NUMBER 527

BENCHMARKS continued

An eagle-eyed M.C. came upon this one - not on any map - while in Wexford Town. It's on the Franciscan Friary.

Below: The 'mark on the Franciscan Friary, Wexford Town.

 

 Above: A view of the friary with the mark on the bottom block of the corner at right.

NUMBER 526

BENCHMARKS continued

Is it a Mondrian or perhaps a Miro? Or indeed a Gilsenen or a Halford? No it's none of them, but rather the 'mark as interpreted by M.C. on what was previously part of the Militia Barrack at Leitrim Place in Wicklow Town.

Below: The 'mark on Leitrim Place, Wicklow Town.

 

 Above: Looking north-west on Leitrim Place with the 'mark at right.

NUMBER 525

BENCHMARKS continued

The news just in is that Saint Patrick's R.C. Church in Wicklow Town has been extensively damaged in a fire today. M.C. recorded this 'mark on the church during the height of Summer.

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

 

 Above: A view of the west side of Saint Patrick's Church with the 'mark on the bottom block of the corner nearest.

NUMBER 524

BENCHMARKS continued

A fine chunky example, it was recorded by M.C. at English Row, Celbridge, County Kildare.

Below: The 'mark on English Row.

 

Above: On English Row looking north-east with the 'mark on the wall at right, near the manhole cover.

NUMBER 523

BENCHMARKS continued

Just to the left of the umbra of M.C.'s bonce, this one is at the end of the east pier in Wicklow Town.

Below: The 'mark at the end of the east pier in Wicklow Town.

 

Above: At the end of the pier looking out across the Irish Sea with the 'mark on the third block from bottom on the pillar of the lighthouse platform.

NUMBER 522

BENCHMARKS continued

Clouded by the patina of old age, - it happens to us all - this one is somewhat indistinct. But for M.C. - who recorded it at the perimeter wall near the south-west corner of the Dominican Priory on Blessington Road in Tallaght in Dublin - and for Benchmarker, every benchmark is precious.

Below: The 'mark on the perimeter wall of the Dominican Priory in Tallaght.

 

 Above: Looking south-east on Blessington Road in Tallaght with the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 521

BENCHMARKS continued

Still in Galway City but moving to Eyre Square, M.C. recorded this one, with its clean chiselled lines, on the base of the railings that front the Bank of Ireland building.

Below: The 'mark on Eyre Square, Galway City.

 

Above: Looking south-west on Eyre Square with the 'mark on the base of the railings at centre, bottom.

 

NUMBER 520

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. recorded this one, a flattie, on the entrance step of a building, now occupied by the estate agents Keane Mahony Smith, on Prospect Hill in Galway City.

Below: The 'mark on Prospect Hill, Galway City.

 

 Above: Looking south-west on Prospect Hill with the 'mark, shrouded in shadow, on the far-side of the entrance step to the building at right.

NUMBER 519

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. certainly had a happy hunt in New Ross, County Wexford. Here is yet another one. It's on Cross Street - formerly Cross Lane.

Below: The 'mark on Cross Street.

 

 Above: Looking east on Cross Street with the 'mark at right.

NUMBER 518

BENCHMARKS continued

Another courthouse and another 'mark from M. C. This one is on Trim Courthouse in County Meath.

Below: The 'mark on Trim Courthouse.

 

 Above: “Hello! Is there anybody in there?” A view of Trim Courthouse with the 'mark to the left of the door, at bottom.

NUMBER 517

BENCHMARKS continued

M. C. found this one on the wall of the courthouse at Market Street in Wicklow Town.

Below: The 'mark on Wicklow Town Courthouse.

 

Above: On Market Street looking west towards Monument Square with the 'mark at left between the down-pipe and the railings.

NUMBER 516

BENCHMARKS continued

From the camera-phone of Mike C., this one - a flattie - is at the courthouse in Castlebar, County Mayo.

Below: The 'mark on Castlebar Courthouse.

 

 Above: A fine view of the courthouse with the 'mark just to the left of the rightmost Doric column.

NUMBER 515

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. recorded this one - a flattie - on Cope Bridge on Captain's Hill near Leixlip, County Kildare.

Below: The 'mark on Cope Bridge.

 

 Above: Looking north on Cope Bridge with the 'mark - highlighted with M.C.'s magic chalk stick - at left.

NUMBER 514

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is located on College Road near its junction with Grange Road, in Taylor's Grange in County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on College Road, Taylor's Grange.

 

 Above: Looking east on College Road with the 'mark at near left.

NUMBER 513

BENCHMARKS continued

While in New Ross, County Wexford, M.C. found this one on Houghton Place - formerly Cockpit Lane. It's on the venerable building known as Haughton's Fever Hospital.

