NUMBER 94

BENCHMARKS continued

The Mater Hospital has been much in the news (or as some RTE reporters say it, “the gnus”) recently as the Government's proposed site for the National Children's Hospital.

This 'mark is at the pedestrian entrance to the main building on Eccles Street.

Above: The 'mark is on the base of the pillar glimpsed between the two silver coloured cars at medium left.

NUMBER 93

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is located on the base of the railings of a house at the corner of Fitzwilliam Square and Fitzwilliam Place in Dublin.

A plaque on the building states that the painter Jack B. Yeats lived there. Benchmarker was prompted to wonder if he ever painted a scene entitled “A Benchmarker rides into a Town”? Probably not.

Above: Fitzwilliam Place looking towards Leeson Street. The 'mark is on the corner of the base of the railings facing, at right.

NUMBER 92

BENCHMARKS continued

From his perch atop the column on the octagonal plinth, the statue of the national saint bestows his sweet smile on the centre of Westport. Benchmarker first set foot in this fair town 40 years ago and in the interim, and adverse to his tastes, a good degree of gentrification has occurred. An example is what has been done at the base of the monument. Steps - leading up to a small platform area where bench seats are placed - have been added all around. Fortunately the platform extends around just seven of the eight sides, and as the benchmark was on the eighth of these it survives and can still be viewed. Responsible gentrification or happy accident? Benchmarker suspects the latter.

Below: The 'mark on the base of the monument to Saint Patrick.

Above: The 'mark is located between the bicycles and the shrubs at the base of the monument.

NUMBER 91

BENCHMARKS continued

A stroll in Saint Stephen's Green - an oasis of calm, while without all was Garda sirens and students in yellow tee-shirts protesting any increase in their registration fees - uncovered no 'marks. Striding bravely out into the tumult Benchmarker emerged through the Leeson Street entrance and spotted this one on the granite blocks at the base of the railings on the corner with Stephen's Green South.

All around the perimeter of the Green the level of the pavement has risen and risen over the years. There may have once been other 'marks there, similarly positioned as this one, but if there were they are lost now.

Below: The 'mark at the base of the railings on Stephens Green South at the Leeson Street entrance.

Above: As this group of protesting students return to the bus that will take them back to the sticks, they pass the 'mark on the base of the railings at extreme left.