Ogham Stone of Donard [Reblog]

About: This is an entry from the blog of Kildare-based photographer Ed Mooney. It contains four black and white photographs of the Ogham Stone in the village of Donard. The accompanying text explains the background of the stone. Please visit Ed’s original blog to view the complete entry. In addition, some of the comments on Ed’s blog point the reader to additional information on the Ogham Stone.

Ed Mooney Photography

Some of you might remember this from a post I did for the Monochrome Madness Challenge a couple of weeks ago. I was really excited about this stone as it was the first Ogham stone that I have encountered in person. I found it in the small rural village of Donard in Co. Wicklow as I was heading home from my recent explorations at the Monastic City in Glendalough. Donard takes it’s name from Dún Ard – High Fort – the ruins of which are said to still be visible above the town.  Situated on a small public green, to the center of the village. It shares this space with a religious shrine and a nice little park bench, surrounded by well cared for flower beds. I am only starting to study these stones, as I know very little about their history or purpose, so please bear with me. I…

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Baltinglass Abbey [Reblog]

About: This is an excellent portfolio of photographs and accompanying textual detail relating to Baltinglass Abbey. Most of the pictures are in the trademark monochrome style of the photographer, Ed Mooney, which gives a very atmospheric feeling to the images. Please visit Ed’s original blog to view the complete set.

Ed Mooney Photography

This Abbey is one of my personal favourite sites to visit. Last week I found myself urged to make the drive down the N81 through Blessington to the small town of Baltinglass in Wicklow to explore the Abbey. Baltinglass was historically known in Irish as Bealach Conglais, meaning “Road of Cúglas”.  Conglas was a member of the legendary warrior army, the Fianna led by Fionn MacCumhaill.  It has been about ten years since my last visit here and it still holds the peaceful atmosphere that I remember. Built around a bridge crossing the river Slaney it was in Baltinglass in 1148AD that the then King of Leinster Diarmuid Mac Murchada, founded the Abbey on the east bank of the River Slaney for a group of Cistercian monks from the Abbey of Mellifont in Co. Louth. He called this monastic settlement “The Valley of Salvation”. In 1228 it is recorded that…

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