| Lens: various Camera: K5 Photo Location: Ireland 04-10-2012, 12:41 PM
1. 1. Poulabrone Dolmen: This megalithic structure was constructed between 4200 and 2900BC = Neolithic. Archeological excavation during reconstruction after natural breakage of one of the support stones uncovered over 20 burials, including at least six children. Look at the background terrain – how did people survive in this rocky, bleak, barren landscape?
2. 2 & 3. Gallarus Oratory: Thought to date from 500 to 800AD, each stone of this tiny chapel was shaped and dressed on every side then stacked corbel-style so that each stone slants outward, making the structure waterproof. The fish-eye view of the interior shows the single door on the west end and the single small window on the east, as well as almost all of the windowless north wall up to the roof ridge. A tiny, dark, rather cheerless place to worship.
4. Teampall Bhreacain: This little church on Inishmore (Aran Islands) was constructed about 800AD with some additions and modifications up through about 1,000. It is purported to be the smallest church in the world (doubtful) and is unusual in being oriented N-S instead of the traditional E-W.
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5. Cormac’s Chapel, interior: Built 1127~1134 on the Rock of Cashel, the walls retain fragments of the original fresco paintings. The stonework around the door is of special interest to architectural historians.
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6. Hore (or Hoare) Abbey: Founded by Cistercians in 1270, the abbey was dissolved in 1540 although some buildings continued to be used for worship and later as several private residences. Viewed from the Rock of Cashel.
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7. Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin: By the 1800’s much of the 10th through 14th century structure was in near ruins. During extensive repair (and demolition) about 1878, a much deteriorated 14th century tile floor was uncovered and based on its design, an entirely new tile floor was installed. Some of the original tiles were re-laid in St. Laud’s Chapel where the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole, the first Irish-born Archbishop in Dublin, had been kept since his death in 1180. I saw the iron container that held the relic caged to the wall when we visited Ireland, but in early March this year someone stole the heart away.
Last edited by WPRESTO; 05-11-2012 at 04:29 PM.
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