16th Century Crucifixion Cross, Johnstown, Kilkenny

 Johnstown, Kilkenny

There is a small somewhat deserted hamlet in the Irish midlands on the periphery of the Kilkenny border with Laois. 

This is Johnstown, County Kilkenny.

It lies on what was once the exceedingly busy Cork\Dublin main road, a road which nowadays is largely devoid of traffic, most of which is routed on the parallel M8 Motorway.

I can't quite remember but I don't even think it has a local Shop anymore.

It's one of those places you just pass through without giving a second thought to as you are going somewhere else. 

I stopped here quite some time ago and found located within the grounds of Saint Kieran's Roman Catholic Church on main street, a delightful and unusual Cross depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus in bas\high relief form.

Jesus is depicted in a loin cloth with a quite sinuous and bony body and anguished face which I found particularly striking. 

The Cross was mounted on a wall above a possible Baptismal Font.

 

It is mentioned in the Historic environmental viewer record  "KK008-152003" that the Cross\Plaque may be from the 1500's and have come from "Fertagh". 

This is presumably nearby Grangefertagh, where an interesting Effigy Tomb, early Christian Roundtower and Church ruin are located not too far away from here.

Below are some pictures from the village 

(if it can be called as such now), Saint Mary's Anglican Church and the R.C. Church along with the Knight and his Lady's Effigy Tomb, early Round Tower and Church ruins at Grangefertagh.

Looking closely at the masonry work at Saint Mary's Church revealed an interesting stone.

It had quite obviously been placed into position upside-down by the Stonemason during construction of the building.

It depicts some type of bird walking upside-down and although quite a curiosity I have absolutely no idea whatsoever just what it may claim to represent. 

I would love to find out.

I've never seen another like it so far, quite an interesting curiosity indeed. 

For anyone with an interest in Georgian architecture Johnstown should prove a happy stopover on their travels with it well kept Georgian houses and pretty crossroads.

The topsy-turvey Avian in question at Saint Mary's Church

Mac Giolla Phádraig \  Fitzpatrick Effigy Tomb.

Johnstown lies in an area once called Ossory. 

The Fitzpatricks became Barons of Ossory and this Knight effigy is a Fitzpatrick Effigy Tomb.

Quite which Fitzpatrick seems to be a matter of dispute but its beauty is beyond questioning. 

It is deserving of better care under the local authority.

Historic Environment entry on the Cross.

The Fitzpatrick Society

Irish waterways history\Johnstown Kilkenny

Keep the wheels turning.....

Saint Patrick's Grave

 Saint Patrick, one of three Patron Saints in Ireland is reputedly buried outside the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Downpatrick, County Down.

There is a replica High Cross outside the Cathedral while the original is in the County museum which lies a mere 100 meters away from the Cathedral.

The Saints Grave is marked by a large stone upon which is carved both his name and a Cross.

The Cathedral houses a Bullaun Stone, the Ballykinler Stone, which was moved here from The Church of Saint Martin of the Mournes.

Downpatrick has several sites of interest and is well worth visiting.

Saint Patrick, Saint Colmcille and Saint Brigid are Ireland's three Patron Saints.

A National Patron Saint is chosen as a specific Nations intercessor and protector from amongst said Nations primary religious groupings.

To further explain....

A religion is an organisation which has evolved from "Cult" status and one which often practises ancient, obscure, ridiculous and illogical rites and rituals.

Cults are scorned however Religions are usually granted legal and state protections.

Some examples of 

Religions are : 

Scientology; which believes in Space people armed with Ray guns and brainwashing.

Christianity; which believes in magic bread and a man who is both his own father and son simultaneously and 

who could fly. 

It also believes in miracle fish, wine being blood and a host of other weirdness far too comprehensive to list here.... And brainwashing.

Hinduism; which believes in Elephantine Gods, Sacred Cows and magic rivers....And brainwashing. 

Judaism; which has wonderfully archaic traditions including peculiar hair, various funny hats and a Wailing Wall as well as a "tradition" of child genital mutilation.....And brainwashing.

This particularly gruesome "tradition" is afforded full legal protection as long as it is only practiced on the male children. 

When practised on female children it becomes illegal and is called FGM.

Sikhism, which believes in never cutting your hair or shaving (both men and women)....And brainwashing.

Islam; which believes in a Winged horse, a magic meteorite in Saudi Arabia, not eating Pork 

and Women wearing all encompassing black blankets outdoors in any weather including heatwaves !...And brainwashing.

