A mere 19 days after Karl arrived in Ireland, he had covered 800 miles right around Ireland, ending up back where he started in Waterford.
In his letter published in the newspaper, Karl writes: The scenery of the “vale” is grand, and where one could spend hours looking about. In one particular locality, Cronbone valley, that “valley so sweet” is the “meeting of the waters,” and not a stone’s throw away is an old tree under which Moore is said to have rested and composed those lines which associate his name with the spot:
“There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet.
Oh! the last rays of feeling and life must depart
E’er the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart.
Sweet vale of Avoca! How calm could I rest,
In thy bosom of shade, with the friends I love best.
Where the storms that we feel in this cold world should cease
And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace.”
Karl referred to Ireland’s famous poet and lyricist - Thomas Moore (1779-1852), who matched his beautiful words to an appropriate tune. Moore was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College, and his poem alluded to by Karl was titled The Meeting of the Waters, a poem about love and friendship inspired by the Avoca area. Avoca, meaning ‘the great river,’ is where the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers merge into the River Avoca. It seems a fitting way to end our journey through Ireland, and instead of my summary of our adventures in What we saw on the way, I’m going to let the Waterford News of July 4th, 1901 do it for me:
“We had a return visit yesterday from Mr. Karl M. Creelman, the young Nova Scotian who is on a cycling tour of the world - Mr. Creelman has been round the “Green Isle”. His start being from the “Urbs Intacta” on the morning of June 15th. He rode to Cork spending Sunday in Youghal and having arrived at the southern capital took a good look around and had his “route” book “vised” by the Editor of the “Cork Examiner” who greeted him very kindly and gave him letters of introduction to other members of the Press gang in the extreme north.
He then pushed on to Limerick, thence to Sligo, where he was enabled to enjoy the beauties of the Lough Gill. Moving rapidly he got on to Enniskillen thence to Derry and onto the Giant’s Causeway. His return journey was made via Belfast, Dublin, Co. Wicklow including Rathdrum and the Seven Churches, Co. Wexford including Enniscorthy, New Ross, and right into our city once again.
Mr. Creelman when asked the distance remarked with a considerable amount of “sang froid” that it was only 800 miles. He now assures us that he feels fit and well and is determined to go to the south of England which will be preliminary to the completion of his route and he expects to get to his Nova Scotian home, if all goes well about the middle of October.
I’m not sure about my own “sang froid,” but the only update to this summary is that we are returning to North America for the next leg of our adventure and will embark upon our travels in Quebec. I hope you join me there!
The following photographs document where we went and What We Saw On The Way on our adventure following Karl through Ireland.
