Thursday, March 03, 2011

Irish Walls

Everywhere in Ireland I've seen beautiful walls. Some are old, some new, but all grow moss, ivy, and other green stuff thanks to the constant damp and rain.

First, the wall of the churchyard where Yeats is buried:
"Under bare Ben Bulben's head
In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid.
An ancestor was rector there
Long years ago, a church stands near,
By the road an ancient cross."
wallbenbulben

wallchurch

"No marble, no conventional phrase;
On limestone quarried near the spot
By his command these words are cut:
Cast a cold eye
On life, on death.
Horseman, pass by!"

wallchurch2

And the walls of Lady Gregory's estate, Coole, where Yeats lived for many summers.
wallcoole2

wallcoole1-0

wallcoole1

The walls of the 12th century Assaroe Abbey, incorporating old water wheels:

wallabbyassaroe

wallabbyassaroe2

A prehistoric passage tomb from the ancient Celtic inhabitants of Ireland:
walltomb2

walltomb1

The Galway Medieval city wall

wall

An old wall and bridge:

wall4

A wall with rough stones at the top, a type I have frequently seen in Galway:

wall10


A wall by a sea inlet:

wall3

1 comment:

Jeanie said...

I have a great passion for stone walls and for cemeteries. I fear I would be shooting photos for hours in the cemetery, making up stories about what happened to the people.

Mae, it sounds like a glorious trip. I'm so glad to have "journeyed" with you online.