On Monday a few of the members of the association met up at the foot of The Rock of Cashel to promote both the DSWA of Ireland and Fellow association member Tom Pollard’s Fly a flag for Ireland campaign, for a segment to be shown on an RTE documentary “How to be Irish”
Tom’s Fly a flag for Ireland campaign is looking to put some colour, positivity and pride back in our Country. Showing our elected representatives and European neighbours that we are a proud and colourful independent nation. Tom is asking for everyone who calls Ireland their home to show their pride for this amazing country and decorate early for St. Patrick’s Day. We decorate early for Christmas Day and Halloween, so why not St. Patrick’s Day? asks Tom.
And what better way of showing our pride and Irishness than building a traditional drystone wall in the epic backdrop of one of our most visited national monuments?
For those of you unfamiliar with The Rock of Cashel here is a brief description from megalithicireland.com The Rock of Cashel, banded with limestone outcrops, rises 200 feet above the surrounding plain. AKA Cashel of the Kings or Patrick’s Rock (Irish: Carraig Phádraig), it is asscociated in legend with St Patrick, but the site was originally the seat of the Kings of Munster. The site was donated to the church in 1101 by Muirchertach O Briain, King of Munster. The buildings we see today date from the 12th century, the oldest and also the tallest being the 28 metre ( 98 feet ) high round tower. The other building at Cashel are influenced by Hiberno-Romanesque or Germanic architecture. Follow the link above to read more about The Rock of Cashel.
There is something very special about repairing old drystone walls, each stone rich in lichen and moss, once again sitting proud in the wall where it came from. Looking up at the masterful craftsmanship of the stone structure that makes up the Rock of Cashel not only inspires you to do quality work, it also fills you with a sense of responsibility to ensure that these skills are kept alive and passed on, so that future generations will have the knowledge and the will to keep this integral part of our heritage and countryside intact.
For more photos and information about our Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland meetup at Cashel check out my blog post on the DSWAI site here
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