One of the least known of the great lakes of Ireland--Its
great beauty--Decline of population in the country round
it--Want of steam-boats on the Upper Shannon--Number of
Islands--Beauty of the Leinster shore of the lake; is
studded with gentlemen's seats--Goldsmith's house--Historic
interest of Loch Ree--The treaty of Blein Potog--Athlone;
its beauty of situation; the most prosperous town on the
Upper Shannon; its manufactures--Decline of the Irish
language--Improvement in the condition of the Irish
peasantry.
"EMANIA THE GOLDEN" 58
Emania a Latinised form of Emain Macha--The second most
historic spot on Irish soil--Its history--Its present
desolation--Its great extent--Denationalisation of the
peasantry in its vicinity; their almost total ignorance of
its history--Emania and the "Children of Uisneach"; extreme
beauty of that legend--The tomb of Deirdre--Many gold
ornaments found near Emania--Long preservation of a place
name--Queen Macha--The city of Armagh; its antiquity;
founded by St Patrick; ruined and plundered by the Danes;
was for some years the abode of a Danish King; its
picturesqueness.