Irish Scenery—Kilkee, Co. Clare.

ladies staying here . They select retired nooks , and pass aAvay the time in reading some of the latest novels by either Sir Buhver Lytton , Dickens , or Miss Braddon , Avith the ocean in all its majesty before them , undisturbed by the continual beating

of the sea against the rocks immediately beneath . Further on you meet high precipices assuming grotesque shapes , in some instances reminding you of the ruins of some ancient Gothic structure . Here there are many small domes , but none of sufficient

importance to make mention of . As Ave proceed on our journey to the caves , Ave come to the immediate vicinity of the Puffing-Hole . It has not been my good fortune to have seen this natural ¦ curiosity in all its splendour . The Avater rarely

ever ascends in summer to any very great height , but in Avinter , during stormy weather , the sea ¦ rushes with such force through the aperture chiselled out by nature in a solid sheet of table rock , that it rises many feet in the air , sometimes

descending as it came , whilst at other times the SAvell breaks and l-ushes over the rocks in its vicinity sweeping all before it . In its headlong course it

has been knoAvn to have frequently displaced huge rocks and carried them into the ocean . The melancholy fate of Colonel Peppard , county Limerick , and his intended bride , some feAV years since , at this place , I have no doubt will be in the

recollection of most of your readers . They Avere to be united in a feAV days subsequent to the catastrophe , but the Ruler of all eA r ents decreed it otherwise , and the betrothed ones never lived to see their hopes consummated . With a party of friends

they went to see the Puffing Rock , Avhen they were so carried aAvay in contemplation of the happy event , Avhich they hoped soon to see realised , that they ventured too- close to this dangerous spot ,

quite forgetful of the peril to Avhich they Avere exposed . Without the sli ghtest warning the returning Avave carried them beyond the reach of human aid , locked in each other ' s embrace . The lady's body was found after some few days , still

clinging- to the only remnant of her lover ' s garment that has ever been discovered . The ledges of rock in this A icinity have of late years become more frequented by the fashionables residing here . This place , AA'hich is quite even and easy of access ,

embraces several seats and convenient corners in Avhich to lounge . As Ave proceeded Ave came immediately under Look-out Hill . It is 800 ft . high , and quite perpendicular . Intrinsic Bay is the next place of note

Irish Scenery—Kilkee, Co. Clare.

to Look-out Hill . This name it has derived from a large ship AA'hich was driven ashore at this point of the coast . Although the vessel did not go to pieces until the morning after the fearful accident , not a soul survived to tell the melancholy tale .

The poor felloAvs could be observed in the agonies of despair clinging to the ropes , the sea washingover them mountains high , Avaiting- for assistance , that could not be rendered by the villagers , who congregated overhead .

We arrived at last at the first and most important of the caves , Avhere the visitor becomes lost in admiration , and an involuntary sense of loneliness creeps over him as he enters through its stupendous jaAvs . The recollection of by-gone days

AA'hen pirates and smugglers infested the coast , at once recurs to the mind , and fosters up fancies of the romantic tales of " Monte Christo , " or some

such legend . The washing of the sea has worn aAvay the rock for a distance of 500 ft . or 600 ft . As you proceed inwards , one naturally feels surprised at the finished appearance it presents . In fact , in some places , the sides are so smooth they

resemble polished marble . This , I think , is caused by the water from the earth above . There are slight curves where the cave becomes Avider , allowing tAvo canoes to turn easily . The general aspect of the place is truly remarkable . It is about 30 ft .

to 50 ft . high . When you come towards its extreme end a heavy rumbling sound is likely to cause a thrill of fear to pass over your frame , until jrou become acquainted Avith the cause , Avhich is none other than the surging of the waves among

the many round stones washed in by heavy tides . The echo here is truly wonderful . Speak in a loud A ^ oice , and it re-echoes for at least five or ten minutes .

After a careful survey of this remarkable place we took our departure and proceeded to an immense cliff , Avhich projects about 500 ft . from the base to its top , and forms a kind of arch perfect in its proportions , en route to the second cave in the vicinity

of Bishop's Island , Avhich is about an acre in extent , and derives its name from the fact that a bishop at one time resided there . The sheep fed on this island are supposed to yield the SAveetest mutton in this neighbourhood . The second cave

is someAvhat like the first , but not so capacious , either in length or breadth , still it is quite interesting . —Limerick Chronicle .

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