NUMBER 307

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on Saint Patrick's Church in Slane, County Meath. It appears to have been tampered with, for whatever reason.

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

Above: Saint Patrick's Church in Slane, with the 'mark visible, through the gate bars, to the right of the door.

NUMBER 306

BENCHMARKS continued

You wait for ages for a giant of a 'mark to come along; and then two come together. This one is also in Carrickmacross, on Main Street and just across the laneway from the building that now contains the library. It is more narrow and tall than its colleague on Bridewell Lane, so perhaps it was carved by a different hand, but it is probably from the same period.

Below: The other giant of a 'mark.

Above: Main Street, Carrickmacross looking towards the courthouse with part of the 'mark just visible at bottom right. In an attempt to include as much of the scene as possible while avoiding being struck by a car, unfortunately Benchmarker failed to include all of the 'mark in this picture. Excuses, excuses.

NUMBER 305

BENCHMARKS continued

This giant of a benchmark is on a disused building (perhaps the former 'bridewell') on the shorter section of Bridewell Lane that links with Parnell Street in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. For its size alone it truly is a beauty. It is at a significant height above the ground too; perhaps 4 or 5 ft.

Below: The giant of a 'mark.

Above: The shorter section of Bridewell Lane with the 'mark on the corner of the building at left. It is well up the wall, in line with the base of the bricked-up window.

NUMBER 304

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on Saint Lugadius Church in Lifford County Donegal. It's much the worse for wear, but you take what you can get.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Lugadius Church.

Above: Looking towards north Donegal with the 'mark on the front of the church just to the right of the door. In the middle distance, Benchmarker's metal chariot stands by.

NUMBER 303

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. submitted this one which is on a bridge crossing the Dublin to Wexford railway line near the entrance to Castle Howard. Benchmarker was unable to trace its exact location but for those railway preservation society and records buffs out there it is listed as OBR 194.

Below: The 'mark on Bridge OBR 194.

Above: On the top of Bridge OBR 194 with the 'mark on the wall at centre bottom.

NUMBER 302

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the bridge across the River Tolka on the Drumconda Road in Dublin City. 

 

Below: The 'mark on the Drumconda Bridge.

Above: On the bridge on Dromconda Road looking north. The 'mark is to the right of the base of the metal pole.

NUMBER 301

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on Crosthwaite Park West in Dun Laoghaire.

 

Below: The 'mark on Crosthwaite Park West.

Above: Crosthwaite Park West with the 'mark at right bottom.

NUMBER 300

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. tracked down this one on the steps leading to the clock-tower in Enniskerry, County Wicklow. 

 

Below: The 'mark on the clock-tower in Enniskerry.

Above: The Enniskerry clock-tower with the 'mark at centre bottom.

NUMBER 299

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on Claremont Road in Dublin City. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Claremont Road.

Above: Claremont Road with the 'mark on the bottom of the pillar at centre. Benchmarker is unable to identify the genus of the tree with the fine red flowers.

NUMBER 298

BENCHMARKS continued

Another one from the north side of Dublin City from M.C. It's on Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church on Fairview Strand, the childhood church of J.W. 

 

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

Above: Saint Mary's Church with the 'mark near the bottom of the buttress at centre.

NUMBER 297

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. was on familiar ground with this one. It's on the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook in Dublin 4. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Donnybrook Church.

Above: The front of the Church of the Sacred Heart. The 'mark is to the right near the corner.

NUMBER 296

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. motored out to west county Dublin, to the village of Rathcoole, for this one. It's at the entrance to the Church of Ireland. 

 

Below: The 'mark in Rathcoole.

Above: The entrance to the Church of Ireland with the 'mark on the topmost step.

NUMBER 295

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on Saint Patrick's Church (Anglican) in Dalkey, County Dublin. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Saint Patrick's Church, Dalkey.

Above: Saint Patrick's Church, Dalkey with the 'mark just to the right of the doorway.

NUMBER 294

BENCHMARKS continued

Another 'mark from another Christ Church from a contributor corresponding with M.C. This one is at the Church of Ireland in Delgany, County Wicklow. A fine specimen.

 

Below: The 'mark on Christ Church in Delgany.

Above: Christ Church, Delgany with the 'mark at the bottom of the main gate pillar.

NUMBER 293

BENCHMARKS continued

Although not on the 25'' map, M.C. spied this one under the arch of Christchurch Cathedral at Saint Michael's Hill in Dublin City. 

It was at this precise spot in 1970 that as U.S. President Richard Nixon was driven through Dublin in an open topped limousine while standing erect and acknowledging the applause of the citizens, the second of two eggs was thrown at him, causing his security detail to quickly and unceremoniously haul him down into the sanctuary of the back seat. Benchmarker had a somewhat restricted view of the incident and will presently outline all in another website. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Saint Michael's Hill.

Above: A view from Saint Michael's Hill down towards the Liffey with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 292

BENCHMARKS continued

As sharp and clear as the reception from Saorview, M.C. spotted this one on Castle Howard, Avoca, County Wicklow. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Castle Howard.

Above: A corner of Castle Howard with the 'mark on the wall just behind the ornamental urn. In all the history of Benchmarking, has any other 'mark enjoyed such an exquisite location, Benchmarker asks rhetorically.

NUMBER 291

BENCHMARKS continued

This poor old 'brickie', battered and bruised, was spotted by M.C. on Carlingford Road in Dublin City. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Carlingford Road.

Above: A view of Carlingford Road with the 'mark on the pillar, just below the black spray-painted letter K.

NUMBER 290

BENCHMARKS continued

Supplied by M.C., this battered and bruised old beauty is on Bushfield Terrace in Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Bushfield Terrace.

Above: The corner of Bushfield Terrace with the 'mark on the bottom of the corner of the house.

NUMBER 289

BENCHMARKS continued

Back across the city to the south side for this one from M.C. on Burdett Avenue, Sandymount in Dublin City. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Burdett Avenue.

Above: The corner of Burdett Avenue with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 288

BENCHMARKS continued

This beauty from M.C. is on Binns Bridge on the Drumcondra Road in Dublin City. 

 

Below: The 'mark on Binns Bridge.

Above: Looking north on Binns Bridge with the 'mark slap in the middle of the top of the bridge wall.

NUMBER 287

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on Bayswater Terrace, Breffni Road in Sandycove, County Dublin. 

 

Below: The 'mark in Bayswater Terrace.

Above: Bayswater Terrace with the 'mark at the bottom of the gate pillar.

NUMBER 286

BENCHMARKS continued

This one, from the camera of M.C., is on a gate pillar of Baycove Lodge, in Sandycove East Lane in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. 

 

Below: The 'mark in Sandycove East Lane.

Above: Sandycove East Lane with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 285

BENCHMARKS continued

A fine 'mark in a fine location. It was recorded by M.C. on the bridge in Ballinaclash, County Wicklow. 

 

Below: The 'mark in Ballinaclash.

Above: The bridge in Ballinaclash with the 'mark on the wall at left.

NUMBER 284

BENCHMARKS continued

Another from M.C. from deepest Wicklow. This time on the wall of the bridge in the village of Avoca. 

 

Below: The 'mark in Avoca.

Above: The bridge in Avoca with the 'mark on the bridge wall at centre bottom.

NUMBER 283

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. spotted this one on the wall of the bridge in the village of Aughrim, County Wicklow. Whatever is that plant? Surely it's not campion? Perhaps not. 

 

Below: The 'mark in Aughrim.

Above: Aughrim village with the 'mark on the bridge wall in the foreground.