St. Mary's Cathedral.

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pedestal beyond the reach of such vandalism. Thomond Bridge connects Englishtown with the Co. Clare.

The foundation of St. Mary's Cathedral, also situated in the Old Town, may be dated so far back as A. D. 1180; at which time, we are told, Donald O'Brien, king of Limerick, presented his palace to the Church; and portions of this palace are still to be found in the cathedral. It was afterwards enlarged by Donagh O'Brien, who died in 1207, and by the bishops Hubert de Burgh and Eustace del Ewe. With some few exceptions in later additions by Bishop O'Dea, about the year 1426, all the arches and windows are in the style of Gothic architecture usually called "transition," mixed with first-pointed work. But the beauty of the interior is much spoiled by the tasteless introduction of some unsightly wooden-work imitations of classic models adorned with pagan emblems. Some of the tombs are of great antiquity, and possess much interest from their association with the great names of former times. The tower contains eight bells, which, like those of Cologne and other cathedrals, are connected with a legend. It is said that they were originally brought from Italy, "where they had been manufactured by a young native, and finished after the toil of many years. They were subsequently purchased by the prior of a neighbouring convent; and with the profits of this sale the young Italian procured a little villa, where he had the pleasure of hearing the tolling of his bells from the convent cliffs, and of growing old in the bosom of domestic happiness. This, however, was not to continue. In some of those broils, whether civil or foreign, which are the undying worm of the peace of a fallen land, the good Italian was a sufferer amongst many. He lost his all, and became a wanderer, without home or friends. The convent in which the bells, the chef d'œuvre of his skill, were hung was razed, and these last carried away to another land. His hair grew grey, and his heart withered before he again found a home or a friend. In this desolation of spirit he formed the resolution of seeking the place to which those treasures of the memory had been finally borne. He sailed for Ireland, and anchored in a pool near Limerick. The city was now before him; and he beheld St. Mary's steeple lifting its turreted head above the smoke and mist of the old town. On a sudden, amid the general stillness of the evening, the bells tolled from the cathedral. The old Italian looked towards the city, crossed his arms on his breast, and lay back in his seat. Home, happiness, early recollections, friends,

family-all were in the sound, and went with it to his heart. When the rowers looked round, they beheld him with his face still turned towards the cathedral; but his eyes were closed; and when they landed they found him cold!”

During the last siege of Limerick, a great piece placed by the Irish on the steeple of St. Mary's, and worked by one of their most accomplished gunners, committed great havoc amongst the enemy, and caused them to direct most of their fire against the cathedral. The gunner was at length killed; and General Ginkle, not wishing to destroy so fine a building, ordered the firing against it to cease. Several of the chainshot used at this time are still shown. The ancient portions of the city which adjoin the cathedral will not fail to attract a lover of the picturesque. The high gables, clustered chimneys, and rich colouring of the old houses, present studies of great interest.

Newtown-Pery, or the New Town, is connected with the English town which stands on King's Island by Mathew Bridge, called after the famous Apostle of Temperance, Father Theobald Mathew. This part of the city contains nearly all the principal streets, and a handsome square, finely planted, in which is erected a statue of the late Lord Monteagle, for many years M. P. for the city. In Richmond-place, or the Crescent, there is a bronze statue of O'Connell.

St. John's Roman Catholic Cathedral is a very handsome modern structure, built by the voluntary contributions of the people at a cost of about £17,000. There are in Limerick several other churches of various denominations, and many handsome public buildings, as well as convents and charitable institutions.

Newtown Pery is connected with the county Clare by Wellesley Bridge, a magnificent specimen of architecture, having a swivel in the centre to allow vessels to pass. It stretches across the river near the mouth of the harbour, and commands a fine view of the Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral. A statue of Lord Fitzgibbon, who fell at Balaclava, stands on this bridge. The quays reach in an almost unbroken line from this point to the Floating and Graving Docks.

Limerick has long been regarded as the head-quarters of the lace manufacture in Ireland, which gives employment to hundreds of hands, and some of the factories sent many beautiful specimens of lace to the Cork Exhibition of 1883.

The Rapids of the Shannon.

THE FALLS Of Doonass.

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The traveller who wishes to visit these beautiful rapids, which lie between Limerick and Castleconnell, should go by rail to the latter place, and thence proceed by a by-road which branches off close to the station. Here indeed the lover of Nature will revel in a very paradise of the loveliest combinations of water, wood, meadow, and rock; with background of many-tinted hills, above and beyond which tower the grey mountains of Clare. "The Shannon," says Mr. Will, "is here for more than a quarter of a mile almost a cataract; and this to an English eye must be particularly striking. It is only in the streams and rivulets of England that rapids are found; the larger rivers generally glide smoothly on without impediment from rocks. The Thames, Trent, Severn, and Mersey, when they lose the character of streams and become rivers, hold a noiseless course; but the Shannon, larger than all the four, here pours that immense body of water-which above the rapids is forty feet deep and three hundred yards wide-through and above a congregation of huge stones and rocks, which extend nearly half a mile, and offers not an unusual scene, but a spectacle approaching much nearer the sublime than any moderate-sized stream can offer, even in its highest cascade. On returning to Castleconnell the tourist will find a good hotel, The Shannon, where he can rest and refresh himself after his walk. Indeed, if so minded, he might remain at Castleconnell for the night, where there is much to see that is interesting and pleasingthe Castle, The Spa, which is very highly esteemed by the inhabitants of Limerick for its chalybeate qualities; and O'Brien's Bridge, a very ancient structure, which spans the Shannon at a little distance from the village. The surrounding scenery, too, is so charming that the visitor would find himself well repaid for the delay.

The village of Castleconnell takes its name from a fortress which was erected here at a very remote period, the ruins of which may still be seen on the summit of a lofty isolated rock, indicating a chief seat of the O'Briens, kings of Munster. Here the grandson of Brian Boru was murdered, after being deprived of his eyes, by the Prince of Thomond, who came as a guest, having left his army secretly on the opposite shore, with directions to surprise the garrison of Brian. Subsequently the castle was granted to Richard de Burgo, the Red Earl of Ulster, and to his time the remains may be assigned.