NUMBER 304

BENCHMARKS continued

This one is on Saint Lugadius Church in Lifford County Donegal. It's much the worse for wear, but you take what you can get.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Lugadius Church.

Above: Looking towards north Donegal with the 'mark on the front of the church just to the right of the door. In the middle distance, Benchmarker's metal chariot stands by.

NUMBER 188

BENCHMARKS continued
 

'Roll up ! Roll up, ladies. Today's special is a large chunky slice of brickie, flambéed in amber liquor and served with a generous helping of boxty.'

This one is on a building on Main Street in Ballybofey, perhaps formerly a bank but now a restaurant. Across the street is the Garda barracks. When Benchmarker was a young chiseller (pun intended), once a month he would travel with his father, a garda, from the home kebele of Convoy to the distant metropolis of Stranolor/Ballybofey for a short back and sides. Usually always afterwards a visit was paid to the barracks for a chin-wag on trends amongst the local criminal fraternity. Happy days! But sadly no 'marks appear to exist now in Convoy.

Below: The 'mark on Main street, Ballybofey.

Above: Ballybofey looking towards Stranolor with the 'mark just to the left of the entrance door.

NUMBER 187

BENCHMARKS continued
 

This one is on the north west side of Saint Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Eunan's Cathedral.

Above: The north west corner of Saint Eunan's Cathedral, looking across at two other churches, with the 'mark at bottom right.

NUMBER 35

BENCHMARKS continued

Many a pub-quiz has been won or lost on the question - 'What is the county town of Donegal?' Some plump for Donegal Town or Letterkenny; or Buncrana, Ballyshannon or Bundoran; and all of them are wrong. The correct answer is Lifford, a compact little hamlet in east central Donegal on the west bank of the river Foyle. Maps from the 18^th century show a County House, Court House, Gaol, Lunatic Asylum, Dispensary and an Infirmary. Today practically all of those original buildings are gone although the relatively new and modern Council Headquarters is located on the site of the County House; while the Hospital is located on the site of the Infirmary. It appears that the only original survivor is the Court House with its interesting Lion and Unicorn plaque high up above the front doorway where this benchmark is located.

Below: The 'mark, while just above it some modern graffitist makes an unnecessary contribution.

Above: The Court House, with the 'mark to the right side of the doorway at bottom.