The intention with this website is to locate at least 1,001 benchmark sites, or die in the attempt (no flowers please, house private). Photos of any benchmark sites found will be posted at intervals over the coming days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries ... Anyone who wishes to contribute can send photos and descriptions of any benchmarks they find and would like to have included here, to mfbourke@gmail.com See post Number 1 for a fuller description.

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Saturday, November 10, 2012

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.

NUMBER 502

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: Live the Day) found yet another one on Bride Street in Wexford. A bit the worse for wear, it's on the base of the church railings across from the junction with Clifford Street.

Below: Another 'mark on Bride Street in Wexford Town.
 
 Above: Looking into Clifford Street with the 'mark at the elbow on the base of the railings.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

NUMBER 501

BENCHMARKS continued

As the speeches and cheers die away and the congratulatory telegrams and empty champagne bottles lie strewn like so many November leaves, it's time to gird our loins, summon up the blood, disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage, lend the eye a terrible aspect etc, etc, and get back to the task of hitting the target of 1,001. And first back into the breach comes M.C. with this one from Bride Street in Wexford. It's on a pillar at the entrance to Saint Bridget's Church.

Below: A 'mark on Bride Street in Wexford Town.
 
 Above: The entrance on Bride Street to Saint Bridget's Church in Wexford Town with the 'mark to the right of the gate just behind the pole.

NUMBER 500

BENCHMARKS continued

Recently one of the colleagues was pushing his bicycle along Dublin's Moore Street when, in the distance he espied an enormous rubbish skip, loaded to the gunwales and promising who knows what potentialities. Quickening his pace in tandem with his accelerating heart rhythm and respiration, and oblivious of other pedestrians, he sped towards the object and upon arrival commenced a head down frantic search of its innards. His initial optimism soon faded to disappointment on discovering that it contained nothing more than analogue mobile phones, 405 line television sets, and dial-up modems. He was about to turn away when his eye was struck by the sight of a green label affixed to a cardboard box; it seemed strangely familiar. Carefully lifting the box he held it out before him and read these words entered in a fine penmanship on the label - Enrico Caruso: The Phoenix Hall Sessions.
“This just might contain something worthwhile”, he thought.
The box being somewhat soiled, he picked up some old papers from the skip, wrapped it in these and placed it in his satchel before cycling off home.
However when he got there, more disappointment ensued. On opening the box he discovered that it contained nothing more than some cylinders, all with a wax coating. Cursing his luck they went into the bin; and as the old papers he had used as wrappings were about to undergo the same fate, he paused to read what was printed on them. Remarkably they turned out to be recording scripts and continuity announcements for programmes on Radio Eireann from some indeterminate date in the 1950s.
One of them is reproduced below.  
 
The website trading under the title thegpo.net may have a Facebook page which it uses to trumpet it's achievement in reaching a significant number of internet hits. However we at benchmark-sites are much more understated (a.k.a. snobbish) in how we offer ourselves up for praise. But not so subtle that no one gets it; we hope. That would be very, very embarrassing indeeed.

Below: The 'mark at the junction of Infirmary Road and Parkgate Street in Dublin City.
 
 Above: The junction of Infirmary Road and Parkgate Street with the 'mark at the corner on the base of the railings.

P.K.'s childhood home is at extreme left just masked by the tree. It is now the offices of CAFNBO - Cumann Arachais Fear na mBuan Oglaigh - a friendly society for members of the defence forces.
M.C.'s childhood home was at extreme right - where the flags are displayed. It was demolished in the 1990s and on the site at present is a Sally O'Brian's type public house. Maybe those who have made contributions to this site will one day all get together and celebrate there? 

NUMBER 499


BENCHMARKS continued



EDIT UPDATE ALERT!


Only the young are infallible and whatever else they are, M.C. and Benchmarker are far from young. Now read on ....


A while back M.C. had a look for the 'mark on the bridge on the Camac River on the South Circular Road in Dublin. It wasn't easy to spot because the bridge wall was clad in ivy. However it appeared that he found it and Benchmarker was sufficiently convinced to include it here (see below). Now with the ivy removed a different scenario emerges. The lesson here is that if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck and walks like a duck, it just mightn't be a duck; and most certainly it isn't a benchmark either. Appointments for M.C. and Benchmarker have been booked at Specsavers.



Below: The 'mark on the bridge on the Camac on the South Circular Road, Dublin City.

 Above: Looking south on the South Circular Road with the 'mark at left on the top of the wall.

Below: The original post for Number 499

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. took the opportunity to venture into Benchmarkers 'hood while he was away gallivanting in foreign climes during the Summer and bagged this one on the east side of the bridge over the Camac at South Circular Road, Kilmainham, Dublin City. It is not very clear to the unaided eye and even M.C. was doubtful, but the chalk never lies. Also the maps show that it should be there. And - the clincher - on his return Benchmarker applied the touch test and pronounced it genuine. It goes in!

Below: The 'mark on the Bridge over the River Camac at the South Circular Road in Dublin City.
 
Above: On the South Circular Road looking south with the 'mark at left on the capping stone.

Friday, November 2, 2012

NUMBER 498

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the south-west corner of Saint Bridget's Church at Bride Street in Wexford.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Bridget's Church in Wexford Town.
 
 Above: Looking towards Bride Street with the 'mark on the corner facing.

NUMBER 497

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. spotted this one on a gate pillar of an entrance - at the south-east corner - to Stillorgan Reservoir at Brewery Road in Dublin. In all his years in Dublin, Benchmarker has known of the existence of the Stillorgan Reservoir but has yet to clasp eyes on it.

Below: A 'mark on Brewery Road, Stillorgan, County Dublin.
 
 Above: The entrance to Stillorgan Reservoir with the 'mark to the right of the pedestrian entrance at right.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

NUMBER 496

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C.'s Summer odyssey included a stop in Ballymore Eustace in County Kildare where he found this one on Ballymore Bridge.

Below: The 'mark on Ballymore Bridge, Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare.
 
Above: Down these narrow roads the lonely benchmark hunter must go. Looking south on Ballymore Bridge with the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 495

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. was in Arklow, County Wicklow for this one. It's on the Bank of Ireland building at the junction of Main Street and Upper Main Street at a place called Parade Ground.

Below: The 'mark on the Bank of Ireland, Arklow, County Wicklow.
 
 Above: Looking towards Parade Ground with the 'mark on the bank building at left.

NUMBER 494

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. had to get out the telephoto to record this one. It's on the wall of a fenced off, derelict house a short distance west from the crossroads at Brittas, County Dublin. At 854.7 feet, it's the highest yet.

Below: The 'mark near Brittas crossroads in County Dublin.
 
Above: A view of the building whereon is the 'mark. It is impossible to see it here but it is on the front of the building, a short way from the corner at right.

NUMBER 493

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on an old farm building just off the N81 a.k.a the Blessington Road, near the northern tip of the reservoir at Raheen in County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the Blessington Road at Raheen, County Dublin. Look closely; it is at bottom right on the wall.
 
 Above: A view of the building holding the 'mark. It is out of sight on the wall just behind the gate. At 782.1 feet, this is the highest yet. But for how long?

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