The animal approached the fire to dry itself, when the nobleman’s brother took up the poker in a rage and killed it with one blow.
“You have murdered me,” cried the Earl, and, falling back, he died.
The rat is sometimes said to have been white, and to reappear when evil is about to befall the house of St. Laurence.
The present Lord Howth is the fourth earl.
| Authorities Consulted. |
| D’Alton, “History of Co. Dublin.” |
| Proceedings of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. |
| Brewer, “Beauties of Ireland.” |
| Parliamentary Gazetteer. |
| Calendar of State Papers. |
| R. A., “The Abbey of Howth,” in Dublin Penny Journal. |
KILBARRON CASTLE
“Broad, blue, and deep the Bay of Donegal
Spreads north and south, and far a-west before
The beetling cliffs, sublime and shattered wall,
Where the O’Cleary’s name is heard no more.”
T. D. McGee.
This castle is situated on the shores of Donegal Bay about three miles from the town of Ballyshannon, in the Barony of Kilbarron, County Donegal.
The name Cill-Barrainn signifies “the Church of St. Barrfhionn.”