In an era of rapid and perhaps instant communication, it might come as a surprise to younger readers to realise that in the past, communication was a slow and very often weather dependent activity, involving stage coach, ships and very hardy individuals. The Mail...
A few years back a group of scientists were gathered and asked what was the 20th Century's greatest invention. Out of an eventual list of 100, refrigeration topped the bill. You might think the kitchen fridge is a relatively modern development, and I guess you'd be...
Today marks one year of blogging about my community and giving a sense of just how rich this area is in terms of history, heritage and culture. A theme that runs through the writing is how the ordinary becomes a little more, once you take the time to look more...
For some reason, I have had, for as long as I can remember, this idyllic notion of the workings of a watermill. It includes a gushing stream of water, the clanking of gears turning in a fine stone building, the dust escaping from corn sacks as they are spilled into a...
Last summer whilst out kayaking on the river I chanced a trip up the Ballycanvan stream, which leads up to the ever-popular Jack Meades at Halfway House. I made the trip in an effort to track the route of the Lighters that would have supplied the Kilns at Jack Meades...
In years gone by, rural communities depended much more on local resources to sustain themselves and in agricultural terms mills highlight how important grain was as a crop. At home my grandmother told me they had a hand turned mill, the base of which is still in...
Familiarity breeds contempt they say and so I guess that's why, in Cheekpoint at least, not much is made of the Bolton Milepost. But did you know there was a series of them, leading into Waterford? What were they for and where did they go? It's a story, like the...
Over Christmas I came across an illustrated map that suggested the Deerpark in Faithlegg is dating from the time of the Norman manor, specifically from the 14-15th Century. I have to say I was surprised at this and in the last few weeks...
They say no one ever remembers the runner up. St Ita seems to be such a person, often described as the Bridgid of Munster, highlighting her position in the pantheon of Irish female saints, a close second to Bridgid of Kildare. So unlike Bridgid who's life and times...
Cheekpoint is a traditional fishing village located 7 miles downstream from Waterford City. It has been an important navigation point for the ports of Waterford and New Ross as it is located at the meeting point of the three sister river network, the Barrow, Nore and...
Snowhill was, until recently, a mystery to me. As a child I assumed it had to do with snowdrops, the late winter/early spring blooms that lift your spirits and reassure you that warmer, longer days are on the way. Later I was told it's origins related to an old...
As a child growing up in Cheekpoint the two most obvious built landmarks, in terms of scale and impact were the Great Island Power Station and the Barrow Bridge. The power station was a noisy, dirty and rambling edifice that we knew we had to endure. The bridge...
With the coming of the Normans to Ireland a man named Aylward was granted the lands of Faithlegg in 1177 and this led to the establishment of a parish. At the heart of this parish system was an early church close by to which was a Motte and Baily castle. This would...
Anyone growing up in Cheekpoint, or anyone that visits can't but be impressed with the Barrow Railway Viaduct. Stretching from Co Kilkenny to Co Wexford across the Rivers Barrow and Nore (which join above New Ross) it's 2131Feet in length and up to the 1990's was the...
I'm not sure how many know of the Faithlegg Ice House. Like Limekilns, the purpose of them appear to have been forgotten. As a teen I remember walking in what we called locally the Oak Wood (although at the time all that remained were stumps under a...
I wrote last week about the earlier origins of Kilns and this post focuses on the design and methods employed. The local design is of a block shaped building of cut stone into which is built a firing chamber, lined with firebricks and insulated with rubble and clay. ...
This week marks my fourth year of a weekly Friday blog. To celebrate, I decided to republish my first blog. It was my first try at promoting local heritage and I suppose it also gives a sense of my curiosity and determination to discover more about the features that...
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