| Index Page | Page 191 |
WESTMEATH LAKES.
The present large and handsome buildings were erected in 1840 by Pugin. The Parish Church, close by, has an unusually massive W. tower, which is supposed to have been erected partly with a View to defence. At the east of the town is the main entrance to
Carton, (Duke of Leinster), and the fine park is open to the public on weekdays. The mansion, classical in style, was built in the last century.
After passing Killcock, 17 m., we enter on a dreary bog country, which continues with slight interruptions till we approach Mullingar. There are stations at Ferns Lock (21), Enfield (26 ½ branch to Edenderry 37 ¼), Moyvalley (30 ¼ ), Hill of Doon. (35 ¾ ) and Killucan (41 ¾ ).
Mullingar (50 m.; Hotel: Grevillle Arms, 10 min. from Sta.), an important military centre and market town of 4500 inhabitants. In itself it is uninteresting, but it is a good headquarters for the angler who would fish the famous Westmeath lakes.
Of these the chief are Belvedere Lake (or Lough Ennel), 2 ½ m. S.W.; Lough Owel 3 m. N.W.; and Lough Deraavarragh, the nearest point for which, Taghmon Bridge, is 7 m. N.
Lough Derravaragh Co. Westmeath
The nearest inn to this lake (3 m.) is, at Castlepollard, 13 m. N. by road. The green•drake (natural fly), which appears first on Belvedere towards the end of May, is used with a blow-line of silk, and the fish are both large and singularly handsome. They run largest in Lough Owel, 10 to 12 lbs each being not very uncommon. From April to October trout, pike, and perch are taken in large numbers.
From Mullingar the Sligo line (Ireland, Part 1.) diverges to the North whilst ours bends South;West. The stations passed are Castletown 58 m., Streamstown 62 m. (branch left, to Clara, 7 m.) and Moate 68 ½ m. Then past Moydrum Castle (Lord Castlemaine), right, we soon get a fine view, as we cross the Shannon, of the Bridge and Castle of Athlone, 78 m,. For continuation of rail to Ballina and Westport, see p. 206; to Galway, p. 163.
Athlone
Athlone, bridge and the Castle
Railway Stations: M.G.W.R. across the bridge, W. of the Shannon; G. S. & W.R. (for Portarlington p. 56) at the W. end of the town but E. of the Shannon. The two stations are nearly ½ m. apart.
Hotels: Prince of Wales, a large house : Haire’s, smaller. Both are on the left-hand in the main street as you go from the stations and in the order named. The attendance and appointments are in both cases distinctly “Irish.”
Post : English mails, del. 8 and 11.40 a.m. ; desp, 3.30 and 10.20 p.m.
Boats : at the strand near the bridge Browne’s (1s an house,2s 6d a day; to Clonmacnoise and back, including man, 5s; Lough Ree, visiting• islands, to Knockeroghery, including man, 5s.); Norton’s; Ward’s.
Athlone (pop. 6,755) on the Shannon, about 2 miles from the foot of Lough Bee, is an important trade and military centre but has little to show the traveller. From the M.G.W.R. station we
| << Previous page | Next page >> |