_Legends of the Co. Clare_ (Vol. viii., p. 436.).--The Lake of Inchiquin,
one legend of which has been already published in "N. & Q.," is said to
have been once a populous and flourishing city, and still on a calm night
you may see the towers and spires gleaming through the clear wave. But for
some dreadful and unabsolved crime, a holy man of those days whelmed all
beneath the deep waters. The "dark spirit" of its king, who ruled also over
the surrounding country, resides in a cavern in one of the hills which
border the lake, and once every seven years at midnight, he issues forth
mounted on his white charger, and urges him at full speed over hill and
crag, until he has completed the circuit of the lake; and thus he is to
continue, till the silver hoofs of his steed are worn out, when the curse
will be removed, and the city reappear in all its splendour. The cave
extends nearly a mile under the hill; the entrance is low and gloomy, but
the roof rises to a considerable height for about half the distance, and
then sinks down to a narrow passage, which leads into a somewhat lower
division of the cave. The darkness, and the numbers of bats which flap
their wings in the face of the explorer, and whirl round his taper, fail
not to impress him with a sensation of awe.