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| ARDFERT CATHEDRAL, CO. KERRY. -The once glorious monastery of Ardfert, in the county Kerry, six miles northwest of Tralce, was founded by the illustrious St. Brendan, the Navigator-said to have first discovered the North American continent-about the year 550. The name in Gaelic is written Ard-ferta-the Height of the Grave. The ruins, after the lapse of 1,300 years, are still imposing. Chiefly noticeable are the four rounded arches in the western front and the three artistic, pointed windows in the eastern facade. Handsome niches, ornamented with antique moldings, are to be seen on the right of the grand altar, and are still in good condition. A superb round tower, over 120 feet in height, stood near the abbey until 1771, when it suddenly, and mysteriously, collapsed. It was composed of blocks of black marble. All this region of the favored county Kerry is filled with romantic objects, which the Munster poet, Edward Walsh, has embodied, thus, in one of his sweetest ballads: As the Guebre's round tower,o'er the fans of Ardfert, Beneath the rich'kerchief,which matrons may wear, As the white hind of Brandon by young roes begirt, Strayed ringletted tresses of beautiful hair; As the moon in her glory 'mid bright stars outhung They wav'd on her fair neck as darkly as though Stood Aileen McCartie her maidens among! 'Twere the raven's wing shining o'er Mangerton's snow! |
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