built into the ancient walls; and
three of the imposing watch towers of bygone years survive. The hall of
the castle is decorated with beautiful Spanish leather work, and the
rich tapestries on the staircase were wrought in the sixteenth century,
on looms set up in the town by Flemings. Besides the family plate,
jewels, and heirlooms--which are displayed in several apartments--the
picture gallery is exceptionally attractive. Among its treasures are
Murillo's "St. John," Corregio's "Marriage of St. Catherine," and
Giordano's "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin." From St. John's Bridge,
above the Nore, a splendid view of the castle may be seen. There is a
pleasant pathway under the castle wall, along the river side from the
bridge. From Kilkenny many interesting excursions may be made. To
~Kells~, twelve statute miles, where there are the ruins of an important
twelfth century priory. Two miles from Kells is Kilree, where are
situate a ruined church, Round Tower, and Celtic cross, and a remarkable
tomb slab in the church, on which is an ancient symbolic sculpture of a
cock-in-a-pot crowing. Three miles from Kilree is Aghavillar, with
ruined church, attached castellated house, and Round Tower. About seven
miles from the city is the Cave of Dunmore, a stalactite cavern worth
seeing. ~Thomastown~, on the line to Waterford, was formerly a walled
town. It is less than two miles from Jerpoint Abbey, the ruins of which
are interesting. It was founded by Donough Tiernach, Chief of Ossory, in
1180. The style is Early Norman, but the turrets and battlements are
fifteenth century work.

[Illustration: _Photo, Lawrence, Dublin._ Picture Gallery, Kilkenny
Castle.]

Cromwell, who is discredited with destroying places in Ireland where he
never was, is said to have passed by Jerpoint without molesting it, but
when the peal of bells rang out in thanksgiving, he took it for a
challenge, and returned and sacked the place. In Cork he melted down the
chapel bells, saying that "as it was a priest that invented gunpowder,
the best thing that could be done with chapel bells was to make them
into cannons," which he did.

If, instead of branching off the main line at Kildare, we continue along
it in the south-western direction.

~Monasterevan~, which was an old ecclesiastical place of importance, now
insignificant except for its malting houses and distillery. The Marquis
of Drogheda's demesne and residence, Moore Abbey, stands in the centre
of