n, is the
military key to the Province of Connaught. The keep of the old Castle,
dating from King John's reign, remains, but the bridge and salmon weir
are of more interest. In 1691 Ginckle besieged the town on the eastern
bank, but a handful of Irish troops held the Connaught side, desiring to
keep the position until St. Ruth arrived. The defence of the bridge is
one of the most gallant exploits in Irish history. Colonel Richard
Grace, who held the position for the Jacobites, was offered security in
his estates and military honours, if he surrendered, by the Duke of
Schomberg. At night, when the offer reached the Jacobite general, he was
in his quarters, playing the familiar Irish card game of spoil-five with
his officers. The six-of-hearts happened to be the "deckhead." Grace
took it from the pack and wrote on the back, "It ill becomes a gentleman
to betray his trust," and gave it to the Williamite messenger. The
"six-of-hearts" is still known as "The Grace's Card," especially in
Kilkenny, where the general's estates were. From Athlone excursions may
be made to Auburn, eight miles; Clonmacnoise, ten Irish miles; and to
Lough Ree. Lissoy, where Goldsmith spent his childhood, there can be
little doubt, was the original of--

"Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain."

It is a pleasant drive, the road from Ballykeeran skirting Lough
Killinure. Lough Ree, three miles from Athlone, is low-lying, some ten
miles long, and in parts prettily wooded. There is a small archipelago
in the northern end, of which pretty "Hare Island" is the residence of
Lord Castlemaine. The Seven Churches of Clonmacnoise formed the old city
of St. Kieran, whose feast day is the 9th September. There are two Round
Towers, O'Rourke's and M'Carthy's; a Holy Well, the Cairn of Three
Crosses, Relich Calliagh, founded by Devorgilla, who bewitched Dermot of
the Foreigners. Teampul-Kieran is a small cell. Teampul-Connor has an
interesting tenth century doorway, and in Teampul-Fineen the chancel
arch still remains, and the piscina can be traced. Teampul-Ree has two
round-headed lights and a lancet window, twelfth century work. The
~Great Cross of the Scriptures~ is inscribed with Gaelic, "a prayer for
Flan, son of Malseclyn," and "a prayer for Colman, who made this cross
for St. Flan," referring to the ninth century monarch of Meath, and to
Colman, Abbot, early in the tenth century, of Clonmacnoise. The cross is
fifteen feet high, and its panels were