Follies come in all shapes and sizes and the Cromlech is no exception. Following an attack by vandals it had to be deconstructed in the late 1990s and for many years it looked like an unremarkable collection of stones on the ground. With the help of drawings and photos, the Cromlech was restored to its original glory. Walking by the Cromlech at weekends children can be seen playing around it, posing for photographs and generally enjoying climbing on it.
A cromlech is a megalithic construction made of large stone blocks. The word applies to two different megalithic forms in English, the first being an altar tomb (frequently called a “dolmen”), as William Borlase first denoted in 1769. The second meaning of the name “cromlech” in English refers to large stone circles such as those found among the Carnac stones in Brittany, France.
Unlike in English, the word “cromlech” in many other languages (such as Azerbaijani, Armenian, French, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, and Spanish) exclusively denotes a megalithic stone circle, whereas the word “dolmen” is used to refer to the type of megalithic altar tomb sometimes indicated by the English “cromlech”. Also, more recently in English, scholars such as Aubrey Burl use “cromlech” as a synonym for “megalithic stone circle”.
GASWORKS LATTICE BRIDGE IN WATERFORD – RECENTLY RESTORED
When I first photographed this bridge a few years ago I was under the impression that it was a new structure but it dates from from the late 1870s.
In early 2013, the Waterford Civic Trust became concerned that the Lattice Bridge connecting the Waterside and the Gasworks site would be removed and scrapped like the other connecting bridge. With the help of Waterford City Council a plan was devised and acted upon, whereby the bridge was safely removed for restoration. Work has been done to the bridge to bring it up to modern health and safety standards and to ensure it’s use in Waterford’s life.
DALY’S BRIDGE HAS BEEN RESTORED – THE SHAKEY BRIDGE
This is a favourite of mine but I also like St Vincent’s Bridge which I did not get a chance to photograph this visit to Cork. Even though I spent a week in the city I ran out of time but I hope to visit again in May 2022.
Daly’s Bridge is a pedestrian bridge spanning the River Lee in Cork, Ireland. Known locally as the Shakey Bridge, it joins Sunday’s Well on the north side, to Fitzgerald’s Park in the Mardyke area on the south.
Completed in 1926 and opened in 1927, it is the only suspension bridge in Cork City. It was constructed by the London-based David Rowell & Company to the design of Stephen W. Farrington, the Cork City Engineer. Constructed primarily of wrought iron, the bridge spans 160 feet (49 m), and the timber-planked walkway is 4+1⁄2 feet (1.4 m) wide.
The bridge takes its official name from Cork businessman James Daly, who contributed to the cost of the bridge. Its colloquial name (the “Shakey Bridge” or “Shaky Bridge”) derives from the movement of the platform when running or jumping on the bridge.
In August 2019, work began on restoration of the bridge. It was dismantled into four sections and removed so that repair of the bridge structure could be carried out. In July 2020, it was reported that while the structure of the bridge had been reinstalled, “several weeks of work” were required before it would reopen. It was reopened to the public in December 2020.
The bridge is listed on Cork City Council’s Record of Protected Structures.
THE WELL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST – DRUMCONDRA CHURCH
Today I got a bit of a surprise when I walked around the Drumcondra area of the city photographing at random. As I was walking along Ormond Avenue I noticed a signpost pointing to Drumcondra Church so I decided to follow the sign and walk along Church Avenue which led me to the Church Of St. John The Baptist or Drumcondra Church. I had been aware that there was a church known as Drumcondra Church but this was my first time to see it.
Within the grounds of the church of St John the Baptist is an ancient holy well which for generations has been a part of the historic and ecclesiastical heritage of the area.
A number of years ago the well was considered dangerous and was covered over. It has now been fully restored and decorative railings erected around it to define the well site and to ensure safety for those who visit.
Traditionally the well has been resorted to by those seeking cures for eye complaints.
LADY GRATTAN DRINKING FOUNTAIN AT THE TOP OF DAWSON STREET ON ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN
The original fountain included two horse troughs [one of which had been replace by a modern copy in 1992].
The contract for Luas Cross City heritage works was awarded to KN Network Services (KNN) and various items of historical and cultural significance had been carefully removed by the contractor to secure storage for a period of up to two years and all have been returned.
The heritage works began in 2014 with the successful removal to storage of the Lady Grattan Fountain at St. Stephen’s Green. The fountain which dates from 1888 was in excellent condition and was returned close to its original location. Close inspection of the fountain and troughs had shown that some repairs which were carried out in the past had given way. Some new repairs to the stonework were undertaken before reinstallation.
The Lady Grattan Fountain was presented by Lady Laura Grattan (daughter in law of the patriot Henry Grattan, M.P whose statue stands in College Green) to the citizens of Dublin in 1880. The fountain was presented to the citizens of the city at a time when running water was only supplied to a small number of houses in the capital. The installation of fountains like this one in other locations within the city centre helped greatly in improving public health and hygiene generally.
It consists of a drinking fountain carved from polished granite stone. The cylindrical base supports a basin from which rises a quatrefoil shaft surmounted by a small Celtic cross. Decorative bronze spouts and fittings (some of which are missing) are set into the quatrefoil shaft.
Drinking cups would have originally been attached to the shaft to allow people to quench their thirsts, while horses would have been able to drink from the basin.
Flanking the structure were two granite rectangular troughs mounted on squared pedestal blocks. These troughs are likely to be unrelated historically with the drinking fountain and may have been brought from elsewhere during the twentieth century. Note: the troughs are now some distance along the street from the the fountain.
In 1992 the fountain was restored by Dublin City Council. The work involved bringing drinking water back to the fountain and replacing worn bronze castings, spouts and access doors. One of the horse troughs, which was badly damaged, was replaced by a modern copy.
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