by the local chief, who granted him a piece of ground whereon to build a church. When the Saint inquired where the spot was, it was pointed out to him on the bank of the river Bann, in a place overgrown with ferns. Boys were, at the moment, amusing themselves by setting the ferns on fire. It was, therefore, called in Gaelic Cuil-rathain, translated by Colgan "the Corner of the Ferns," -a name which, with very little alteration, it retains to this day. |
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