BENCHMARKS continued
'Trinity' a blockbuster novel by Leon Uris was published in the 1970s. Benchmarker only recently got around to reading it. Though criticized for being overly sentimental and romantic in places, it's a rattling good read. It clearly involved an enormous amount of research and makes an excellent primer for anyone wanting to understand the ancient enmities that still persist between the two tribes on this island.
Some of the action is set in a house with the address of 34 Garville Avenue in Dublin. This prompted a visit there in a small act of homage by Benchmarker who, long ago had a close acquaintance who owned a house on that same street. The last that was heard of the fellow is that he sold up and moved to France where, wearing a black beret and with a string of onions 'round his neck, he cycles from village to village challenging the locals to a game of boules. Proof indeed, if it were ever needed, that we Irish have the happy knack of being able to fit in whatever the circumstances.
An then, ambling around the corner and onto Rathgar Road, two benchmarks were happened upon. Such a fine trace remains of one of them that in order to confirm its existence it was necessary to use fingers - a bit like Thomas Didymus (and how we used to snigger at that name in school religion classes) - to feel for the 'cuts' in the stone. Yes! It is definitely there, as the photograph helps to confirm.
Below: The 'mark on Rathgar Road just up from the junction with Garville Avenue and on the same side.
Above: The 'mark is on the base of the pillar at right.Below: This 'mark is on the same side of the road as the previous one, and up near Rathgar Village.
Above: The western end of Rathgar Road with the 'mark on the base of the gate pillar at right.