Below: The 'mark on Haughton Place.

 

 Above: A front view of Haughton's Hospital with the 'mark just to the left of the gate.

NUMBER 512

BENCHMARKS continued

On a trip to the seaside, M.C. found this one on the coastguard station on Marine terrace in Greystones, County Wicklow.

Below: The 'mark on the coastguard station in Greystones.

 

 Above: A view of the coastguard station with the 'mark to the right of the door to the left.

NUMBER 511

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on Christ Church, Gorey, County Wicklow.

Below: The 'mark on Christ Church, Gorey.

 

 Above: Looking along the north-western flank of the church with the 'mark near the base of the tower.

NUMBER 510

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. scythed a path through the sward surrounding the south-west corner of the complex that was formerly the Royal Hibernian Military School; later the T.B. hospital known as Saint Mary's; and now the Cara Cheshire Home, in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, to record this one.

Below: The 'mark on the perimeter wall of the Cara Cheshire Home, Phoenix Park.

 

 Above: Is it an O'Connor, a Cezanne, a Van Gogh; or is it perhaps a Halford who is now perhaps working through the medium of colour? No, it's none of these. It's just a lovely, lovely picture by M.C. with the 'mark at bottom left.

 

NUMBER 509

BENCHMARKS continued

Is it a Rothko; a De Kooning; or even perhaps a Gilsenen? No, it is none of these. Rather it is the 'mark on Charles Street at its junction with South Street in New Ross, County Wexford, as recorded by M.C. Fellas have paid millions for stuff not nearly as good!

Below: The 'mark on Charles Street.

 

 Above: Looking west into Charles Street with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 508

BENCHMARKS continued

This one, recorded by M.C. on Chapel Lane at its junction with Mary Street in New Ross, County Wexford, is on an intriguing structure. Was it a doorway; a window; or had it some other function? And what is that tap doing sticking out of the wall? Benchmarker would like to know.

Below: The 'mark on Chapel Lane is at near bottom left on the intriguing structure.

Above: Looking north into Chapel Lane with the 'mark at right.

NUMBER 507

BENCHMARKS continued

It is always gratifying to discover that the craft of benchmark-hunting has been passed on to the next generation; although at what cost is difficult to gauge. This one was recorded by Mike - son of M.C. - on the corner of Castle Street with Market Street in Castlebar in County Mayo.

Below: The 'mark on the corner of Castle Street with Market Street.

 

 Above: On Market Street looking north-east with the 'mark near the bottom of the corner facing.

NUMBER 506

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: You do want the best, don't you?) spotted this one in Wexford Town. It's at the junction of Carcur and Redmond Road on what was originally a section of road leading onto the old bridge - called the New Bridge - that previously spanned the harbour.

Below: The 'mark at Wexford Harbour at the junction of Carcur and Redmond Road.

 

Above: Looking north-west across Wexford Harbour with the 'mark on the top of the wall at centre left. That particular section of wall to the right was probably built after the New Bridge was removed, to prevent any motorists from accidentally driving into the harbour.

NUMBER 505

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: Any Dream will Do) was accompanied by  Kara O'Brien when she spotted this one on Buckingham Lock - the middle one of three locks located where the Grand Canal meets the River Liffey - in Dublin City.

Below: The 'mark at Buckingham Lock. A flattie - somewhat indistinct right in the centre of the photo - it is greatly worn by generations of footfalls onto and off the pedestrian bridge. Sadly the current bridge that has replaced the original wooden-plank structure, is a hi-tec modern construction.

 

 Above: A view across Grand Canal Dock. The 'mark is located near the footbridge step.

NUMBER 504

 BENCHMARK continued

P.G.R. made another foray into his home-town of Clonmel recently to get the last of the known benchmarks there. It is to the right of the main-door steps of the Clonmel Arms Hotel in Sarsfield St. (just left of the bumper of the hatchback car in the wide shot.) It is coincidental that P.G.R.'s grandfather, Godfrey Ryan, took lodgings in Mrs. Ellen Walshe's boarding-house directly opposite the hotel at number 23, according to the 1911 census.

Below: The 'mark on Sarsfield Street, Clonmel.

 

Above: The Clonmel Arms Hotel with the 'mark on the base of the railings just to the left of the car.

NUMBER 503

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: Believe in Better) found this one on the south-side wall of the bridge on the River Slaney in Baltinglass, County Wicklow.

Below: Gently shrouded in M.C.'s chalk, the 'mark on the bridge o'er the Slaney in Baltinglass.

 

 Above: Looking west on the bridge with the 'mark at left on the wall.