Show Me a Sign
DUBLIN, Ireland — Today we enjoyed some letterboxing in the Irish countryside, thanks to the efforts of some American and British letterboxers. And as so often happens, we have been to some beautiful places. In addition to the incredible scenery, Ireland also has a built-in timing mechanism to let us know when it's time to leave a particular location.For example, this morning we drove to the site of the Mellifont Abbey. Founded in 1142, the abbey was built on the banks of the River Mattock near the city of Drogheda. It was a model for other abbeys in its day until it was closed in 1539. Today the abbey is a ruin with little remaining except an octagonal 13th-century lavabo (where the monks washed their hands before eating).
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Mellifont Abbey |
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Styles of Stiles |
After a brief shower, the sun was back out and the sky was blue, just in time for our search for another letterbox at Dowth Mound in County Meath. A prehistoric monument, Dowth was built more than 5,000 years ago to house the remains of the dead. It was designed to align with the setting sun on winter solstice, which flooded the tomb with light.
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Dowth Megalithic Passage Tomb |
Our destination for the letterbox we were seeking was the Hill of Slane, which is north of the village and stands 518 feet above the surrounding area. Legend has it that St. Patrick lit a fire on top of this hill in the year 433. Ruins of a friary church and college, which were abandoned in the 1700s as well as a beautiful cemetery top the hill.
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Hill of Slane |
From Slane we drove to the village of Skerries on the coast, locating a letterbox near the Skerries Martello Tower and one near Ardgillan Castle in Balbriggan.
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Ardgillan Castle |
Nothing so fanciful, I'm afraid. It's much more likely that we were experiencing typical Irish weather. Because Ireland is an island and is affected by the Gulf Stream, the weather is extremely changeable. In our four days here, we have seen a similar unpredictable pattern every day: sun, rain, sun, rain, sun, rain. This goes on all day, and we've just been lucky enough to letterbox between the showers and enjoy a sample of the stunning Irish countryside.