NUMBER 721

BENCHMARKS continued

The story of how the life-force that is M.C. bagged this one, on an outhouse in the townland of Cullaghreeva near Pass If You Can in west County Dublin, would rival that of the Odyssey. Suffice to relate here is that it involves a good number of invitations to partake of effusions of the leaf of the tea plant accompanied by lectures on the scientific principles of benchmarking. Should you ever be so fortunate as to encounter him, perambulating gently along with head low as he scrutinises the lower stones of a wall in some far-flung townland or barony, beseech him gently to relate it. Should his ceaseless searching allow him occasion to oblige, your reward will be to be refreshed immeasurably in spirit and convinced of the inherent goodness of human fellowship that benchmark hunting engenders.

Below: The 'mark in the townland of Cullaghreeva, County Dublin. 

 

Above: A view of the outhouse in Cullaghreeva with the 'mark on the bottom corner of the wall.

NUMBER 716

BENCHMARKS continued

South of Malahide in County Dublin on Hazel Brook Road - a.k.a. the R124 - where the railway line crosses above, is where M.C. got this one.

Below: The 'mark on Hazel Brook Road. 

 

Above: Looking south on the R124 with the 'mark on the portion of the bridge wall under the sloped capping.


NUMBER 715

BENCHMARKS continued

A little way south-west of Donabate on Hearse Road in County Dublin is where M.C. found this one located on the wall of a building that was formerly a smithy.

Below: The 'mark on Hearse Road in Donabate.

 

Above: Looking north-east towards Donabate with the 'mark out-facing on the corner nearest, obscured in the branches.


NUMBER 711

BENCHMARKS continued

Down on Main. Opposite its junction with Malahide Road on the west side of Main Street in Swords in County Dublin, is where M.C. located this one.

Below: A 'mark on Main Street, Swords.

 

Above: Looking north on Main with the 'mark at bottom left.


NUMBER 706

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. found this one on a gate pillar on the north side of the R123 at Snugborough, Balgriffin, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark at Snugborough.

Above: Looking east on the R123 with the 'mark at bottom left.

NUMBER 705

BENCHMARKS continued

Located on a wall outside Saint Andrew's School (motto: For God and Country) on Church Road in Malahide, County Dublin, is where M.C. found this one.

Below: The 'mark outside Saint Andrew's School. 

 

Above: A view of the front of the school with the mark at left on the small wall.

NUMBER 704

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. recorded this one located near the entrance to Saint Columba's Church in Swords, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Columba's Church.

 

Above: A view of the front of the church looking towards the tower. The 'mark is beneath the window in the middle of the picture.



NUMBER 701

BENCHMARKS continued

Benchmarker has long held a dream to live in a house that nestles a 'mark on its structure. Opportunities for this arise perhaps once in a lifetime; if indeed ever. So, it was with an enormous sense of disappointment to discover that such a chance had arisen and M.C. had failed to inform of said eventuality. Words will be exchanged; never fear! It's on the gable wall of a house on Turvey Avenue near the centre of Donabate in County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on Turvey Avenue, Donabate. 

Above: Looking east on Turvey Avenue with the 'mark at bottom left of the gable wall.



NUMBER 698

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from M.C. is on the south east corner of the railway bridge at Corballis Cottages Road, Donabate, County Dublin.

Below: The 'mark on the Bridge over Corballis Cottages Road. 

Above: Looking east on Corballis Cottages Road with the 'mark near the junction of the inward corner of the bridge wall.

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.