Declan.
[Illustration: _Photo, Lawrence, Dublin._ Strancally Castle, Co.
Waterford.]
The service of steamers from Youghal to Cappoquin up the ~River
Blackwater~ depends at present mainly on the state of the tide. But
despite this and other things, the scenery on the river side will well
repay inconvenience. Having left the ferry behind, the first place of
interest is Rhincrew (The Bloody Point), and on the wooded hill the
ruins of a preceptory of the Knights Templars still remain. Higher up on
the western bank of the Glendine tributary stands Temple Michael, an
old fortalice of the Geraldines, which Cromwell battered down for "dire
insolence."
[Illustration: _Photo, Lawrence, Dublin._ Blackwater River.]
There is a legend which tells that the last of the Geraldines was buried
at Ardmore, far from his young bride, who lost her life during the siege
by the regicides. The story says, after his burial, at night his voice
could be heard clearly, calling across the river, to bring him back and
bury him by his own. For seven years the awe-struck peasants heard the
plaintive voice calling, in the tender tongue of the Gael, "Garault,
come to me,"--"Gerald, a ferry!" At last, some young men of his clan
went to Ardmore and brought his dead body to Temple Michael, where his
wife was buried, and henceforth his spirit no longer troubled the silent
vigils of the fishermen at night.
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