Balrothery Folk Art, Dublin

Balrothery Folk Art 

In the now busy village of Balrothery in Dublin I came across a beautiful Fortified Church which originated in the 1500's. There are several of these very interesting Fortified Churches in the north Dublin area.

 

Also located here in the adjacent graveyard were quite a few Grave slabs bearing what is described as "Folk Art" and dating from the 18th Cty.

I was pleasantly surprised to see these while the simple designs inscribed on the various grave markers were a pleasure to view.

 

One particularly striking Grave slab had a square hole cut through its center. Perhaps it was originally a stone designed for another purpose altogether, maybe an old Mill wheel squared off, I don't know.

Their informality and the nature of the carvings and irregular old style writing exuded a certain warmth and a charm from several centuries ago in the 1700's, or so it seemed to me at least.

The various carvings show lozenges, swirls, hearts, concentric lozenges and small motifs and little squares.

The present Church I am led to believe houses a Heritage Centre but I've visited twice and not seen it open on either occasion. 

It is an 1800's Board of First Fruit Church however the tower and the circular stairway attached to it are from an earlier 15th Cty Church.

Slightly southeast and beside the Church is a Tower House which has a lightly angled base batter and probably dates to sometime in the 1600's.

 

It is sealed up unfortunately but would make a great local attraction were it opened up to the general public for viewing.

There is an old P and T Postbox/Wallbox on the Graveyard wall, the Department of Post and Telegraphs. 

This organisation ceased to exist c.1984 and was the forerunner of an post  and Telecom Éireann looking after all thing postal and telegraphic. 

Telecom Éireann has also long since "passed away" in somewhat ignominious circumstances after a disastrous stock exchange flotation.

A few hundred meters away from the Church and well worth visiting is a lovely Standing Stone sitting in an unusual aspect and perched right "smack dab" in the middle of a modern housing estate called  Cloch Choirnéil.

 

Aptly Clogh in Irish means Stone while the latter Choirnéil might be reference to the placename.

The Standing stone is described as having "plough marks" on it. Not being an expert on ploughs I assume these would be the marks of glancing blows from  passing ploughs.

 

Many of the marks that are on it are too regular, too deep and too angled to be from a passing plough so I assume these are in fact sharpening marks where plough blades, knives and perhaps even Swords were once sharpened.

 

Some old stones such as the Mullaghmast Stone in the National museum have deep carvings where it is assumed that Swords were dragged across them during ceremonial acts or when swearing oaths of fealty.

 

As the various marks on this stone seem quite deep they would appear to suggest centuries of repetition sharpening blades however I am not an expert and this is just my unqualified opinion.

If you ever get a chance do drop in and you will be pleasantly surprised by the wonderful Folk Art and the peace and tranquillity to be found right in the middle of a bustling and built up modern environment.

Coordinates here:

53°35'11.3"N 6°11'24.1"W

53.586476 - 6.190035

Keep the wheels turning.