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Sweet Bridget Rooney,
Here’s Father Goeney,
And very soon he
’ll make you my bride.
The Rinka (correctly written Rinceadh) which Billy, to whom they were so much indebted, danced at their wedding, is the national dance of Ireland; for a particular account of which the reader is referred to the conclusion of Mr Walker’s Historical Essay on the Irish Bards.
Carrigoguniel Castle is an extensive ruin, five or six miles west of the city of Limerick: it may be discribed by the words of the old poet, Thomas Churchyard—
A fort of strength, a strong and stately hold
It was at first, though now it is full old.
On rock alone full farre from other mount.
It stands, which shows it was of great account.
During the last siege of Limerick, this castle was garrisoned by the adherents of James II but was surrendered by them without defence, although it was so tenable a position that the beseigers deemed it expedient to blow it up. The violent effect of the explosion is still evident in the delapidated remains of Carrigoguniel. Massive fragments of the walls and towers lie scattered around in a confusion not unpicturesque; and it is matter of some difficulty to trace the original plan. A view of Carrigoguniel is given in the second volume of Grose’s Antiquities of Ireland.
