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| REPRODUCTION OF BLARNEY CASTLE - As there were
two Irish Villages on Midway Plaisance, this one was called Blarney
Castle because, before the construction of the battlemented portal
seen in the engraving, the reproduction of Blarney Castle, which
stands behind, out of view in the picture, was the most conspicuous
feature on the street east of the Ferris Wheel. This enterprise was
under the patronage of the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen, who, since
1886, have endeared themselves to the advocates of home rule for
Ireland. Blarney Castle was opened on the 11th of May, and was
visited during the Fair by nearly every prominent Irishman in the
world. The gateway was modeled after the entrance to King Cormac's
Chapel, Rock of Cashel. Just inside was a reproduction of a cloister
in Muckross Abbey. The first cottage was a jewelry shop, where the
Tara brooch, the Fingal pin, initials from the Book of Kells, and
Celtic traceries were sold. Weavers occupied the second cottage; the
sixth and seventh housed native carvers of bog oak; lace makers and
seamstresses occupied the ninth and tenth; a national museum filled
the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth; and dairy maids displayed their
butter in the others. Lady Aberdeen lived at the village for some
weeks. There was much fun and frolic along with patriotism, and
dancing and piping matches were frequent. The best of order
prevailed, and the Village was a success. |
