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Kilmashogue and Larch Hill

Finished work at 6 and headed for home. Got the ixus and headed for Kilmashogue wedge tomb. Plans were to see Kilmashogue (very easy to find) and then double back and see Kilakee wedge tomb (not very easy to find and didn't want to spend my whole evening lost in Massy's forest).

Kilmashogue Wedge Tomb — Images

15.05.06ce
<b>Kilmashogue Wedge Tomb</b>Posted by ryaner<b>Kilmashogue Wedge Tomb</b>Posted by ryaner

Kilmashogue was a surprise. The usual detritus that's found in the Dublin mountains was an annoying distraction. I've no objection to people camping out and enjoying a few beers around a campfire, but come on, clean your crap up after you. (This has been a recurring annoyance for me since moving to Bohernabreena – the amount of burned-out cars, the ubiquitous empty beer cans and just the general disrespect and dumping of peoples' shite around the beautiful countryside of the Dublin/Wicklow mountains... rant, rant, rant.....)

After doing a small clean up I surveyed the site. The trees block any of the significant views but enclose the tomb in a relatively private space. Did I find peace here? A little, after I calmed down and focussed on the stones. I climbed a beech tree and got a some nice shots of the tomb from above and decided to head for Kilakee.

Looking at FourWind's notes for Kilakee I decided against it and opted to sneak into LarchHill scout camp to see if I could find the portal tomb there (the camp was quiet).

Kilmashogue — Images

12.05.06ce
<b>Kilmashogue</b>Posted by ryaner<b>Kilmashogue</b>Posted by ryaner<b>Kilmashogue</b>Posted by ryaner<b>Kilmashogue</b>Posted by ryaner

I had spent some time in the camp as a youngfella scout and know my way around the place. How did I miss this beautiful relic of our past back then? I can only say that I was using different eyes. The immensity of the capstone was breathtaking. How did they get it up there?

I was moved by this monument; the trickle of the little brook; the small copse of large larch trees; the huge ancientness of the collapsed stones. I got the same feeling here that I've felt at a lot of these sites: sadness and loss. At Ballymaice last Sunday, on Seefin Hill, around Dowth – a feeling of excitement and respect tinged with that sadness and loss. Oh well. So where next? Maybe, if I have the time, I'll try Kilakee.
ryaner Posted by ryaner
12th May 2006ce
Edited 26th September 2006ce


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