NUMBER 188

BENCHMARKS continued
 

'Roll up ! Roll up, ladies. Today's special is a large chunky slice of brickie, flambéed in amber liquor and served with a generous helping of boxty.'

This one is on a building on Main Street in Ballybofey, perhaps formerly a bank but now a restaurant. Across the street is the Garda barracks. When Benchmarker was a young chiseller (pun intended), once a month he would travel with his father, a garda, from the home kebele of Convoy to the distant metropolis of Stranolor/Ballybofey for a short back and sides. Usually always afterwards a visit was paid to the barracks for a chin-wag on trends amongst the local criminal fraternity. Happy days! But sadly no 'marks appear to exist now in Convoy.

Below: The 'mark on Main street, Ballybofey.

Above: Ballybofey looking towards Stranolor with the 'mark just to the left of the entrance door.

NUMBER 187

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on the north west side of Saint Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Eunan's Cathedral.

Above: The north west corner of Saint Eunan's Cathedral, looking across at two other churches, with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 186

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is at street-level on Shipquay Gate in Derry. Not to be confused with one posted last year which is also on Shipquay Gate but is on the upper walkway of the city wall just above the arch.

Below: The 'mark on Shipquay Gate.

Above: Shipquay Gate with the 'mark just to the right of the arch, three blocks above the street level. In the background the exterior of the Guildhall is being spruced up in preparation for Derry becoming the European City of Culture in 2012.

NUMBER 185

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Benchmarker is reluctant to use the word 'unique' in relation to any place or thing; because it most probably isn't. However the little village of Sion Mills is certainly different and has an unusual history of harmony between the two traditions. Rather than relate any of it here Benchmarker recommends reading this website: - http://www.sionmills.org/

Below: The 'mark on a school on the main street in Sion Mills. It's another metal one; obviously.

Above: The school in Sion Mills with the 'mark just to the left of the black down pipe at bottom.

NUMBER 184

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Winston Churchill was a fellow who indulged in the odd good rant. On one occasion shortly after the Great War finished he had a right old go at the two traditions in the North bellowing

“Every institution, almost, in the world was strained. Great Empires have been overturned. The whole map of Europe has been changed. The position of countries has been violently altered. The modes of thought of men, the whole outlook on affairs, the grouping of parties, all have encountered violent and tremendous changes in the deluge of the world.

But as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short, we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again. The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the world.”
Actually Benchmarker finds some of the steeples there far from dreary but rather quite charming and attractive. For example this one on Saint Eugene's Ardstraw, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.

Below: The 'mark on the Church of Ireland, Newtownstewart.

Above: Saint Eugene's Ardstraw with the 'mark just to the left of the door at bottom.

NUMBER 183

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Sometimes Benchmarker hankers fondly for the old days when benchmarks were found by a combination of blood, sweat and tears allied to instinct and good luck. Not like now were there are all them computer application thingies that almost lead you by the nose to where 'marks are nesting. So it made a refreshing change to scout out a couple of possible locations without any artificial aids on a recent trip from Dublin to Donegal. The first involved a detour off the bypass into the little village of Newtownstewart, and straight off the bat Benchmarker hit gold, a type off benchmark not encountered before. Its made of metal - perhaps brass - and is set into the front wall of the Presbyterian Church. Apparently it is of a type that was introduced in Northern Ireland in more recent years.

Below: The 'mark on the Presbyterian Church, Newtownstewart. N.B. the figures refer to the number of the 'mark, and not to the altitude.

Above: The Presbyterian Church, Newtownstewart. The 'mark is on the bottom of the front left corner buttress.

NUMBER 182

BENCHMARKS continued
 

'The sacred and profane

The pleasure and the pain

And every victory has a taste that's bitter-sweet,

And it's your face I'm looking for on every street.'

Benchmarker is aware that M.C. intends to go boldly (note the non-split infinitive) on a future safari to the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire. However on an unplanned stroll along it yesterday - the first in many a long year - an occasional eye was kept peeled. The result? This one on the lower walkway about 100 yards from the new breakwater going towards the lighthouse. A small pocket camera was all that was to hand but the results will suffice.

Below: A benchmark on the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire.

Above: The West Pier looking towards the land with the new breakwater just out of sight at left, and the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 181

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one on Saint Joseph's R.C. Church in Glasthule, Co Dublin is the final benchmark bagged on the recent joint safari by M.C. and Benchmarker to the savannah of Kingstown. 

Below: The 'mark on Saint Joseph's R,C. Church.

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

NUMBER 180

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on Glenageary Road Lower in Dun Laoghaire at the entrance to a building which formerly was a gate lodge to Granite Hall. 

 

Below: A 'mark on Glenageary Road Lower.

Above: The entrance to Granite Hall with the 'mark at bottom right. Apparently M.C. eschewed the option of jumping on a bus to Dun Laoghaire and instead favoured the convenience of his steel chariot. It has the great advantage though of avoiding drunks telling how to make a small fortune. Apparently it is to invest an even bigger one in bank shares and property.

