NUMBER 1,016

BENCHMARKS continued

This second one from Dunshaughlin is on Saint Sechnall's Church.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Sechnall's Church in Dunshaughlin in County Meath.

 

 Above: A view looking west at Saint Sechnall's Church with the 'mark at bottom right on the wall of the church.

NUMBER 1,014

BENCHMARKS continued

Of all the many, many references to the many, many, many features of Ballivor that can be found in song and in story, in poems, memoirs, documentaries, plays, novels, feature films, news reels, etc, etc, etc, how disappointing it is then to consider that its finest feature - the wonderful, wonderful benchmark on the fine old stone-built Earls Bridge on the Stonyford River - has been completely ignored. It falls therefore to M.C. and Benchmarker to attempt, more in sorrow than in anger, with this small heart-felt tribute here on this website, to correct this great injustice.

 

Below: The 'mark on Earls Bridge at Ballivor in County Meath.

 

Above: On Earls Bridge looking north with the 'mark on the left at bottom left of the stone plaque which, for all anyone is able to tell, perhaps gives the date of the erection of the bridge, and by who it was paid for and carried out; but its not possible to tell because the plaque, like the 'mark, is so unappreciated that it has been allowed to become smothered with lichens. How disappointing!

NUMBER 838

BENCHMARKS continued

Because the OSI website was 'undergoing maintenance' for quite a long time, the start of the Summer benchmark-hunting season had to be delayed this year and didn't commence until the second last Sunday in May. As usual M.C. planned the schedule and, whether deliberate or otherwise, it resulted in something of a trip down memory lane for him. We would be scoping the towns along the N2 all the way north to Monaghan, where M.C. spent many, many eventful weekends a long, long, long time ago. Perhaps his usual reticence about revealing the finer details of what exactly he was up to during that time would be put aside? Benchmarker traveled alongside in hopeful expectation.

The first stop was at Slane. More precisely, on the road that rises uphill from the bridge to the crossroads in the centre of the village. On the wall on the right-hand side, just before the right-hand swerve to the crossroads, we bagged this one. It was quite difficult to see and the addition of chalk to help outline it only made things worse as its general area is already speckled with a sort of whitewash.

Below: A 'mark on the wall on the climb from the bridge up to the crossroads in Slane in County Meath.

 

Above: Looking north west on the N2 towards the centre of Slane with the 'mark located near bottom right.