NUMBER 506

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: You do want the best, don't you?) spotted this one in Wexford Town. It's at the junction of Carcur and Redmond Road on what was originally a section of road leading onto the old bridge - called the New Bridge - that previously spanned the harbour.

Below: The 'mark at Wexford Harbour at the junction of Carcur and Redmond Road.

 

Above: Looking north-west across Wexford Harbour with the 'mark on the top of the wall at centre left. That particular section of wall to the right was probably built after the New Bridge was removed, to prevent any motorists from accidentally driving into the harbour.

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 504

 BENCHMARK continued

P.G.R. made another foray into his home-town of Clonmel recently to get the last of the known benchmarks there. It is to the right of the main-door steps of the Clonmel Arms Hotel in Sarsfield St. (just left of the bumper of the hatchback car in the wide shot.) It is coincidental that P.G.R.'s grandfather, Godfrey Ryan, took lodgings in Mrs. Ellen Walshe's boarding-house directly opposite the hotel at number 23, according to the 1911 census.

Below: The 'mark on Sarsfield Street, Clonmel.

 

Above: The Clonmel Arms Hotel with the 'mark on the base of the railings just to the left of the car.

NUMBER 503

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: Believe in Better) found this one on the south-side wall of the bridge on the River Slaney in Baltinglass, County Wicklow.

Below: Gently shrouded in M.C.'s chalk, the 'mark on the bridge o'er the Slaney in Baltinglass.

 

 Above: Looking west on the bridge with the 'mark at left on the wall.

NUMBER 502

BENCHMARKS continued

M.C. (motto: Live the Day) found yet another one on Bride Street in Wexford. A bit the worse for wear, it's on the base of the church railings across from the junction with Clifford Street.

Below: Another 'mark on Bride Street in Wexford Town.

 

 Above: Looking into Clifford Street with the 'mark at the elbow on the base of the railings.

NUMBER 501

BENCHMARKS continued

As the speeches and cheers die away and the congratulatory telegrams and empty champagne bottles lie strewn like so many November leaves, it's time to gird our loins, summon up the blood, disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage, lend the eye a terrible aspect etc, etc, and get back to the task of hitting the target of 1,001. And first back into the breach comes M.C. with this one from Bride Street in Wexford. It's on a pillar at the entrance to Saint Bridget's Church.

Below: A 'mark on Bride Street in Wexford Town.

 

 Above: The entrance on Bride Street to Saint Bridget's Church in Wexford Town with the 'mark to the right of the gate just behind the pole.

NUMBER 500

BENCHMARKS continued

Recently one of the colleagues was pushing his bicycle along Dublin's Moore Street when, in the distance he espied an enormous rubbish skip, loaded to the gunwales and promising who knows what potentialities. Quickening his pace in tandem with his accelerating heart rhythm and respiration, and oblivious of other pedestrians, he sped towards the object and upon arrival commenced a head down frantic search of its innards. His initial optimism soon faded to disappointment on discovering that it contained nothing more than analogue mobile phones, 405 line television sets, and dial-up modems. He was about to turn away when his eye was struck by the sight of a green label affixed to a cardboard box; it seemed strangely familiar. Carefully lifting the box he held it out before him and read these words entered in a fine penmanship on the label - Enrico Caruso: The Phoenix Hall Sessions.

“This just might contain something worthwhile”, he thought.

The box being somewhat soiled, he picked up some old papers from the skip, wrapped it in these and placed it in his satchel before cycling off home.

However when he got there, more disappointment ensued. On opening the box he discovered that it contained nothing more than some cylinders, all with a wax coating. Cursing his luck they went into the bin; and as the old papers he had used as wrappings were about to undergo the same fate, he paused to read what was printed on them. Remarkably they turned out to be recording scripts and continuity announcements for programmes on Radio Eireann from some indeterminate date in the 1950s.

One of them is reproduced below.  

 

The website trading under the title thegpo.net may have a Facebook page which it uses to trumpet it's achievement in reaching a significant number of internet hits. However we at benchmark-sites are much more understated (a.k.a. snobbish) in how we offer ourselves up for praise. But not so subtle that no one gets it; we hope. That would be very, very embarrassing indeeed.

Below: The 'mark at the junction of Infirmary Road and Parkgate Street in Dublin City.

 

 Above: The junction of Infirmary Road and Parkgate Street with the 'mark at the corner on the base of the railings.

P.K.'s childhood home is at extreme left just masked by the tree. It is now the offices of CAFNBO - Cumann Arachais Fear na mBuan Oglaigh - a friendly society for members of the defence forces.

M.C.'s childhood home was at extreme right - where the flags are displayed. It was demolished in the 1990s and on the site at present is a Sally O'Brian's type public house. Maybe those who have made contributions to this site will one day all get together and celebrate there?