NUMBER 1,084

BENCHMARKS continued

Back west to Goatstown in County Kildare for this one on Cock Bridge.

Below: The 'mark on Cock Bridge.

Above. Looking east on Cock Bridge with the 'mark on the bridge at left.

NUMBER 1,083

BENCHMARKS continued

It's back east into County Dublin for this canal bridge 'mark. It's on Hazelhatch Bridge in, where else but Hazelhatch.

Below: The 'mark on Hazelhatch Bridge.

 
Above. Looking north east at Hazelhatch Bridge with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 1,082

BENCHMARKS continued

Also in County Kildare, this time on Henry Bridge in Tipperstown, is this one.

Below: The 'mark on Henry Bridge.

Above. Looking southwest at Henry Bridge with the 'mark at bottom left of the arch.

NUMBER 1,075

BENCHMARKS continued

This is rather wonderful; a survivor against great odds. It's located on the edge of the tow path of the Grand Canal in County Kildare. The tow path is subject to regular mechanised hedge trimming and grass cutting by the local authority. The stone, with the 'mark atop, might easily have been removed to allow a free flow for the grass cutter. Somehow it has been left undisturbed. Long may it remain.

Below: The 'mark on the Grand Canal tow path near Digby Bridge in County Kildare. The number 16 carved in the stone refers perhaps to the 16^th Lock nearby.

Above: Looking west towards Digby Bridge with the 'mark, on the top of the stone, at bottom right.

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 482

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the 12^th Lock of the Grand Canal south of Lucan in County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the 12^th Lock of the Grand Canal.

Above: A view of the 12^th Lock with the 'mark at the top and to the left of the canal wall opposite.

 

NUMBER 384

BENCHMARKS continued

Back from the badlands of north Dublin, M.C. and Benchmarker saddled up to scout the open prairies west of the city. Following the Grand Canal Trail heading out west, paydirt was struck at the 5^th Lock.

Those not familiar with the history of the Grand Canal might wonder why the numbering of its locks starts with the one at Suir Road/Davitt Road - designated the 1^st Lock - rather than the one on the east of the city at Grand Canal Dock where the canal enters Dublin Port. Well the reason is that when originally built the canal terminated at Grand Canal Harbour beside the Guinness Brewery. The section to Dublin Port with all those other locks was constructed later. That original section is now filled-in and on it is that bit of the Luas Line from Suir Road Station to Fatima Station. Benchmarker recalls exploring the area around Fatima in the late 60s and seeing a walkway bridge there linking the two banks of the canal. Aaawww ... Dublin in the rare old times, Jockser! 

 

Below: The 'mark on the 5^th Lock of the Grand Canal in Dublin.

Above: The 5^th Lock looking towards the city centre. The 'mark is on the lock wall on the opposite side just to the left of the wooden walkway.

NUMBER 370

BENCHMARKS continued

'Ask and it will be given onto you; seek and ye shall find ... ' and always have a pocket camera to hand. Benchmarker is not one to invoke the power of the hypothesis know as a Supreme Being. Rather it's about a dogged determination alloyed to a never-give-up attitude. And so it came to pass that following a number of fruitless visits, this one, on Parnell Bridge on the Grand Canal in Dublin, was revealed onto Benchmarker in all it finery.

Below: The 'mark on Parnell Bridge over the Grand Canal in Dublin City.

Above: Looking west with the 'mark on top of the wall in the foreground, and a slightly frozen-over Grand Canal behind.