Charles Thompson Week
There’s been a considerable uptake of interest in hillwalking in recent years and social media is full of snaps and photos of people’s trips. But it’s not a new activity…
Placenames & Heritage Notes
Our Lady
Our Lady
Shrine to Our Lady found on a by road at Cullabrack near Newport in Co.Mayo. One of the many little details found on a map by EastWest Mapping.
Abhainn Dú
Abhainn Dú
Have you visited Ballycroy National Park, climbed Nephin Beg or negotiated the Bangor Trail? You’ll do worse than put aside 50 minutes and listen to this wonderful podcast called Abhainn…
Standing Stones in a Meadow
Standing Stones in a Meadow
This photo was taken in the mighty summer of 2018: a pair of standing stones set in a rich summer meadow. I like it firstly because it’s the small details…
Brittas Bay
The Sea Giveth
We often read these days of coastal erosion, of winter storms battering away, removing beaches and soft cliffs. But as well as taking away, the sea also giveth. That material…
Clough Egan
Rediscovering Clough Egan
Very pleased to rediscover the location of a large rock in Glencree. Co.Wicklow called Clough Egan / Cloch Egan. This with the help of local resident Mary Walsh who kindly…
Rundale in Wicklow
Rundale in Wicklow
Rundale was a system of land management between farmers that seems to have common enough in the west of Ireland in early/ mid 19th century. It predated the enclosure of…
Black Banks
Black Banks
I’ve written previously about the name ‘Table Mountain’ in the Wicklow hills and reported that locally this area is still known as the Black Banks. That the name Table Mountain…
Coronation Plantation
Coronation Plantation
The scattered Scots Pine and Oak trees of Coronation Plantation near Sally Gap in Wicklow are the subject of many a photograph. Planted in 1831 by the Downshire Estate, the…
Blind Brook
Blind Brooks
Those who ramble the hills and venture across valleys and rocky slopes will be familiar with hearing the tinkle of running water under their feet, even though no stream is…