• 2024 Cycling - General

    Stiles, Stiles, Stiles!

    May 29, 2024 - By 

    The Historical Environment Viewer on archaeology.ie is a wonderful resource. Archaeological features can be sorted by category but they have no category covering stone stiles. This is because stiles are not considered as archaeological under the current pre-1700 definition of archaeological features. Hopefully when the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 is enacted, stiles will become a standalone category in the records. As part of the Data Capture and Manipulation module of my Digital Mapping and GIS course last year, I was required to carry out a field survey. Having completed a Certificate in Irish Archaeology with ATU Sligo, I…

  • 2024 Cycling - General

    Brigid 1500

    March 8, 2024 - By 

    Today was a very special day in Kildare Town. According to legend, St Brigid died on 1st February 524 – 1500 years ago today. Many events were held across the county and beyond to mark the day. I was fortunate to be able to attend two events in St Brigid’s Cathedral – the Service of Thanksgiving in the morning and the Altan concert in the evening. To be celebrating the occasion in the place where St Brigid lived and died was very special. The Service of Thanksgiving finished with the Pause for Peace and everyone made their way to the…

  • 2022 Cycling - General

    St Brigid’s Day

    February 1, 2022 - By 

    A few years ago, I cycled home to Kildare after a family weekend in Dundalk. The hook for my cycle was to connect the birthplace of St Brigid in Faughart, just outside Dundalk, with Kildare where Brigid lived and died. This year, to mark St Brigid’s Day, I decided on the shorter (and much flatter!) cycle to Umeras, a townland just outside Monasterevan. Local legend says that this is the actual birth place of Brigid. Umeras is on the Grand Canal between Rathangan and Monasterevan so it was a good opportunity to try out the new cycle path along the…