Killarney, LAKES OF

Killarney, LAKES OF, are a series of three connected sheets of water, the lowermost of which is within $1\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile of the town of Killarney. The outflow is by the river Lanne north-west to Castlemain Harbour. These famous lakes are situated in a basin in the midst of the mountains of Kerry, some of which rise abruptly from the water's edge densely clothed with trees from base to summit. Arthur Young called those which surround the upper lake 'the most tremendous mountains that can be imagined,' and said that the wooded hills along the margins 'form the most magnificent shore in the world.' This is exaggeration, but the scenery of Killarney is very beautiful, and in some of its aspects unique. It presents, as Arthur Young quaintly said, an admirable mixture of the beautiful and sublime. The lower lake, Lough Leane, covers an area of 5001 acres, and is studded with richly-wooded islands. The largest of these is Ross Island, on which is situated Ross Castle, an old stronghold of the O'Donoghues. Another island is the 'sweet Innisfallen' of Moore's song, and on this is the picturesque ruin of an abbey, founded by St Finian the leper in the 6th century. The upper lake covers some 430 acres, and is also studded with islands. Between the two is Lough Tore, covering 680 acres. Connecting the upper with the lower and middle lakes is the Long Range, a beautifully-wooded and picturesque-winding stream $2\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles long. About midway in its course occurs the famous echo, caused by a lofty rock called the Eagle's Nest. Between the lower and the middle lakes is the fine ruin of Muckross Abbey, founded by the Franciscans in 1440. A peculiarity of the scenery is the luxuriant growth of arbutuses on the islands of the lakes, which add such richness and colour to the general effect. See works by Mr and Mrs Hall (1843-78).