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Ballybrack & Glendruid

A quick spin from town out to Ballybrack found me and my mate Maurice wandering around this lovely little dolmen. I couldn't help grinning for the 15 minutes we spent here. What a joy to behold in this suburban wilderness! When we arrived there was a bunch of lads in their jammer hanging out. They gave me the "Oh look, he's two more weirdos coming to take pictures of the dolmen" look. Being a friendly sort I gave them the nod... Nothing. Stared right through me. OK, so this tomb is on a local authority housing estate where concerns may be a little more urgent than checking out a 4,500 year old temple. Swiftly moving on I headed for the tomb.

We were impressed. Maurice isn't really into megalithics (I've yet to meet someone who is) but he thought it was amazingly incongruous that it just sits there, traffic and folks going about their business. It's a small beauty. As I approached I was sure I could make out some sort of spiral on the front but don't know if my eyes deceived me. I'll post a shot of it here when I check the camera.

Ballybrack — Images

22.05.06ce
<b>Ballybrack</b>Posted by ryaner<b>Ballybrack</b>Posted by ryaner<b>Ballybrack</b>Posted by ryaner


In the pissings of rain Maurice headed back to the car. I didn't want to leave (once again). Possibly if you saw this all day, every day it wouldn't have the same impact but I have to say I was laughing as I was leaving. The sheer wondrous pleasue of it!

So, back down the N11 and up to Cabinteely to see if I could get to see Glendruid. I called into Dolmen House (I didn't know what else to do) where a very helpful woman (the owner I think) pointed me down her back garden and to a rough path through the briars. She told me to be careful as it gets steep at some point. It was still pissing at this stage and Maurice had a "this is insane" look about him. On viewing the path down I at first got cold feet. But when I get this megalithic buzz on it seems that I can't stop. Off I went and coaxed Maur along until I got to the steep bit and fell on my arse, covering my jacket and jeans in mud. I told Maur to go back up and kept going.

The rain wasn't helping here but I was in bits already so a bit more of a soaking wasn't going to do any harm. Wow! Was it worth it?

Glendruid — Images

22.05.06ce
<b>Glendruid</b>Posted by ryaner

Was it …! And I thought I had seen immense capstones before. That grin returned. I forgot the discomfort and tried to take in what I was seeing and touching. The reinforcing concrete started to bother me but I just searched for an angle where it was hidden. I couldn't resist climbing up onto the capstone. Maybe not the done thing but I just had to. The chamber offered great shelter. The immensity of the 2 side stones was awesome. The logistics of putting this thing together blew me away. I would really love to know from whence the capstone came. Did they have to cart it far? Maurice interrupted my reverie by calling me on my mobile to check if I was ok. Ah well, back to reality and the 21st century. I will have to come back here on a sunny day and spend a couple of hours, possibly on my own.
ryaner Posted by ryaner
22nd May 2006ce
Edited 17th September 2006ce


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