Life in Lockdown Series: Photography

My name is Ruth McCann and am based in Balbriggan Libraries. Since Covid-19 hit these shores last year, I rediscovered my love for photography, I find it relaxing, it takes my mind off things and makes me appreciate the world we live in more now than before.  Growing up I have always loved photography, nature, and history, taking my camera out wherever I was, either on holidays abroad, messing with my siblings, or being inspired by nature or of other things at home. 

A few weeks ago, I was out for a late afternoon walk on the grounds of Ballymacscanlon Hotel in Dundalk with my dad and at the back of the hotel are two historical monuments.  I could not resist taking photographs of the dolmen and cairn because of the way the sun was setting and the light reflecting off the monuments.  I used my iPhone SE to take the photographs.

The Proleek Dolmen dates to around 3000 BC and is one of the finest examples of a dolmen in Ireland.  It weighs about 35 tons, and as you can see from the photo it consists of two supporting stones and a large capstone, which may have been an entry point into the burial chamber.  The farming communities built these monuments during the Neolithic period as a place to bury their dead.

Known as the Giant’s Load, according to local legend, it is believed that it was carried to Ireland by a Scottish giant named Parrah Boug McShagean, who is said to be buried nearby.  Legend has it that, if you can throw a stone up on top of the dolmen your wish will be granted. This is extremely difficult to do given the height and slope of the capstone!