Antiquities Of Ireland

The Wonderful Barn
(1740-1745)
Castletown House
Co. Kildare, Ireland

The Wonderful Barn is an unusual and striking structure, based on the design of an Indian rice store and one of only two such buildings of its kind to survive in Ireland and therefore, is of historical and social interest to County Kildare. This corkscrew-shaped barn, with an external
stone spiral stair, stepped parapet and unusually shaped openings, was built by the widow of 'Speaker' Conolly, Laura Catherine Conolly in 1743 and funded by John Glin. It was part of a famine-relief project that was intended to serve as both a functioning grain barn and as an English garden-type folly for nearby Castletown House. The 21m high grain store is attractively set in the grounds of Castletown House, with its landscaped lawns & mature woodlands, flanked by two smaller dovecote towers of technical merit that were added in 1745, and together form an attractive group with the adjacent house. The house, an attractive long, detached seven-bay two-storey house added in 1780, and retains some original features including a slate roof and simple block-and-start door surrounds.

As it is St Brigid’s Eve, don't forget tonight to get your Bratóg Bríde to put out overnight, like my scarf here. A Bratóg is a piece of cloth, scarf or ribbon which St Brigid would bless as she is passing. This bratóg helps with headaches and sore throats throughout the year.

Clonmacnois Ogham Stone
Clonmacnois Monastic Site
Co. OFFALY

This ogham stone, first drawn by Petrie in 1822 after being lost for some considerable time, was more recently found near St. Ciaran's church, named after the founder of the monastery Ciaran Mac a tSaor (son of the carpenter) in 548-9 AD. At the top part of the grave slab marker is inscribed in old Irish 'Colman' which is followed by the ogham inscription below this. This type of ogham script is more reminiscent of ogham found on manuscripts than on stone and is referred to as 'scholastic ogham'. The stone can be view along with the exquisite high crosses of Clonmacnois and other grave-slabs in the visitor centre.

The Evil Eye Stone
Kilkea Castle
Co. Kildare, Ireland

This stone slab, known as 'The Evil Eye Stone', is built into the quoin of the 'guard room', 17ft. above ground level, close to the entrance gate of the bawn of Kilkea Castle, Co. Kildare, one of the ancestral homes of the FitzGerald’s of Kildare. The idea of the 'Evil Eye', is that a person, unknown to himself/herself, may possess it so that by admiring or looking at a human being, beast, or crop etc; he would unintentionally sicken or be blighted by its evil influence. To prevent this, in older times, people would add 'God bless it' or 'God bless you' when taking special notice of anything. While in more ancient times, grotesquely carved figures were built into castle walls, such as this one, near the entranceway to attract the 'Evil Eye' and so to prevent its evil influence on the inhabitants of the castle. More ancient relics of these 'Evil Eye Stones' originated in pagan times and are known as 'Sheela-na-Gigs' and are generally found built into the walls of early churches. This 'Evil Eye Stone' shows a man in a sexual embrace with a half animal - half man beast while another beast is having sexual coitus with him while eating him.

The Kerryman's Table
Co. Cork, Ireland

The Kerryman's Table, traditionally a resting place for travelers and traders on the Old Kerry Road or the Old Butter Road as it was previously known, is located four miles from Millstreet on the road to Rylane exactly mid-way between Killarney, county Kerry and Cork City, twenty-five miles on either side. It is called the Kerryman's Table, 'Leach an Ciarraidhig', because in bygone times when Kerry folk would travel to the city of Cork by road, they used to consider that place as half the way and in a nearby spring well they used to let their horse’s drink. While the horses were resting, their owners would eat their meals on the 'table', and that is how the spot received its name. The central flag stone of the 'table' is in fact a re-used Bronze Age standing stone. A modern wall has been built around it in the shape of a bench and smaller stones placed under it to give it more stability. It measures 2.6m in length, 0.50m in width, 0.50m in depth and is composed of red stone. Its original provenance is unknown. It is part of what is known as 'The Aghinagh Way' an
archaeological cycle route through the parish of Aghinagh with the town of Macroom as a base. The route has a maze of archaeological & historical sites, the most notable being the stone circle at
Carrigagulla which is adjacent to the Butter Road and Carrigadrohid Castle on the banks of the river Lee.

Durrow High Cross

This fantastic 9th century High Cross, originally sited west of the church, is located inside the restored 18th century church but a monastery was found here by Saint Columba about 533 AD on
lands given by Aedh, son of Brendan, a local prince. On the east face are depictions of the Sacrifice of Isaac, Christ in glory with David and his harp on the left, and David killing the Lion on the right. On the west face are Soldiers guarding the tomb of Christ, two Passion scenes and the Crucifixion. On the south face are Adam & Eve, Cain slaying Abel, a warrior, and a horseman, while on the north face are two groups of two figures, one being Zacharias, Elisabeth, and the infant John the Baptist. Fragmentary inscriptions on the shaft could suggest royal patronage for this cross.

Durrow High Cross is located in the church of Durrow, just off the N52, north of Tullamore
heading towards Kilbeggan.