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ake frequent reference." ous impression of Ireland is con e and m. i", on approaching autiful of Dubin! It is, i 1. ssibly iy; and on entering voy, the heart bends with e: 1 of its capacious boson. ess, encompassed in turn 1. ', 'e mountains. To the south. erable fors, are the "Wi ut nearer, sing, as it were, ou Oran, is the ever-great To the north, a bolder coa -

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From the Hill of Howth, Dublin
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land, visit some of the most striking and interesting objects in the country-a ruined church, a very ancient castle, some druidic remains, a village, dignified with the name of "town," essentially Irish, in its half-desolate character; and, standing beside the wall that surrounds the Bailey lighthouse, he may gaze over the wide ocean, or looking to the right, admire the beautiful scenery that borders Dublin Bay; and on the left, the famous little island called "Ireland's Eye;" beyond it the renowned isle of Lambay, and, some forty miles north of the spot on which he stands, the clearly-defined and bold outlines of the Mourne mountains.25 Let us first enter the ancient abbey of Howth; and postpone our progress up the Liffey awhile, to notice its romantic history, and that of its heroic founders, whose descendants still hold the lands they won with their swords; retaining for above six hundred years the property they acquired, " without increase or diminution "-and, observes Dr. Walsh, "we may also add, without improvement or alteration." The abbey, or rather churchfor of its monastic rank there are no authentic proofs-is dedicated to the Virgin, and is said to have been erected by the St. Lawrences early in the thirteenth century: here, from time to time, the mortal remains of the "bold barons " have been laid, and the aisles are crowded with relics that bear records of their prowess.20 church like many of the sacred edifices erected in "troublous times," was constructed for defence as well as for purposes of religion. It is

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defended by a battlemented rampart, which on one side impends over the sea, and on the other over a deep fosse. Of the ancient "college there are some remains—a hall, a kitchen, and a few cells; until lately they afforded shelter to several poor families. The ruins of another building a small oratory dedicated to St. Fenton-exist a little to the west of the castle. The castle, for so many ages the residence of the noble family, retains but little of its original character. It has been altered at various periods, according to the wishes or wants of its proprietors, and with far more regard to convenience than to architectural skill and beauty.2

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"Ireland's Eye" is a small island, about a mile from the northern shore of Howth; in the centre of which is the ruin of a church dedicated to St. Nessan. The church was very small, about twelve feet by twenty-four in the interior; the walls, composed of rough pebbles and fragments of flint, give evidence of the most remote antiquity. There are no traces of windows; and a great peculiarity in its structure is, that the porch and belltower are at the east end; this porch is vaulted—the arch (semicircular) is composed of squared blocks of that description of stone called calpe, which is said to be almost peculiar to the district of Dublin, and must have been brought from the mainland-the stones are regularly arranged and well cemented.28

We return to the Bay; and leaving to the left the pretty island of Dalkey, enter the channel, between two huge sandbanks, called, from the

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