Shintoism; which can't make up its mind whether it's a Religion or a Culture.

Zoroastrians, Jains, Baha'i, The Solar Temple, Taoism, Latter Day Saints and their "magic underwear", Hutterites, Branch Davadians, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses and their refusals of life saving blood transfusions and the Amish, amongst others, make up the roughly 10,000 or so worldwide Religions afforded legal protection no matter how outrageous, offensive, dangerous or downright stupid their beliefs or practises.

In order to become a Religion a Cult must at first proselytize and gain more adherents.

When a critical mass of adherents are gained the Cult then becomes an "accepted Religion".

As of the time of writing there are no legally defined number of members that a Cult must acquire before it gains its "accepted Religion" Status  however we can assume that a basic requirement would be several million at the least judging by precedent.

There is one further way to gain "accepted Religion" status and also avoid the "numbers problem" at the same time.

It's a loophole often used by malcontents, deviants, maladroits and certifiable Lunatics.

To completely avoid the unwelcome monicker of "Cult Status" an individual should first join or have been enrolled against their will as a child, 

in an "established Religion".

As an original member it is then simply a matter of contradicting some of the existing Religions basic tenets, espousing outrageous or scandalous addendums to pre-existing Church edicts or accusing your co-religionists of a charge of heresy or the lesser charge of hypocrisy.

Ultimately you should aim to be banished or excommunicated by the church "Elders" and subsequently form a "breakaway group".  

With enough followers you should be able to immediately establish a new Church with a new Religion and you at its helm as the Elder or better yet, "Chosen one".

You must however under no circumstances state publicly that yours is the "new" religion. 

Yours is the "one true religion" while any remaining adherents to the "old ways" and its 

Religion are either deluded simpletons to be pitied or outright heretics to be burned at the stake.

It is possible the ("new") "one true religion" may be temporarily assigned "Sect" status 

but this will be short-lived and formal "recognised Religion" status will follow shortly.

This is the loophole many emerging groups of lunatics use to avoid "Cult status".

Hopefully, however briefly, I have somehow explained what a Religion is.

There's doesn't seem to be much point in writing about a Patron Saint without first explaining what a Religion actually is.

A friendly Cat at Saint Patrick's Grave.

Keep drinking the Kool Aid and keep the wheels turning.

The Ballykinler Bullaun Stone.

Balbriggan Lighthouse Pics, Dublin.

 Just a quick post of a few photos of Balbriggan Lighthouse in Feb 2026.

The weather is a wee bit windy here the last few days.

A storm damaged wreck in the harbour.

Below is Balbriggan "Dead Zoo". 

I absolutely love it. 

Fantastic idea.

Memorial to Patrick Joseph Hanley on the Lighthouse.

Memorial to George Hamilton, builder, Baron and one time local " Grandee". Dated 1701.

Spot the disappearing Lighthouse !

No AI used, just needed to darken the overexposed shots a little.

Boats safely tied up in the harbour. 

The calm belies the storm outside the harbour walls.

Keep the wheels turning.

If you can run - run, if you can walk - walk, if you can crawl - crawl.

Three Stones in Dunleer

 Dunleer

Located at the Church of Ireland in Dunleer, County Louth are three unusual medieval Cross Inscribed Stones.

Each of the stones are quite different from one another.

Unfortunately in the slightly darkened light I was unable to make out the inscriptions on the stone to the right.

The smallest of the stones was very interesting and unusual in shape, chiefly being of false relief.

The stone with two Crosses inscribed upon it struck me as perhaps being a wayside Cross if it were erected upright and possibly missing a large fragment.

That's just supposition on my part.

The Church itself, like so many, is reputedly standing where once stood an early 6th or 7th century monastery founded by a Saint Forodran.

I have never heard of either of the Saints names associated with this particular Church but given that the martyrology of Tallaght probably contains many hundreds if not a thousands of names, this is to be expected.

BASFORD 1679 - The oldest headstone in the graveyard.

Saint Bridget is associated with Dunleer and she herself was born near the Hill of Faughart, also in County Louth.

Church of Saint Bethan and Saint Frethan Buildings of Ireland.

A beautiful Telford and Telford organ inside the Church.

Modern "Jostle" stones. Jostle stones were originally built and installed next to walls and buildings, especially at laneways and entrances to stop the wheels of horse drawn carriages from striking and damaging the masonry and brickwork.

Marian shrine from 1954.

Market House, Dunleer.

Keep the wheels turning.