NUMBER 359

BENCHMARKS continued

It now falls to Benchmarker to pick up the torch. A good start is a job half-done; or some such guff.

This one, a flatie, nestles atop the wall of the Anna Livia Bridge - better known as Chapelizod Bridge - in Dublin. The bridge recently underwent some reconstruction with the addition of walkways on the outsides of the bridge walls. Happily, this ensured that the 'mark is preserved. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Chapelizod Bridge.

Above: On the bridge looking towards the city centre with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 358

BENCHMARKS continued

The final one from M.C.'s multi-county Benchmark Summer Safari is this brickie on a gate pillar attached to that landmark pub, the Yellow House, Rathfarnham in Dublin. Will he now put the feet up and relax? Time will tell. 

 

Below: The 'mark on the gate pillar at the Yellow House.

Above: A view of the Yellow House with the 'mark on the gate pillar at left.

NUMBER 357

BENCHMARKS continued

In the Market Square in Tinahely in County Wicklow on a building that was formerly the Market House and is now a library, is where M.C. found this one.

Below: The 'mark on Market Square.

Above: A view of Tinahely with the 'mark near the bottom of the corner.

NUMBER 356

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the wall outside a building called the Schoolhouse Hotel, on Northumberland Road in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Northumberland Road.

Above: The wall on Northumberland Road with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 355

BENCHMARKS continued

The viaduct known as the Nine Arches at Milltown in Dublin is where M.C. found this one.

Below: The 'mark on the Nine Arches.

Above: A view of the Nine Arches, looking south, with the 'mark at the bottom of the largest arch.

NUMBER 354

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is at the base of the railings on the corner of Dorset Street with Gardiner Street in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark at the corner of Dorset Street and Gardiner Street.

Above: From Dorset Street looking into Gardiner Street with the 'mark at left.

NUMBERS 351 - 353

BENCHMARKS continued

This trio from the centre of Drogheda, County Louth, were submitted by Eugene Doyle.

Below: The 'mark on West Street/Shop Street.

Above: This building at the junction of West Street and Shop Street is called the Tholsel (Bank). The 'mark can just be made out to the right of the door at bottom, peeking out from between the handrails.

Below: The 'mark on West Street/Duke Street. A really beautiful 'mark; and cut like a diamond.

Above: Looking west on West Street at its junction with Duke Street with the 'mark at bottom right.

Below: The 'mark on Strand Road/Newtown Road.

  Above: Looking east at the junction of Strand Road with Newtown Road with the 'mark at the bottom of the corner of the building.
 

NUMBER 350

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on St Saviour's Priory, the church on Dominick Street in Dublin City.

Below: The 'mark on St Saviour's Priory.

Above: A view through the gate of the church. M.C. has nicely framed the 'mark in the centre whorl of the gate.

NUMBER 349

BENCHMARKS continued

Benchmarker's faith in M.C. was completely restored on gazing at this one which is on St Saviour's Church, Rathdrum in County Wicklow. 

 

Below: The 'mark on St Saviour's Church.

Above: The front of the church with the 'mark on the bottom of the corner at left.

NUMBER 348

BENCHMARKS continued

Unlike the previous one this is a 'mark on a church from M.C. that Benchmarker can believe in; the 'mark that is. It's on St Matthew's Church in Irishtown in Dublin. 

 

Below: The 'mark on St Matthew's Church.

Above: The church with the 'mark on the front just below the sign prohibiting parking.

NUMBER 347

BENCHMARKS continued

Benchmarker is not so sure but having studied the 25” map, M.C. is convinced that this is the 'mark that should be on St Mary's Chapel of Ease, - a.k.a. the Black Church - on Mountjoy Street in Dublin. And M.C. includes a likely story “according to local legend if you walk counter-clockwise round the church three times at midnight, you will summon the devil”. Wonder has M.C. been supping the devil's buttermilk? 

 

Below: The 'mark on St Mary's Chapel of Ease.

Above: The entrance to the Black Church with the 'mark, allegedly, on the left of the porch.

NUMBER 346

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. supplied another 'mark on another Saint Mary's Church. This one is also known as the Star of the Sea and it's in Sandymount in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Mary's Church, Sandymount.

Above: The Star of the Sea church with the 'mark at the bottom of the corner, watched over by a representation of Saint Mary, above.

NUMBER 345

BENCHMARKS continued

The 'mark on this beautiful old church - Saint Mary's, Leixlip, County Kildare - was supplied by M.C. It's one of those that has had a stud hammered into it at the apex. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Saint Mary's Church, Leixlip.

Above: The front of the church with the 'mark just to the left of the door surround.

NUMBER 344

BENCHMARKS continued

This one, supplied by M.C., is on the corner of Ballycihen Avenue with Sandycove Road in Sandycove, County Dublin. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Ballycihen Avenue.

Above: Looking into Sandycove Road with the mark on the stonework just to the right of the shop.

NUMBER 343

BENCHMARKS continued

This one, on Sandycove Avenue East, County Dublin, was supplied by M.C. It's on the gate pillar of at the entrance to a house. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Sandycove Avenue East.

Above: A view of Sandycove Avenue East with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 342

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on Sandford Parish Church in Ranelagh in Dublin. 

 

Below: The 'mark on the Sandford Parish Church.

Above: A view of the church with the 'mark at the bottom of the corner.

NUMBER 341

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C.'s great Wicklow safari bagged this one on the Sacred Heart Church in Aughrim, County Wicklow. 

 

Below: The 'mark on the Sacred Heart Church, Aughrim.

Above: The Sacred Heart Church with the 'mark on the corner near the bottom.

NUMBER 340

BENCHMARKS continued

There's 'marks in them thar Wicklow Hills. This one from M.C. is on the entrance to the Parish Church in Rathdrum, County Wicklow.

Below: The 'mark at Rathdrum Parish Church.

Above: Rathdrum Parish Church with the 'mark just to the right of the gate.

NUMBER 339

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is very much the worse for wear. And is it upside down? It's from M.C. and is on the bridge over the Avonmore River at Rathdrum in County Wicklow. Perhaps the granite block was removed and replaced the wrong way up during repairs sometime in the past.

Below: The 'mark at Rathdrum Bridge, County Wicklow.

Above: Rathdrum Bridge with the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 338

BENCHMARKS continued

From M.C. this one is on Bridge OBR 177 at Rathdrum, in County Wiclkow.

Below: The 'mark at Rathdrum, County Wicklow.

Above: The railway bridge at Rathdrum with the 'mark at centre bottom.

NUMBER 337

BENCHMARKS continued

This 'mark on a railway bridge was submitted by Eugene Doyle. It's on North Strand, Drogheda, County Louth.

Below: The 'mark on North Strand.

 

Above: Under the railway bridge on Strand Road and looking east, with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 336

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on another railway bridge. It's on Bath Avenue in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the railway bridge on Bath Avenue.

Above: The railway bridge on Bath Avenue looking towards Haddington Road with the 'mark at right.

NUMBER 335

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on a railway bridge near Aughrim, County Wicklow. Apparently the underside of the bridge is no longer in use for a rail line.

Below: The 'mark near Aughrim.

Above: A view of the bridge near Aughrim with the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 334

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on Pound Street, Leixlip, County Kildare. If it looks familiar, maybe it's because it looks like the one M.C. found in Maynooth.

Below: The 'mark on Pound Street.

Above: A view of Pound Street with the 'mark at left.