A Dying Breed from the Dublin Mountains. So Im Rambling over the Rosie Hackett Bridge this morning when I notice that the Liffey is at low tide, I was actually thinking of those tradesman and stonemasons of the past that carried out the backbreaking work of placing those large slabs of stone in place in order that the Liffey water would flow from the Mountains into Dublin Bay. Im walking over the Bridge when I spot this guy in the distance,he is on his knees tapping away at the stone that held The Plaque with Rosies Hacketts name imprinted on it. Do ye mind if I take your Photo I asked the lad, Not at all comes the reply.. The phrase yer a dying breed was used as I admired his handiwork, he was putting finishing touches to the pointing on the large slabs with the same delicate touch and concentration that a baker would use while Icing a wedding cake. Been from a construction background I couldnt just walk away from the chap so we talked for a few minutes, he explained with more than a hint of pride that his maternal Grandfather and his before him had been Stonemasons, So it was a natural calling for him when he left school to follow in their footsteps, he told me he traveled down to Galway if my memory serves me right as part of his apprenticeship as a Stonecutter. Anyway I learned another bit of our hidden Dublin history when he informed me that the Stone used here came from the Quarries near Barniculla in the Dublin Mountains,he told me things hadnt changed much in an area where generations of families had earned their crust as Stonemasons in the local quarry. As I left him I looked up towards O Connell bridge and wondered where any of his relatives involved in sourcing the stone or maybe the Construction of Carlisle bridge back in the 1790s..after speaking to Stephen Davis (the man in the photo) I wouldnt have been surprised if he was wondering the same thing as he chipped away at the stone block. I definitely will be taking up his invite and intend paying a Visit to the Quarry in the New year ...shur be rude not to. Anyway well done Stephen,it was a pleasure to chat to you and thanks for the info, you and your like really are a dying breed.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:23:04 +0000
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