 |
| FISHMARKET, GALWAY.- The foregoing sketch does not represent the Claddagh, or Fishermen's district of Galway City, proper, but the market place where the Claddagh women dispose of their fish. This market is situated in an ancient portion of the town, near one of the old gates, and presents an animated picture-in the earlier hours of the day particularly. Galway Bay is renowned for its herring fishery, and, in fact, is rich in all the varied produce of the sea. This produce constitutes the wealth, such as it is, of the Claddagh people. In good seasons, they have plenty and are happy. In bad seasons, they endure scarcity with true Celtic philosophy; for these primitive people are among the purest-blooded Celts in Ireland. The older women are, generally, weather-beaten and hard featured, owing to lives of continuous toil; but many of the young girls are quite pretty and have tall and graceful forms. In general, they are blessed with raven-black hair and deep blue eyes. All of them speak the old Gaelic tongue, in its native purity, but most of them also speak good English. Blue cloaks and red petticoats-sometimes blue petticoats and red cloaks-give them quite a Spanish appearance. |
 |  |