NUMBER 721

BENCHMARKS continued

The story of how the life-force that is M.C. bagged this one, on an outhouse in the townland of Cullaghreeva near Pass If You Can in west County Dublin, would rival that of the Odyssey. Suffice to relate here is that it involves a good number of invitations to partake of effusions of the leaf of the tea plant accompanied by lectures on the scientific principles of benchmarking. Should you ever be so fortunate as to encounter him, perambulating gently along with head low as he scrutinises the lower stones of a wall in some far-flung townland or barony, beseech him gently to relate it. Should his ceaseless searching allow him occasion to oblige, your reward will be to be refreshed immeasurably in spirit and convinced of the inherent goodness of human fellowship that benchmark hunting engenders.

Below: The 'mark in the townland of Cullaghreeva, County Dublin. 

 

Above: A view of the outhouse in Cullaghreeva with the 'mark on the bottom corner of the wall.

NUMBER 720

BENCHMARKS continued

As 2013 limps towards its inevitable demise it is awards season time for the Benchmarker Academy. Having reviewed all contributions, for the fourth time in as many years the title of Benchmarker Hunter Supreme is bestowed on M.C. The citation noted that he again gave exemplary display throughout the year of that special persistence and commitment to the hunt, the highlight of which resulted in locating this one on Emmet Road near its junction with Saint Vincent Street West, Inchicore in Dublin City. The award will be presented at a special celebration at Bar 52 in the New Year.

Below: The 'mark on Emmet Road in Dublin City.

 

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

NUMBER 719

BENCHMARKS continued

In the village of Kilmainhamwood, in the townland of Eden, in the county of Meath is where M.C. found this one, located at the southern entranceway to the Roman Catholic Church.

Below: M.C. models his wedding guest shoes at the 'mark at the entranceway to the R.C. Church in Kilmainhamwood, County Meath. 

 

Above: The entranceway to the R.C. Church. The 'mark, bisected by the sunshine and the shadow, is to the right on top of the small wall.

NUMBER 718

BENCHMARKS continued

Another from M.C. from the centre of Kingscourt in County Cavan. It's on the south-east corner of Saint Ernon's Church.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Ernon's Church in Kingscourt.  

 

Above: Lit by the midwinter sun at midday, a fine view of Saint Ernon's Church with the 'mark on the shaded side of the bottom corner-stone of the church at right.


NUMBER 717

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the south side of Bailieborough Road near its junction with Main Street in the centre of Kingscourt in County Cavan.

Below: A 'mark on Bailieborough Road in Kingscourt.

 Above: Looking east on Bailieborough Road with the 'mark, somewhat indistinct, on the corner outfacing at bottom right.

NUMBER 716

BENCHMARKS continued

South of Malahide in County Dublin on Hazel Brook Road - a.k.a. the R124 - where the railway line crosses above, is where M.C. got this one.

Below: The 'mark on Hazel Brook Road. 

 

Above: Looking south on the R124 with the 'mark on the portion of the bridge wall under the sloped capping.


NUMBER 715

BENCHMARKS continued

A little way south-west of Donabate on Hearse Road in County Dublin is where M.C. found this one located on the wall of a building that was formerly a smithy.

Below: The 'mark on Hearse Road in Donabate.

 

Above: Looking north-east towards Donabate with the 'mark out-facing on the corner nearest, obscured in the branches.


NUMBER 714

BENCHMARKS continued

This one on the Jesuit College on Sea Road in Galway City was submitted by Kevin Fahy.

Below: The 'mark on the Jesuit College, Sea Road. 

 

Above: A view of the chapel. The 'mark appears to be near where the lightning conductor enters the ground near bottom centre.


NUMBER 713

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Knockaroe courtesy of M.C. is perhaps the first from County Laois. It's on the south-west corner of the wall surrounding the R.C. Chapel and Graveyard.

Below: The 'mark at Knockaroe.

 

Above: Looking east in Knockaroe with the 'mark at the bottom of the corner.


NUMBER 712

BENCHMARKS continued

What with all the widening and improvements that have gone on, and considering there were never all that many to start with, kerbstone 'marks - or flaties if you prefer - are as rare nowadays as hens teeth. It's surprising therefore that this one still remains in situ on the north side of Leinster Street South in Dublin City, just a few paces from the building where James Joyce's inamorata Nora Barnacle worked as a chamber maid – Finn's Hotel. It's not listed on any of the usual maps, or indeed in Ulysses, (or Finnegan's Wake, as far as is known) but M.C. tracked it down from the maps that accompany the Griffith Valuations. The fact that the kerbstone is now cracked in two could mean that its days may be numbered. A full scale occupation of the site may be called for. Come with your spouses and children; your hopes and dreams yearning to break free; placards, tents and sleeping bags, on next June 16^th. Kidneys will be served.

