Limestone sculpture at the Poulavone Roundabout “gateway to Ballincollig” (at the east side of Ballincollig), carved by Michael Quane. Photo by Rod Webb.
Milestones were used to mark out distances. Two of these limestone milestones still exist in Ballincollig. One is on the east side and says “5 miles to Cork” and the other is on the west side and says “6 miles to Cork”.
One old style road sign is in place at the junction of Maglin Road and Kilumney Road. Note the use of the half mile on it.
Milestone opposite McCarthy's Bar (Tennis Village) Carrigrohane
The milestone opposite McCarthy’s Bar is battered and tilted but it appears to read “21 miles to Macroom”. It seems to be part of the trail of milestones which occur along the main road through Ballincollig. I hope it can be re-instated or it will be lost/dumped.
Margaret Jordan [updated Dec 2009]
I noticed the other day whilst on the bus in from Ballincollig to Cork city, up on Model Farm Road, at the junction up by where the Tennis village used to be, no McCarthy’s Bar, there is another milestone in the same fashion as these. I did not get a chance to read it as the bus was driving, but it should still be there. It is in the hedgerow next to the farmhouse facing McCarthy’s.
I would not doubt that they are all linked and placed around the same time, as they are all fashioned the same. I thought it might have been worthwhile saying it, just in case it was not known it was there. It is mostly covered by the hedgerow.
regards,
Andrew Byrne
Thanks Andrew for alerting us to this milestone. See the photo I added above. I hope it can be saved from destruction.
Margaret
There’s a great book out called “Cork City, A Field Guide to its Street Furniture” by Tom Spalding. In it, he has a section on Milestones, Mile-markers and Boundary markers. The oldest in the city is pre 1791 but the lettering on that one in Sundays Well looks more antique than Ballincollig’s. It would be interesting to try and date them. I guess they were erected when Ballincollig became a post town mid 19th century. Apparently military boundary markers erected by the Board of Ordnance have arrows on them and the initials BO.
loose limstone facing to splayed edge adjacent to perimeter fencing . fitted loose on earth ; ;self draining
Hi,
Thanks for the suggestion on how to fix the milestone problem. Perhaps the Cork City Council could be persuaded to do this?
Margaret