Clonalvy, County Meath

The size of the present tiny hamlet of Clonalvy in County Meath belies the industrious nature of the area and its place as a former hive of activity.

Clonalvy or Cluain Ailbhe in Irish possibly means the Meadow of Alvoy.

logainm.ie - Database of Irish Placenames.

There is a small ruined Church along the roadside as you pass through although not much of the Church remains standing.

A Church is recorded at this site as early as 1302 however the present ruin is a much later Church structure. See historical environment viewer record:

 - ME033-026---- : Church.

The beautiful Cruciform Passage Tomb of Four Knocks lies just roughly a kilometre away from here and is well worth visiting to see its beautiful neolithic carvings and huge central chamber.

There is a rather large Lime Kiln in an adjacent field which is in a remarkably good state of preservation.

A fire was lit in these Kilns and large limestone rocks 

were burned in them in order to produce lime itself.

Flagstones were also produced at Clonalvey and weaving was a staple in the area with, I believe, forty looms in operation at one time.

Meath History Hub - Clonalvey

Books of Survey and Distribution - East Meath

Behind the Limekiln is a beautiful little escarpment so perhaps some Limestone was quarried from here for the adjacent Lime Kiln. 

Just a guess on my part.

Keep the wheels turning.

 

Baltray Stone Alignment, Louth

 Baltray Stone Alignment 
County Louth

On the north side of the Boyne estuary in County Louth is the Baltray Stone Alignment.

When I first enquired about the site I was led to believe it was of two standing stones, however after approaching it I thought it was probably a Stone alignment, a different kettle of fish altogether, if you will forgive my pedanticism.

For some reason it just struck me as such.

I have since read that there was at least one more stone here which has long since since fallen and been subsumed by mother Earth. This I think makes more sense.

There are various claims to the stones being aligned with the hill on which Four Knocks Passage Tomb stands or Rockabill Island off the Skerries coast.

I can neither confirm nor deny these claims however I always believed that Stone alignments were arranged in some pattern with a celestial purpose in mind although just why I've adopted this particular assumption I cannot recall.

Anyway, this pair of upright lithics are well worth visiting if for the sea views alone.

A quite panoramic setting indeed.

Discover Boyne - Baltray Standing Stones

Mythical Ireland - Baltray Standing Stones

Keep the wheels turning.

Townleyhall Passage Tomb, Louth

 Townleyhall Passage Tomb
County Louth

Located in south County Louth and close to the border with Meath lies Townleyhall Passage Tomb.

It is an "undifferentiated" Passage Tomb.

Undifferentiated in this context just means that the tomb(s) inside lie at the rear of the passage and directly in line with it, not off to one side, nor "cruciform" (Cross shaped) like a lot of passage tombs.

It is a neolithic (Stone age) field monument of which there are many located in Ireland.

In all likelihood Townleyhall Passage Tomb was part of the larger Boyne burial and ritual site which includes Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth and various other unexcavated tombs in the area.

Unfortunately the passage tomb at Townleyhall is completely denuded of its original covering Cairn of stones while most of the passage lithics and orthostats are also absent.

Some of the kerbstones remain surrounding the small mound and although not large of presence the tomb is nonetheless important as an archaeological record on the landscape. 

At certain times during the year I believe the tomb at Townleyhall, just like Newgrange, is aligned with the rising Sun.

Apparently people gather at the site on these occasions to celebrate together, a nice touch indeed.

Being at least 5000 years old it is deserving of a visit in its own right and access is free and across a roadside stile.

Take care and watch out for the traffic.

The Megalithic Portal - Townleyhall

Ancient Ireland - Townleyhall

Irish Stones - Townley Hall

www.discoverboynevalley.ie

Keep the wheels turning.

Discoverboynevalley.ie/Townley-hall House and Tomb

The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin

 The National Botanic Gardens

The Botanic gardens are located in Glasnevin in Dublin.

You can combine a visit here with a visit to the historic Glasnevin cemetery which is adjacent and can be accessed from within the botanic gardens through a separate gate.

Entry to the Botanic Gardens is free as is entry to Glasnevin cemetery.

It is a great day out, the gardens have developed beautifully and the works have extended the displays considerably since last I was there, well over two decades ago.

Put simply, stunning landscapes and plants in a wonderfully bucolic setting.

Keep the wheels turning.

The contemporary Round Tower in Glasnevin Cemetery beneath which is housed the tomb of Daniel O'Connell.

Watch out for the flesh eating carnivorous plants and the philosophers step.

Sidney Squirrel.

A Pine reaching for the sky.

Tina and Tommy Turtle.

Harry the young Heron.

A Victorian/Edwardian style shelter.

The entrance gates.

The original old Iron entrance turnstiles.

It was wonderful to see them still there, a nice reminder of a bygone era.

The river Tolka seems healthy with numerous Trout seen on our visit.

Mickey and Millie the Moorhen fledglings.

A castellated Tower in adjacent Glasnevin Cemetery.

The walled Fruit gardens.

The Rose garden.

Socrates.....he looks nothing like the Brazilian soccer player I remember.

There is a step in one of the Glass houses with a plaque celebrating the visit of a later philosopher if you can locate it.