-fishing in the lakes for which
Ennis is a centre, and in the streams of the Atlantic seaboard. Clare is
a county which, like all the western counties of Ireland, repays
visitors in search of the pleasures of seaside resorts, sport, scenery
or antiquarian interest. Yet, again like other western counties, it was
long before it was rendered accessible. Communications, however, are now
satisfactory.

_Geology._--Upper Carboniferous strata cover the county west of Ennis,
the coast-sections in them being particularly fine. Shales and
sandstones alternate, now horizontal, as in the Cliffs of Moher, now
thrown into striking folds. The Carboniferous Limestone forms a barren
terraced country, often devoid of soil, through the Burren in the
north, and extends to the estuary of the Fergus and the Shannon. On
the east, the folding has brought up two bold masses of Old Red
Sandstone, with Silurian cores. Slieve Bernagh, the more southerly of
these, rises to 1746 ft. above Killaloe, and the hilly country here
traversed by the Shannon is in marked contrast with the upper course
of the river through the great limestone plain.

_Minerals._--Although metals and minerals have been found in many places
throughout the county, they do not often show themselves in sufficient
abundance to induce the application of capital for their extraction. The
principal metals are lead, iron and manganese. The Milltown lead mine in
the barony of Tulla is probably one of the oldest mines in Ireland, and
formerly, if the extent of the ancient excavations may be taken as a
guide, there must have been a very rich deposit. Copper pyrites occurs
in several parts of Burren, but in small quantity. Coal exists at
Labasheeda on the right bank of the Shannon, but the few and thin seams
are not productive. The nodules of clay-ironstone in the strata that
overlie the limestone were mined and smelted down to 1750. Within half a
mile of the Milltown lead mine are immense natural vaulted passages of
limestone, through which the river Ardsullas winds a singular course.
The lower limestone of the eastern portion of the county has been found
to contain several very large deposits of argentiferous galena. Flags,
easily quarried, are procured near Kilrush, and thinner flags near
Ennistimon. Slates are quarried in several places, the best being those
of Broadford and Killaloe, which are nearly equal to the finest procured
in Wales. A species of very fine