O'BRIEN'S Bridge and Nenagh are now the great roads to Dublin. Befides a good Inn, at Castle Connell, there is one building at O'Brien's bridge, and another at Doonas. The distance is much the fame to travel by Doonas or Caftle Connell. The reputation of the Spa' adds every year to the buildings at Caftle Connell, where Sir Richard de Bourgho, bart. gives every wifhed-for encouragement. In the year 1783, a large and good Affembly-room was finished, within a few steps of the spa, which from a de lightful fituation on the river, muft add much to the fatisfaction of the company. Society and chearfulness are great promoters of health.

THE caftle is very ancient, and was the feat of the O'Briens, Kings of Munfter. The grandfon of Brien Boru, was murdered here by the prince of Thomond, who leaving his followers at the oppofite fide of the Shannon, was received with unfufpecting friendship. They however came over in the night, furprized the grandfon of Brien, put out his eyes and murdered him. When the English landed in Ireland, it was granted to Richard de Burgo, Earl of Ulfter, known by the name of the red Earl, on conditions of repairing and fortifying the Castle, in which manner it defcended to William de Burgo, the laft Earl of Ulfter of that family, who being murdered at Carrickonfuir, Caftle Connell, with all his other eftates fhould have devolved to his daughter, the dutchefs of Clarence, but was with-held by collateral branches of the family. William de Burgo in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was created Baron of Caftle Connell.* His eldett

• See page 442.

fon

fon being killed, he left an infant, whofe uncle married a daughter of Morough Earl of Inchiquin, and was created Baron of Brittas, all of whom being in the Rebellion in 1641, were attainted and fled to France. On King James's acceffion to the crown, the Lords Caftle-Connell and Brittas were reftored to their Eftates, which they had forfeited. At the revolution in 1688 they were again attainted. The caftle had a ftrong garrifon of King James's forces, and General Ginkle fent 700 men from Limerick, under the command of the Prince of Heffe, when the garrifon furrendered after a fiege of two days. Ginkle confidering it a strong hold, ordered it to be difmantled and blown upt; the explosion was fo great, that it fhook the houses in Limerick and broke feveral windows. The caftle was fo fpacious, and the afcent by steps. fo eafy, notwithstanding its being built on a very high rock, that a troop of horse has been drawn up in the hall.

DR. John Rutty published in London in 1757, a medical Synopfis of all the mineral waters in Europe; a work compiled with great labour, well worth the perufal of fuch as are advocates for the internal and external ufe of cold water. Doctor Rutty places Caftle Connell water in the tame table with the German Spa, and agrees with Doctor Martin, of Limerick, who wrote an Effay on it, that it is of the fame fpecific gravity, of a ferruginous and aftringent tafte, each gallon producing from twenty to thirty grains of fediment. The foil about it is of a calcarious nature, the water every where leaving an ochre coloured matter, which

I See page 7.2.

in

in a red hot crucible, fparkled and was attracted by the magnet. This fediment is úfed fuccefsfully in curing ulcers and fores, and it is certain that bathing in this water would add great efficacy to the drinking it, which is the conftant practice in England. As to the medicinal virtues of Caftle Connell water, it is a chalybeate of confiderable ftrength, having a mixture of marine falt and abforbent earth. An earth worm put into this water instantly dies, hence it has been found effectual for worms in children. It has long been experienced excellent in all fcorbutic diforders, where the ftomach has been weakened by excefs, and in the jaundice; indeed it seems to be peculiarly adapted to thofe complaints where preparations of steel are ordered by the Phyfician.

CURIOSITY prompted me to compare it with other Chalybeates in Doctor Rutty's work, and I found it to have a great likeness to the Pouhon spring at Spa in Germany, and very much the fame of Kilroran water, near Mount Talbot, in the county of Rofcommon, which Doctor Hugh Fergus of Galway drank for three feafons, and of which he gives the following account. Its operation is by urine, being ufually drank from three half pints to a quart early in the day. It is chiefly beneficial in all complaints from a veaknefs or relaxation of the ftomach, with inappetency, fourness, flatus and vitiated digeftion, for which there can fcarcely be a more effectual medicine. It cleanfes the blood, and has cured beyond expectation, inveterate obftructions of the liver and fpleen, fome aperient medicines being premised

and