Space forbids, or endless abbeys might be described.  The Black Abbey at Kilkenny, with its long row of Butler effigies, or the Cathedral of Saint Canice, still perfect, with its soaring round tower beside it, or the mystical seven light window of the Franciscan friary by the Nore, with the old mill-weirs running free to this day.  How long could we ponder by the east window of Kilcooley, with tracery like a spider’s web, and listen to the mystical bells, or gaze at the beautiful oriel at Feenagh, or stand at Jerpoint, with its spacious cloisters and stone-groined choir, with Saint Christopher in Irish marble beside us.

Cashel, one of the wonders of the world, grows up suddenly into sight on a high rock rising from level land crowned with buildings.  A great abbey dominates; beside it clings that carved gem of a stone-roofed church, Cormac’s Chapel.  Round Tower and Cross are there, and many a sculptured tomb.

Not far from Cashel is the Abbey of Holy Cross, with its lovely mitred windows, shadowed in the river passing at its feet.  The circular pillars and arches of Boyle Abbey are splendidly proportioned, whilst the cloisters of Sligo display in their long, shadowy recesses and ornamented pillars great dignity and beauty.  The windows and monuments of Ennis Friary, founded by the O’Briens, are of unusual interest, the carving of figure-subjects being equal to the best of their age.

We have Thomastown and Callan, Dunbrody and Tintern, all having an individual charm and interest that not only dim the eye and make the blood course freely in every one of Irish stock when he looks upon what is and thinks of what was, but even in the coldest light give food for thought to every one desirous of knowing something of the growth and civilization of a great people.

Of the many castles and stout Irish strongholds it is hard to write in such a short paper as this.  Those on the Boyne, such as Trim, for strong building and extent, excel in many ways.  Carlingford, Carrickfergus, and Dunluce have by their size and picturesque situations ever appealed to visitors.  They are each built on rocks jutting into the sea, Dunluce on a great perpendicular height, the Atlantic dashing below.  Dunamace, near Maryborough, in the O’More country, appears like Cashel, but is entirely military.  The famed walled cities of Kells, in Kilkenny, and Fore, in Westmeath, are remarkable.  Each has an abbey, many towers, gates, and stout bastions.  The great keeps of the midland lords, the towers of Granuaile on the west coast, and the traders’ towers on the east coast, especially those of Down, afford ample material for a study of the early colonizing efforts of different invaders, as well as providing incidents of heroism and romance.  These square battlemented towers can be seen here and there in every district.

Every portion of Ireland has its ruins.  Earthworks, stone forts, prehistoric monuments, circular stone huts, early churches, abbeys, crosses, round towers, castles of every size and shape are to be found in every county, some one in every parish, all over Ireland.  It is almost invidious to name any in particular where the number is so great.