About the end of the eighteenth century this part of the river was celebrated for its magnificent fêtes.
One of these, given at Boyle Farm, inspired Moore to write a poem which was not published until long after:
Lamps of all hues, from walks and bowers,
Broke on the eye like kindling flowers
Till budding into light each tree
Bore its full fruit of brilliancy.
And now along the waters fly
Swift gondoles of Venetian breed,
With knights, and dames, who calm reclined,