Dunnamaggan Cross

Dunnamaggan Cross

Dunnamaggan Cross, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Dunnamaggan Cross

Perforated cross with top two perforations square and bottom two round

Dunnamaggan Church doorway
Dunnamaggan Cross and Church
Dunnamaggan Cross colour

A figure has been carved into the shaft of the cross on both sides and crucifixion scene sits between the perforations

Temple of Deen revisited

The path to the Temple of Deen in the background

Temple of Deen Court Tomb aka Laraghirril Court Tomb

Temple of Deen Court Tomb aka Laraghirril Court Tomb

Temple of Deen Court Tomb aka Laraghirril Court Tomb

A view of the court remains at the Temple of Deen

Temple of Deen Court Tomb aka Laraghirril Court Tomb

Temple of Deen Court Tomb, Laraghirril, Culdaff, Inishowen, Co Donegal, Ireland

Tullaherin Monastic Site

Tullaherin Monastic Site

Tullaherin Monastic Site, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Tullaherin Monastic Site

Tullaherin Round Tower and Church

Tullaherin Monastic Site
Tullaherin Round Tower

Tullaherin Round Tower

Tullaherin Ogham Stone

Tullaherin Ogham Stone

St Mary’s Church – Gowran

St Mary's Church

St Mary’s Church, Gowran, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Dating from the late 13th century the medieval church was partly reconstructed in the early 19th century

Stroan Fountain

Stroan Fountain, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Stroan Fountain

A natural spring feeds the fountain built ‘erected by subscription by permission of the Landlord Gervase Bushe. Designed and arranged by Thomas Seigne.’

Clara Church

Clara Church

Clara Church, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Clara Church

The ruin of Clara Church is a short distance from Clara Castle

Ullard Church and Cross

Ullard Church

Ullard Church, Co Kilkenny, Ireland

Ullard Church

The 12th century church was built on the site of a 7th century monastery

Ullard Church
Ullard Church - Romanesque Doorway

Ullard Church – Romanesque Doorway

Ullard Church - Romanesque Doorway detail

Ullard Church – Romanesque Doorway detail

Ullard Church - interior
Ullard High Cross

9th century High Cross

At the back of the church a handball alley was build using the church wall

The Rock of Dunamase – revisited

The Rock of Dunamase

The Rock of Dunamase, Co Laois, Ireland

The Rock of Dunamase black & white

Through the centuries The Rock of Dunamase was a place of fortification. During the Norman conquest of Ireland the rock was refortified and its these ruins that have survived.

The Rock of Dunamase black & white

The gate to Dunamase Castle ruins

Threecastles Castle

Threecastles Castle

Threecastles Castle, Co Wicklow, Ireland

Threecastles Castle

The last remaining castle at Threecastles

Threecastles Castle

Threecastles stands next to the Kilbride Rd (L4365) between Kilbride and Blessington

Threecastles Castle - Doorway

Entrance doorway

Ray High Cross, Standing Stone, Bullaun Stone and Church

Ray High Cross

Ray High Cross

Ray High cross

Ray High cross

Two mill stones + subcircular stone

Subcircular stone with perforation and two mill stones

Raymunterdoney (Ray) old church

Raymunterdoney (Ray) old church, Co Donegal, Ireland

Raymunterdoney (Ray) standing stone

Ray Standing Stone in the North East corner of the graveyard

Bullaun Stone in Ray Graveyard

Bullaun Stone in Ray Graveyard

Bullaun Stone
Ray old church/bullaun/standing stone

Ray old church with bullaun stone forefront and standing stone background

Barnes Lower Stone Row – revisited

Barnes Lower Stone Row (Alignment) showing two of the larger stones

Barnes Lower Stone Row (Alignment), Co Donegal, Ireland

Barnes Lower Stone Row - revisited

The three stone alignment with the third stone barely visible

Barnes Lower Stone Row - revisited

The two larger stones with surface texture emphasised by oblique sunlight

The largest stone of the allignment

The largest stone of the alignment again with surface texture emphasised by oblique sunlight

Barnes Lower alignment

Barnes Lower alignment with Muckish mountain in the background

Barnes Lower stone row with Muckish Mountain

Barnes Lower stone row with Muckish Mountain

Barnes Lower view with Lake Salt and Muckish Mountain

Barnes Lower view from car park with Lake Salt and Muckish Mountain. The stones are approx. 150 mtr from track to right as you enter car park

Pinnacle Well

Pinnacle Well

Pinnacle Well, the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland

A housing was built over the well around 1860 giving it the appearance of a small church

Carron Church – the Burren

Carron/Carran Church

Carron/Carran Church on the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland

Carron/Carran Church

The ruins of the 13th century Carron Church

Carved head on the north wall of Carron Church

Carved head on the north wall of Carron Church ruin

Fairy Bridges, Bundoran

Fairy Bridges, Bundoran

Fairy Bridges, Tullan Strand, Bundoran, Co Donegal

Fairy Bridges

It is said that locals thought the natural sea arches were haunted by the fairies

Fairy Bridges, Tullan Strand

Gortnahoula Court Tomb

Gortnahoula Court Tomb

Gortnahoula Court Tomb, Co Sligo, Ireland

Gortnahoula Court Tomb
Gortnahoula Court Tomb

Much of the site is buried under the peat with the other stones obscured by tall reeds

Tawly Mass Rock

Tawly Mass Rock and Bullaun Stone

Tawly Mass Rock and Bullaun Stone, Leitrim, Ireland

Tawly Mass Rock and Bullaun Stone

The Mass rock has an incised cross and ‘IHS’ inscription just visible below

Tawly Mass Rock
Tawly Bullaun Stone

Tawly Bullaun Stone – both stones were found close by

Traditional Jack O’ Lantern 2022

Traditional Jack O’ Lantern 2022

Halloween or Halowe’en comes from All Hallows Eve – The night before All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) which was the Christanisation of Samhain an ancient Celtic festival of celebration, feasting and connecting with ancestors at harvest time. Celebrated on October 31st, the half way point between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Ancient Celtic tradition marked this as a time when the barriers between the spiritual and physical worlds came down which marked it as a time for Fairies (Shee/Sidhe) and other malevolent beings. From here we get many of the pagan practices that continue to today. Irish and Scottish migrants took their traditions with them to America and America, well Americanised it.

Traditional Jack O’ Lantern 2022

Links to past Jack O’ Lanterns 2017 here https://www.tonyoneill.org/2017/10/25/traditional-jack-o-lantern-2017/ and 2016 here https://www.tonyoneill.org/2016/10/27/irish-jack-o-lantern/

Donaghmore Round Tower and Church

Donaghmore Round Tower and Church

Donaghmore Round Tower and Church, Co Meath, Ireland

Donaghmore Round Tower and Church

Donaghmore 10th century Round Tower and 15th Century Church ruin

Donaghmore Round Tower and Church

Donaghmore Round Tower stands 26 meters tall

Donaghmore Church ruin

The ruin of Donaghmore Church

Donaghmore Round Towe

Donaghmore Round Tower just off the N51 Navan to Slane Road

Donaghmore Round Tower and Church

An original monastery here dates to St. Patrick who gave his disciple, St. Cassanus (Cassan) stewardship