Travelogue VI: Douth

 Another of the stone age mounds, similar in age to Newgrange.

the entrances have all collapsed and been left that way

the white stones are evident everywhere

even the church and 'recent' graveyard is in a collapsing state

just some good images of the Irish countryside

lastly there was an opportunity to connect with some fellow fire fighters in Northern Ireland

Our travels next carried us into London ...

Travelogue V: Battle of the Boyne

 The Boyne Battlefield has been converted into mostly a pastoral walking and picnic area.

I think it was a wonderful way to both preserve the field and keep it alive at the same time.

There was a 4 minute film in the interpretation center about the battle, along with a few more display items that were kept in cases in the tea house next to the center.

We had limited time, so not so much exploring around the grounds, yet still it was neat to see them alive with so many people - with dogs all off leash!  Excellent living history place.

Then a visit to Douth

Travelogue IV: Fourknocks

 back to the late stone age with a visit to a stone age/bronze age burial mound

panorama of the area (& our host's car)

thousands of year's old carvings

now protected from random damage behind a door

locked with a skeleton key

like an image I could use to create a backdrop
for the tabletop ...

We also purchased a book all about the area that also included recent LIDAR and analysis.

up next: The Boyne!

the guns are still around ...

Travelogue III : Drogheda C

 There was still remaining a small section of the 12th Century walls, which had been part of the Norman Motte and Bailey fortification.

Our local (here on Vancouver Island) terrain expert might have some real value to gain from these images, which is a big reason why I took the time to get these photos.

weather was gorgeous on the day, with fair weather cumulus the only clouds

Obviously there are 300 years more of moss accumulation, plant adjustment to the nearly 1000 year old walls, yet still the color and presentation of these walls can be seen.

After visiting the commercial museum, or perhaps merchant museum (?) where the merchant history of Drogheda was showcased, we did a little road trip into town to view one of the last gatehouse towers that still exist from the 12th Century outer walls.

the reason why this place was so defended
it made life worth living in so many ways

what the city would have looked like in plan
just before the English sieges began

St Laurence's Gate

with my bride and I for scale ...

St Laurence's Gate as seen from the inside
of the defensive perimeter

we then went on to Four Knocks, a stone age/iron age site, with a similar history and carvings as Newgrange.

Travelogue III : Drogheda B

 The powder magazine in the lowest level of the tower fortress at Drogheda contained a Waterloo diorama in what looked to be 54mm scale miniatures.

the diorama had a set of lights to bring it all into better focus

the guide's had becomes something to measure the
size of these miniatures

the buildings, while not exactly at the 54mm scale
still give the sense of the footprint on the map

wonderful little details could be found everywhere

There was definitely a real Irish pride in their connection to the pivotal battle.

weapons were directly accessible

many of the works of art we have seen
were done by this famous Irish woman

cannons could be found on the battlements
in the powder room here could be found the
more fragile tools used for artillery operations

not a reproduction

some uniforms could also be found here

more of the pride of the Irish that took action in 1815

old nosey himself

again a hand nearby to get a sense of scale

I was permitted to switch on the lights and
take many more photos

all in all an amazing display

one last thing to do at Drogheda ... a close up view of the last part of the 12th century walls.