NUMBER 179

BENCHMARKS continued

The north side of Crosthwaite Park in Dun Laoghaire is the location of this one. 

Below: The 'mark on Crosthwaite Park.

Above: The north entrance the park with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 178

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Benchmarker is not at all convinced that this really is a 'mark; or as younger viewers might say “really, really, really is a 'mark”. Let the public decide and vote now. It is, for now, at the entrance to the old public baths in Dun Laoghaire.

Below: The dodgy 'mark.

Above: The entrance to the old baths in Dun Laoghaire with the dodgy 'mark at bottom left on the inside of the pillar.

NUMBER 177

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is in Dun Laoghaire, on George's Street near its junction with Adelaide Street.

Below: A 'mark on George's Street, Dun Laoghaire.

Above: George's Street, looking west with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 176

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on a road in Dun Laoghaire at De Visci Gardens called Sloperton. It is on the base of the railings outside a building which older maps name also as Sloperton.

Below: The 'mark on Sloperton.

Above: Outside the building called Sloperton with the 'mark on the base of the railings at left, on a line vertically below the door. Unfortunately the photo is a little fuzzy, and substandard for Benchmarker's taste.

NUMBER 175

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on the eastern corner of Belgrave Square North in Monkstown in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the eastern end of Belgrave Square North, Monkstown.

Above: Belgrave Square North with the 'mark on the corner, just below the ivy.

NUMBER 174

BENCHMARKS continued
 

On Raglan Road in Dublin on a Summer's day, this one was recorded on the ledge of a windowsill.

Below: The 'mark on Raglan Road.

Above: The 'mark is on the windowsill of this fine building, to the rear of the fawn coloured car.

NUMBER 173

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This flatie is on the corner of Burlington Road at the junction with Sussex Road in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Burlington Road.

Above: Looking north into Sussex Road, with Burlington Road to the right. The 'mark is situated on the corner on the top of the railings wall near the street sign.

NUMBER 172

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on Saint Michan's Church on the eponymous Church Street in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Michan's Church.

Above: The entrance to Saint Michan's Church - founded 1095, according to the sign - with the 'mark just to the bottom-right of the door. Benchmarker has never visited the vaults of the church but did call one Sunday morning years ago to find out that they are not open on Sundays. Ironic or what?

NUMBER 171

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on Temple Street West in Dublin near the junction with Arbour Hill.

Below: The true benchmark on Temple Street West. It really is a quite stunning brickie.

Above: Temple Street West looking towards Arbour Hill. The 'mark is at bottom right on the wall just above the break in the concrete course.

NUMBER 170

BENCHMARKS continued
 

Benburb Street in Dublin is the location of this one.

Below: One of a number of 'marks on Benburb Street, although this one is a true benchmark.

Above: Benburb Street looking west with the 'mark at bottom right. M.C. gets into the frame once again, gazing thoughtfully at the decorative stuff on the pub front.

NUMBER 169

BENCHMARKS continued
 

A 'flatie' is how Benchmarker describes this type of 'mark - one on a horizontal surface rather than the more usual vertical type. It is at the front of the Custom House in Dublin. As a special treat Benchmarker provides a view of the Custom House snapped in the mid-1970s. It ain't Malton but it ain't too bad. And it helps to show what has been lost. The large metal mooring stays that were used to hold the ships on George's Quay, including the Guinness boats, were removed long ago in order to make the area more pedestrian 'friendly'. And just as bad, a high ugly metal railing has been erected at the river's edge. Health and Safety gone mad!

Below: The 'mark at the Custom House.

Above: The Custom House circa 1975. The 'mark is on the base of one of the pillars down below the dome at the entrance - the one second from right, visible to the right of the white truck.

NUMBER 168

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on the railway bridge that crosses Clontarf Road in Dublin. 

Below: The 'mark on Clontarf Road on the railway bridge.

Above: Looking under the railway bridge on the Clontarf Road towards Fairview with the 'mark, circled in white paint, at bottom right.Wonder was it J.W.?

NUMBER 167

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on Prussia Street in Dublin, near the junction with St. Joseph's Road.

Below: The 'mark on Prussia Street.

Above: Looking up Prussia Street with the 'mark at bottom left while M.C. lingers in his chariot.

NUMBER 166

BENCHMARKS continued

On Aughrin Street in Dublin at its junction with Manor street is this one.

Below: The 'mark on Aughrim Street.

Above: Looking up Aughrim Street with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 165

BENCHMARKS continued

Within the Grangegorman complex in Dublin are two old churches. This 'mark is on the R.C. Church.

Below: The 'mark on the R.C. Church in Grangegorman.

Above: The R.C. Church with the 'mark on the ledge near the bottom of the rightmost buttress.

NUMBER 164

BENCHMARKS continued
 

On a building on Grangegorman Road that is part of the Grangegorman complex, this one is located.

Below: The 'mark on Grangegorman Road.

Above: Grangegorman Road looking south with the 'mark at bottom left.