Ballyshannon
THE road from Enniskillen and Devenish Island to BALLYSHANNON skirts the southern shore of Lough Erne, and by ascending the many hills which rise on the left, the traveller easily commands views of the lake, which more than repay him for his trouble. Ballyshannon is beautifully situated at the outlet of the river Erne into Donegal Bay, the debouchure into the tide-inlet being made over a ledge of rocks sixteen or eighteen feet above the level of the tide. It forms altogether a very beautiful bit of scenery. There is little to arrest the traveller or the antiquarian between this town and Sligo, the road crossing the heads of the various small bays which indent the coast, and showing on one side views of the sea, and on the other, the towering mountains of Benbulben, Benwesky, and their brethren.
Sligo lies low, and appears at first to be situated upon a very broad and deep river; the dam across the Garwogue (which runs through the town from Loch Gill), preserving its waters from the reflux of the tide. Sligo has some remarkably fine hills in its vicinity, which, though wild, are very picturesque; and, dirty as the town is on examination, it forms an excellent feature of the romantic views obtainable from the eminences around.