NUMBER 673

BENCHMARKS continued

A short way out of town where Lower Main Street of Letterkenny, County Donegal becomes the R250, is this one - a pleasing flatie - on a boulder that is incorporated into the wall of a stone-built building.

Below: The 'mark on the R250 in Letterkenny.

 

Above: Looking west on the R250 towards Ballymacool with the 'mark at bottom right and in the distance the fabled eponymous Hills wherein a New Las Vegas may have been constructed.

NUMBER 672

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on the north side of that section of the Port Road that runs from the Station Roundabout up to the Main Street, in Letterkenny, County Donegal. The OSI (Ordance Survey of Ireland) maps, name this section as Ramelton Road. But nobody in Letterkenny calls it that and neither does Google Maps.

Below: The 'mark on the Port Road in Letterkenny.

 

Above: Looking west on the Port Road with the 'mark at bottom right and with the convoy of the groupies of the Donegal International Rally in full swing.

NUM,BER 671

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on the south side of the Martello Tower in the north of Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the Martello Tower, Balbriggan.

 

 Above: Looking west with the 'mark to the right, on the stone just above the ledge.

NUMBER 670

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on the west side of the railway bridge that straddles Baths Road in Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the railway bridge on Baths Road, Balbriggan.

 

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

NUMBER 669

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on Oldbawn Cottage at the corner of Harry Reynolds Road and Drogheda Street in Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Oldbawn Cottage on Drogheda Street in Balbriggan.

 

 Above: Looking north-west on Drogheda Street with the 'mark at left on the corner of the cottage.

NUMBER 668

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. will admit that he is not exactly a gifted amateur in the photography stakes, but he can be like a truffle hound on speed when it comes to sniffing out unrecorded 'marks. He spotted this one when about to go under the viaduct while driving along Harbour Road in Balbriggan, County Dublin. Now if he could just master his FAS and FAD he could be an unstoppable force of nature.

Below: The 'mark on the viaduct on Harbour Road in Balbriggan.

 

 Above: Looking north-west from Harbour Road. The 'mark can be seen on the outside of the corner facing.

NUMBER 667

BENCHMARKS continued

Go past the night-club and down along the East Pier - built in 1761 by the Honourable George Hamilton of Hampton in the County of Dublin - through the rotted wooden mooring posts, past the stripped-down rusted hulks stranded on the harbour bottom, and you will find this one on the lighthouse in Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the lighthouse in Balbriggan.

 

 Above: A view of the lighthouse with the 'mark at the centre bottom of the tower.

NUMBER 666

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. and Benchmarker will not allow their eyes to sleep or their eyelids to slumber; neither the temples of their head to take any rest until they find 1,001 benchmarks. This one is Number 666 but be not fearful; it simply confirms their stupendous industry. Nothing further need be said. It is on Saint George's Church, Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Saint George's Church in Balbriggan.

 

 Above: A view of the church. The 'mark may be found to the left of the entrance.

NUMBER 665

BENCHMARKS continued

Further south on Dublin Street, Balbriggan, County Dublin is the R.C. Church of Saints Peter & Paul, which is where this one is located.

Below: The 'mark on the Church of Saints Peter & Paul in Balbriggan.

 

 Above: The front of the church with the 'mark visible on the surround to the left of the centre doorway.

NUMBER 664

BENCHMARKS continued

As M.C. and Benchmarker toured Balbriggan they were surprised to discover that it does not have a Queen Street. Strange that. Perhaps it will change in the future. Anyway, this one is on the Dublin Street side of the Courthouse in Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the Courthouse in Balbriggan.

 

 Above: Looking north on Dublin Street with the 'mark at centre right.

NUMBER 663

BENCHMARKS continued

At the railway bridge at Kilmainham, west of Skerries and just off the R127, is this one.

Below: The 'mark at Kilmainham, Skerries, County Dublin.

 

 Above: Looking south at the railway bridge at Kilmainham with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 662

BENCHMARKS continued

Outstanding in its own field, this one is on the north-west corner of a derelict cottage on the R128 at Ballyhavil in County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark at Ballyhavil in County Dublin.

 

Above: Looking south at Ballyhavil with the 'mark at the bottom right of the building.

NUMBER 661

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is at the junction of the wall of two old buildings on the R128, a.k.a. the Skerries Road, at the crossroads at Ballykea, County Dublin. Plastered with whitewash, it is difficult to make out.

Below: The 'mark at Ballykea Cross Roads in County Dublin.

 

Above: Looking south on the Skerries Road at Ballykea, with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 660

BENCHMARKS continued

Just past the mid-point of a gentle left hand curve, a tad further north on the Skerries Road, is this one.

Below: A 'mark on the west side of the Skerries Road, County Dublin.

 

 Above: Looking south on the Skerries Road with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 659

BENCHMARKS continued

Like Butch and Sundance, M.C. and Benchmarker buddied up for yet another job and headed out along the trail to the north Dublin coast. First stop was at the wall that runs past the Rush Cricket Club on the Skerries Road, where both hunters were extra keen to be the one to spot the first one. With a cry of “Howzat!” M.C. pointed to the 'mark, leaving Benchmarker stumped and on the back foot (ouch!).

Below: The 'mark on the west side of the Skerries Road near Rush Cricket Club in County Dublin.

 

 Above: Looking south on the Skerries Road with the 'mark at bottom right. Behind is the entrance to the cricket club.

NUMBER 658

BENCHMARKS continued

At the Pigeon House Road entrance to Ringsend Park in Dublin, is a building called the Syphon House. What it probably siphons is perhaps best left unsaid. Anyway this one is on that particular building.

Below: The 'mark on the Syphon House in Ringsend, Dublin City.

 

 Above: Looking into Ringsend Park from Pigeon House Road with the 'mark at left on the wall, fourth block from the bottom.