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| INNISFALLEN, KILLARNEY. -The old Irish called this romantic spot, in the Gaelic language, Inis-Faithlenn-the island of Faithlenn, or Fallen, which would seem to have been the name of some Irish chief, or saint, of high distinction in remote ages. The island is 21 acres in extent, and contains much of what is most beauteous in fair Killarney. St. Finangobhar, or the Leper, so called from having been afflicted with a distressing form of cutaneous disease, founded here a monastery-remnants of which are pictured in the left foreground of the sketch-in the middle of the seventh century. Innisfallen, as it is now spelled and pronounced, is situated in the Lower Lake of Killarney and has been admired by generations of pleasure seekers. Sir Walter Scott-ever susceptible to the beauties of nature-revelled in its charms, and Thomas Moore devoted to it stanzas that have made its loveliness world-famous and immortal. How sweet, yet sad, is the cadence of his lines:- Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well, May calm and sunshine still be thine; How fair thou art let other tell, To feel how fair, yet still be mine. Sweet Innisfallen, long shall dwell In memory's dream that sunny smile, Which o'er thee on that evening fell, When first I say they fairy isle! |
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