Timahoe Round Tower, Laois

A quick spin this evening past Timahoe in Laois.

I've not been cycling much this past few weeks,  I just seem too busy with one thing or another.

It was great to be out turning the pedals.

I took a few photos at Timahoe of the beautiful Round Tower and the village seemed as neat and tidy as ever, a pleasure to visit at any time.

This is the site of an ancient monastery founded by Saint Mochua and is well worth taking the time to visit if you are ever in Laois.

Cecil Day Lewis

A short spin this evening took me past Portlaoise and Stradbally, then up over the Windy Gap before turning left and back towards home through the tiny Hamlet of Ballintubbert.

I stopped for a while at the small Church there, Saint Brigid's, where I took a photo of the plaque in memory of Cecil Day Lewis.

Cecil Day Lewis was British Poet Laureate between 1968/72. He was also the father of well known (and superb) actor Daniel Day Lewis.

It's nice to see him remembered at his birthplace of Ballintubbert in Laois.

There was a small Well at the rear of the Church with crystal clear water. Almost all ecclesiastical settlements would have been founded originally close to natural springs which could supply clean fresh water and this fact explains why we find so many Wells associated with old Church's, Abbeys, and Ruins. We generally know them today as various "Holy Wells".

Turbo Day on Zwift

Looking forward to a spin today but torrential rain put paid to that plan.

Cue a session on Zwift in a spare room with a bike and power meter...... I must be going soft, I couldn't face the rain. In my defence it was raining so heavily it was probably dangerous to go out on a bike. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

The only problem was I could clearly see all the wheels I've not fixed yet.........

The Heath, Portlaoise

Just a few spins this week. I passed the Heath near Portlaoise a couple of times.

There are at least 14 Ring Barrows on the Heath but a lot are hard to spot due to Heather and weed growth. One is very well kept and maintained.

The Heath is an important heritage site. It was the site of habitation and burial throughout the Bronze and Iron Age and has been in continuous use into modern contemporary times.

There's an old Church ruin with a stoup (font) by the Heath.

Treacy's Pub and Restaurant is a great spot for a bite to eat and is on the edge of the Heath. I've had a couple of nice meals here....

Many Bronze and Iron age artifacts were found in the area when archaeologists were conducting surveys prior to the construction of the nearby motorway.