Sample Field Trip #1

Beyond Kippure House we turn onto a third class road which brings us on a shoulder above the Liffey Valley. Across the river are small settlement clusters, Ballynatona (the place at the backside of the mountain) and Ballysmuttan (the place of the burned bog oak). Crossing the Shankill (sean, old; cill, church) river we note the traditional farmstead on the left and the military range at Killbride (cill, church; Brid, Bridget). The foothills here are heavily afforested and the remains of deserted farmsteads suggest rural depopulation. As we join the L199 by the stone cross we note the quarry to our right. Here at Ballynascorney (baile, place; scornach; throat), which probably refers to the ravine which is now a dry valley, dolerite stones were quarried to pave Dublin's streets and the relict lazy beds which nurtured the potatoes are visible on the dry hillsides. As we come in sight of the built-up area our field trip is almost concluded and I hope it has revealed the richness of this small compass as a window on Ireland's cultural geography.

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