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| KILLALOE, CO. CLARE. -The rapids of the river Shannon have a fall of about 21 feet to a mile at Killaloe-gaelic, Kill-dalua, the Church of St. Dalua, or Molua, who flourished, according to the learned Joyce, in the 6th century. On the site of the original church, Donald O'Brien, King of Thomond, built a splendid cruciform cathedral in 1160. Its style is early Gothic, and a massive tower springs from the centre of the edifice. It is held by some antiquarians that the Romanesque doorway, generally considered the tomb of one of the earlier O'Briens, may be a remnant of the church erected by the saint. Killaloe has been, for ages, an episcopal see, and has both a Catholic and Protestant bishop. Killaloe city, which is situated in county Clare, is connected with the Tipperary bank of the river by a massive, ancient bridge of nineteen arches. The salmon fishery at this point is one of the richest in Ireland, and, therefore, Killaloe is a favorite resort. The cathedral appears on the left of the picture, and in the background rise the rugged hills of Clare, which saw King Brian, in 1014, march from adjacent Kinkora to victory and death. How grimly they recall the noble lines of Moore- Remember the glories of Brian the Brave, That star of the field which so often hath pour'd tho' the days of the hero are o'er its beam on the battle is set, Tho' lost to Mononia, and cold in the grave, But enough of its glory remains on each sword to he returns to Kincora no more! light us to victory yet! |
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