The Mourne Wall

Gaps in the mourne wall are becoming almost as familiar as the wall itself; wretched spills of boulders brought about by old age, the elements and walkers pounding along the cap stones or gouging out tracks that undermine foundations. Stone walls are considerably easier to topple than build. The gap I helped repair at the weekend was caused by a sycamore tree pushing into the supporting bank. A wall built into a bank is easier to work with than a free standing one, even so an awful lot of stones have to be selected and then heaved into place, and for every nice flat stone there is an abundance of 'cows heads' and other awkward shapes to lift, turn, chip, invert and hammer into position. It's a job that exercises the mind every bit as much as the legs and back. Thankfully granite is not a slippery stone, the rough texture helps the rocks knit and grip on to each other when placed in a dry stone wall. The overhanging tree gave a little shelter from the driving rain but the wall itself was anything other than dry, when the sky eventually cleared the wind through the trees ensured that we were dripped on until the job was complete. I was too wet and muddy to consider sketching so I returned the next day and walked the laneways around Maghera, checking the stonework for split joints with a newly acquired expert eye. There is plenty to paint around here, including the old ruined church and the remains of the stone tower. I was attracted to the awkward shapes of the cow's heads lazing in the sunshine, especially the one with horns. Peering through the wall I managed a quick sketch before they got suspicious and started to get up and move around. David Kirk surmised that a million lunches must have been eaten the sheltering lee of the mourne wall; if you happen to open a flask along Smileys loney, look out for the shiny new bit repaired by conservation volunteers with the Mourne Heritage Trust and like the mourne wall itself - treat it kindly.
If you are interested in a painting you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132

Cows heads and other awkward shapes
Gaps in the mourne wall are becoming almost as familiar as the wall itself; wretched spills of boulders brought about by old age, the elements and walkers pounding along the cap stones or gouging out tracks that undermine foundations. Stone walls are considerably easier to topple than build. The gap I helped repair at the weekend was caused by a sycamore tree pushing into the supporting bank. A wall built into a bank is easier to work with than a free standing one, even so an awful lot of stones have to be selected and then heaved into place, and for every nice flat stone there is an abundance of 'cows heads' and other awkward shapes to lift, turn, chip, invert and hammer into position. It's a job that exercises the mind every bit as much as the legs and back. Thankfully granite is not a slippery stone, the rough texture helps the rocks knit and grip on to each other when placed in a dry stone wall. The overhanging tree gave a little shelter from the driving rain but the wall itself was anything other than dry, when the sky eventually cleared the wind through the trees ensured that we were dripped on until the job was complete. I was too wet and muddy to consider sketching so I returned the next day and walked the laneways around Maghera, checking the stonework for split joints with a newly acquired expert eye. There is plenty to paint around here, including the old ruined church and the remains of the stone tower. I was attracted to the awkward shapes of the cow's heads lazing in the sunshine, especially the one with horns. Peering through the wall I managed a quick sketch before they got suspicious and started to get up and move around. David Kirk surmised that a million lunches must have been eaten the sheltering lee of the mourne wall; if you happen to open a flask along Smileys loney, look out for the shiny new bit repaired by conservation volunteers with the Mourne Heritage Trust and like the mourne wall itself - treat it kindly. If you are interested in a painting you can contact Eamonn by ringing 07962 189132

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