Photographing the Alphabet ~ D
D ~ Dry Stone Walls
A traditional skill in Ireland dating back thousands of years and still very evident today throughout the island of Ireland.
Drystone walling involves the construction of a wall, entirely made of stone. No bonding agent is used to stick the stones together, the “bonding” comes from the skill used to lay the stones. It’s a very labour-intensive work but rewarding in the end.
Unlike a fence that can be blown over in a gale, the gaps in the stones allows the wind to blow through, yet at the same time gives shelter to any livestock grazing in the fields.
Dry stone wall patchwork at the foot of Slemish.
The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland (DSWAI) was founded in 2009.
They are a non-profit organisation which is run entirely by volunteers. The current committee is mixture of professional stonemasons and those with an interest/background in the area.
In the D.S.W.A.I. our aim is create an awareness of the need for preserving the craft of ‘dry’ stone building in Ireland.
In doing so the association hopes to advance the education of the public and professionals in the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the craft of building with stone, particularly the craft of ‘dry’ stone construction (i.e. without the use of mortars).
One of our goals is the formation and growth of a community of members (both amateur and professional), which involves itself in dry stone projects.
With these aims in mind the D.S.W.A.I. intends to promote the study and appreciation of dry stone construction by means of lectures, discussions, exhibitions, workshops, training and certification programs.
The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland (DSWAI) in collaboration with The International Stone Foundation have been working on creating a big dry stone walling event to join in the nation wide celebrations of The Gathering Ireland 2013.
You are invited. The invitation includes the opportunity to bring a rock/stone from home and it you attend the event it will be added to the wall.
Click on the D.S.W.A.I link above for more information and a video ( best viewed on a large screen).
My Maternal Great Grandfather William Coughlan, was a Stonemason. His life began in Skibbereen, on the south west coast of Ireland, in 1852. It was the final year of the Irish Potato Famine. Family history tells us that William worked his way to Dublin, where with the eventuality of gradualness he met and married Catherine D’Arcy on 12 June 1879. My Granny was the third of their eight children.
gigi-hawaii said,
March 2, 2013 at 2:43 pm
I imagine being a stonemason is hard work, especially lifting all those heavy rocks. You have to be physically fit to do that.
Grannymar said,
March 2, 2013 at 3:46 pm
gigi - It would be very physical work, but rewarding at the end of it.
wisewebwoman said,
March 2, 2013 at 6:30 pm
I am delighted with the serendipity of your ggfather being in Skibbereen in West Cork. It was my pleasure to show my children the construction of a dry stone wall in West Cork a couple of decades ago. There were a couple of old masters teaching two young whipper-snappers the skill of it all. Afterwards my kids walked on top of the wall, Strong as cast iron.
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
March 2, 2013 at 7:07 pm
WWW - Next we will discover that we are related!
Nancy said,
March 3, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Grannymar,
I once had the pleasure of having a visitor from Ireland. She was my friend’s Mother and was elderly at the time.
We took her through our Pennsylvania countryside and she marveled at the stone walls that had been built along a small country road we were traveling. She asked if we could stop and let her look closely at the wall and we did stop. She told us that our walls were almost identical in construction to the ones that she was used to seeing in Ireland.
Our best guess is that the craftsmen who built our walls were from Ireland..That was about 43 years ago and I still travel that road often.The stone walls are still there, in perfect condition and I never pass them that I don’t remember that dear lady…
Grannymar said,
March 3, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Nancy - I remember that lady very well. She had amazing eyes, was full of fun and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Monday 11th March would have been her birthday. I think of her very often.
The Laughing Housewife said,
March 3, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Quite apart from the craftsmanship, they look really good.
Grannymar said,
March 4, 2013 at 8:42 am
Tilly - I have always liked the look of dry stone walls.
Barbara said,
March 5, 2013 at 9:43 am
The Eventuality of Gradualness, that’s dads
(Though he gave it to Peter & me in his ‘Father of the Bride’ speech)
Grannymar said,
March 5, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Barbara - Your dad got it from Nana’s brother Denis.
Alice said,
March 8, 2013 at 6:18 pm
I remember being very impressed with the stone walls I saw in Ireland. Those I remember, however, were built a tad broader at the base and going narrower at the top. They look very pretty, too, much better than the wire fences all over the southern US where I grew up.
Grannymar said,
March 8, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Alice - I suppose each county has their own variety or pattern. My photos were all from County Antrim.