and attracts buyers not only from all parts of
these countries, but from as far away as Vienna and Stockholm. Spenser
pays tribute to the beautiful Blackwater which flows through Mallow to
Youghal--

"Swift Annsduff, which of the English is called Blackwater."

Far away in the highland country between Cork and Kerry the stream
rises, and comes floating and pushing down from the haunt of the
fairies and the outlaw, through the wild country of Meelin. Here is a
remarkable cave, the hiding place of Donald O'Keeffe, last of the old
chiefs of the land of Duhallow, who was outlawed after the fall of the
Jacobites.

[Illustration: _Photo, Roche, Dublin._ In the Woods at Buttevant.]

The river flows through Newmarket, the birthplace of Curran, and
Kanturk, the birthplace of Barry Yelverton, to ~Mallow~ which is the
centre of the lines of railway radiating into Kerry, Fermoy, and
Lismore, as well as to Cork city. The town is very beautifully situated.
In the distance are the Kilworth mountains, which seem afar off to join
the ample deer-park at Mallow Castle. It was once one of the liveliest
and most fashionable resorts in Ireland, but its famous spas, to which
gentlewomen and gallants came in the last century, are now unfrequented
and almost forgotten. When abductions, duelling, and such pastimes were
in vogue, "The Rakes of Mallow" were in their heyday. As Lysaght sang:--

"Beauing, belleing, dancing, drinking,
Breaking windows, damning, sinking,
Ever raking, never thinking,
Live the rakes of Mallow.

Spending faster than it comes,
Beating waiters, bailiffs, duns,
Bacchus' true-begotten sons,
Live the rakes of Mallow.

Living short, but merry lives.
Going where the devil drives:
Having sweethearts, but no wives,
Live the rakes of Mallow."

[Illustration: _Photo, Roche, Dublin._ Mallow Castle.]

~The Blackwater~ flows past Mallow through a rich country surrounded by
soft-breasted hills and well-planted lawns, to Fermoy, a garrison town
of importance, from which Mitchelstown, eleven miles away, may be
reached by a light railway. The caves at Mitchelstown are described
elsewhere (Waterford section). We will part the branch line here and
return, _via_ Cork, to Youghal, the point from which to become familiar
with the Blackwater at its best.

~Youghal~, except in summer-time, when the visitors to its splendid
strand enliven its appearance, is a sombre old place with an air of
retired resp