Below: The 'mark on Leinster Street South. 

 

Above: Looking east on Leinster Street South with the 'mark at bottom. Finn's Hotel is just out of shot to the left.


NUMBER 711

BENCHMARKS continued

Down on Main. Opposite its junction with Malahide Road on the west side of Main Street in Swords in County Dublin, is where M.C. located this one.

Below: A 'mark on Main Street, Swords.

 

Above: Looking north on Main with the 'mark at bottom left.


NUMBER 710

BENCHMARKS continued

As it nestled 'neath the iron rail that girds the oxygen lung in the palpitating bosom of the Dublin metropolis that is Merrion Square, 'twere spotted by the venerable M.C. who forthwith made proper record for suitable publication in the estimable and esteemed benchmarks website contraption thingy.

Below: The 'mark on Merrion Square South. 

 

Above: Looking west on Merrion Square South towards Leinster House with the 'mark at bottom right.


NUMBER 709

BENCHMARKS continued

Again on Hook Head in County Wexford, M.C. found this one on the wall along the road (R734) just north of the lighthouse.

Below: A 'mark on the R734.

 

Above: Looking south on the R734 towards the lighthouse, with the 'mark at bottom left.


NUMBER 708

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. photographed this one located on a window-sill at Pembroke Cottages, Ballsbridge in Dublin City.

Below: The 'mark at Pembroke Cottages.

Above: Looking south with the 'mark at the centre of the window-sill.

NUMBER 707

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is so facially challenged that only a benchmark hunter could love it! It was found by M.C. at Porter's Gate on the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford.

Below: The 'mark at Porter's Gate.

 

Above: Looking south-west on the R734 with the mark on the corner in the shadow of the pole.

NUMBER 706

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on a gate pillar on the north side of the R123 at Snugborough, Balgriffin, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark at Snugborough.

Above: Looking east on the R123 with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 705

BENCHMARKS continued

Located on a wall outside Saint Andrew's School (motto: For God and Country) on Church Road in Malahide, County Dublin, is where M.C. found this one.

Below: The 'mark outside Saint Andrew's School. 

 

Above: A view of the front of the school with the mark at left on the small wall.

NUMBER 704

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. recorded this one located near the entrance to Saint Columba's Church in Swords, County Dublin.

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

 

Above: A view of the front of the church looking towards the tower. The 'mark is beneath the window in the middle of the picture.



number 703

BENCHMARKS continued

Even M.C.'s magic chalk does little to highlight this one on the north wall of a ruined church in Templetown, County Wexford.

Below: The 'mark in Templetown, County Wexford. 

 

Above: Looking west along the north wall of the church with the the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 702

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is in the townland of Fethard - a little way west of the village of Fethard - in County Wexford.

Below: The 'mark in the townland of Fethard.

 

Above: Looking north-east with the 'mark at the bottom of the corner, under the ivy.



NUMBER 701

BENCHMARKS continued

Benchmarker has long held a dream to live in a house that nestles a 'mark on its structure. Opportunities for this arise perhaps once in a lifetime; if indeed ever. So, it was with an enormous sense of disappointment to discover that such a chance had arisen and M.C. had failed to inform of said eventuality. Words will be exchanged; never fear! It's on the gable wall of a house on Turvey Avenue near the centre of Donabate in County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Turvey Avenue, Donabate. 

Above: Looking east on Turvey Avenue with the 'mark at bottom left of the gable wall.



NUMBER 700

BENCHMARKS continued

As the light declined, this upside-down one was recorded on the camera-phone of M.C. It's on Westmoreland Bridge in Phibsborough in Dublin. It appears not to be in its original place on the bridge wall and was probably moved when it was reused with the other wall stones when the that wall was rebuilt at some time.

Below: The 'mark on Westmoreland Bridge.

 

Above: Looking south on Phibsborough Road with the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 699

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. bagged this one on the Wellington Testimonial in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, sometime during the high summer of 2013.

Below: The 'mark on the Wellington Testimonial.

 

Above: Looking north east - towards the Peoples' Garden - on the Testimonial with the 'mark at left.

NUMBER 698

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the south east corner of the railway bridge at Corballis Cottages Road, Donabate, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the Bridge over Corballis Cottages Road. 

Above: Looking east on Corballis Cottages Road with the 'mark near the junction of the inward corner of the bridge wall.

NUMBER 697

BENCHMARKS continued

On the Clock Tower on the Coal Quay of Waterford City is this one, bagged by M.C. Junior.

Below: The 'mark on the Clock Tower on Waterford's Coal Quay.

 

 Above: Looking north at the Clock Tower. The 'mark is on the corner at left.