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…
Placenames & Heritage Notes
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…
Kilbride Army Camp
Kilbride Army Camp
Kilbride Army Camp This photo taken c1915 of Kilbride Army Camp in the Dublin Mountains was posted on the Tallaght FB page a while back. It shows a series of…
Crotty's Cave
Crotty’s Cave
William Crotty is a nebulous figure in the folklore of Clonmel and Waterford. An 18th century rapparee in the same mould as Freney the Robber, Caher Roe and Cock a…
Flooded Valley
Flooded Valley
I’m currently recompiling map detail around Poulaphuca Reservoir or Blessington Lakes. This large body of water was created in 1940, following construction of a dam and hydro electric scheme at…