When Benchmarker met Diana.
The year was 1966 - or perhaps 1967 - on a day that the Supremes were to give a concert in the Adelphi in Dublin. As Benchmarker approached the GPO on his return from lunch to his place of work on Henry Street, who should approach walking briskly from under the colonnade but Diana Ross accompanied only by one of the other Supremes. Benchmarker gawked; Diana glided by; and the rest is history. (Wonder what ever became of her?) Today you will search in vain for any plaque that commemorates that historic encounter. But rather more fortunately, nearby you can view this historic 'mark. It is undoubtedly the one that has experienced the greatest concentration of shot and shell-fire over, under, around, and - perhaps - at it. However when the smoke cleared in the dawn's early gleaming that followed the surrender, it still stood, battered but unbowed. Perhaps it should be incorporated into the national flag?
Below. The 'mark on the front of the GPO.
Above: Under the colonnade of the GPO looking towards O'Connell Bridge, with the 'mark at bottom right. In the middle distance a young man pushing a buggy traverses the spot where Benchmarker met Diana.