Day 4: Tuesday, June 24

Day 4 was all about continuing to build up and lay grass sod on the earth berm, top off the long curved stone benches, install the limestone cladding on the roof of the viewing pavilion, and surrounding the opening, while Danny, Eugene, Gus, Viv, and Joe continued to cut away the old fence surrounding the blowhole, and very carefully cut a trench for the concrete footings for the stainless steel rods (the new protective barrier around the blowhole).  Then wood formwork (or "shutters" as they call them here) is then placed into the trench for the concrete pour.

In the afternoon, Travis and Danny went to Belmullet to inspect the samples of fabricated stainless steel plate and rod assemblies, and made some revisions to how these will be welded.  The first stainless steel pieces are promised for delivery on Thursday!  We can't wait to see them!

Travis explains the day's work plan 

 Concrete formwork for the stainless steel rod "fence"

The viewing pavilion 

Maggie and Ryan topping off the stone benches

Mortar mixers, Colin and Sam

Ian and Ayman on the limestone roof cladding with Declan and Alan

Alex 'making' rocks

Mauricio 

Delia on the limestone roof

Corey, Dan, Maggie and Karina sit on their bench for the first time---done!  Ayman (at left) claims credit too (ok, he made the mortar)

The more we build, the more it disappears...

Eugene installing the formwork

Day 3: Monday, June 23rd, St. John's Eve

By Irish standards, Day 3 was a heat wave...a scorcher!  That would be low 70s and sunny.  It did get hot on the site, and there was a welcome, if briny, breeze emanating from the blowhole.  We needed to make the most of this weather before it changes, as it inevitably does here--4 seasons in a day!

The two stone bench teams pressed on, coursing the walls, being careful always to keep each stone level and plumb, with a consistent 24" bench width, and following the curve--a lot to keep in mind.  Often frustrating, with moments of triumph, the stone teams learned how to search for the right size and shape of stone for each course, learning how to chisel the face and the sides to be as level as possible.  This is no easy feat, as even an experienced stone mason like Joe admitted that this local stone is extremely hard, with little apparent grain to crack down on.  By the end of the day, the teams were about 3/4 of the way done.

Meantime, students took turns helping Declan and Alan finish laying the limestone on the floor of the viewing temple.  (Check out the beam of light that projects from the skylight slit on the back wall...)

Corin Capodilupo with Declan

Not a bad place to have a lunchtime break, overlooking the expansive view of the sea, distant cliffs, and the ever-changing North Atlantic, today a serene brilliant blue!  The sound of the waves pounding the rocks is amazing, and you can literally feel the rhythm and churning power of the ocean in this place.

This was a productive day, and we were able to finish a little early to do some exploring of the surrounding beaches and sea caves, and a enjoy a spell at the pub to meet the very welcoming and friendly Ballycastle locals before dinner.

June 23rd is St. John's Eve, one night a year when it is traditional to have bonfires (in fact it is the only day of the year when they are legal), both to celebrate the Catholic feast day of the birth of St John the Baptist, and continuing on the old traditions surrounding the summer solstice...as well as to take advantage of the opportunity to burn the rubbish of the year!  Yet another example of the 'crossing' of ancient folkways, Catholic tradition, and the just plain practical.

The locals invited everyone to join them for a beach bonfire that night, and the fires dotted the landscape...stay tuned for some pics.

Rock Lobster!

Danny and the team, Island lads that they are, have cleverly set a lobster pot at the construction site on a long line going down into the blowhole, as they know lobsters lurk in just these kinds of spots.  They have gotten 16 so far!  

Here is Danny with the latest catch...some of these are 4 lbs or more! Pass the butter!

The rocky nooks and crannies of the blowhole as the tide recedes...Gus exclaimed, "I can smell them down there!"...

Gus with the lobster pot

Day 2: Sunday, June 22

Day 2 began as Travis, Danny and Kathleen assigned teams led by Eric, Corin, and Corey to continue to lay sod on the earth berms, and begin construction of the stone benches.

As you can see in the photo above, the team started laying out the wall to slope with the ground.  Since  it was a significant drop from one end of the wall to the other, in order to keep the height at 18", a field decision was made to step the walls down the slope, so they wouldn't slant downward, or finish high on one end to remain level.  

Meantime, at the viewing pavilion/platform, Declan and Alan installed the Kilkennny limestone cladding on the exterior and interior walls.

Declan begins the painstaking work of mitering the edges while Danny Hinchcliff ("Danny 2") assists Alan with hanging the stone panels.

In the afternoon, the whole group breaks for a talk by renowned local archaeologist, Seamus Caulfield, on the natural and cultural history of Downpatrick Head, and the richly layered stories of this landscape, the geology of the headland site, and archaeological remains including well-preserved round Neolithic mounds, and remains of a promontory fort further up the coast. He recounted the lore of the battle of St. Patrick and the Druid chieftain which 'explains' how the the sea stack, 'Dun Briste', broke from the mainland (even though it was actually formed in the 14th century, not the 5th century) and the foundations of a chapel dedicated to St. Patrick (pictured above), the story of French and Irish soldiers who drowned while hiding in the blow hole's sea caves from British troops in 1798, and the WWII watch station that was positioned on this site.

Our project 'The Crossing' commemorates all these stories...

Hear a radio documentary with Professor Caulfield on RTE.where he tells the story of Dun Briste and the blow hole and describes a visit (the first in 600 years!) to the sea stack island on a helicopter with his father and brother to document what was on it!  

Dun Briste--the sea stack

The Downpatrick Headland with a view back to our site--note how the sod-covered earth berm is blending invisibly with the surrounding landscape!

The blow hole, and sea tunnel

Alex takes a break from sod duty in his wheelbarrow Lazyboy

After calculating the step for each wall and digging out and leveling the ground, and first course is set for the stone benches, following the curve of the berm, but echoing the stepped steel rod sections that will surround the blow hole.

Eric, Sam, Travis and Seamus 

Declan's handiwork:  the mitered and softly rounded cormers--to prevent the stone from chipping. 

Ian assists with the limestone hanging

 Declan demonstrates the process of installing the limestone fasteners and adhesive

Seamus with an 'artifact' retrieved on the site:  is this St. Patrick's anvil that he used to shod his donkey?

A pint at the end of the work day

The 'Craic' on the Head...

We're roaring along with 5,000 cubic yards of earth berm, endless acres of new sod, rock benches, and new stainless rod fencing coming tomorrow.  To top it all we are closing in a glass and Kilkenny peened stone shrine.  The Mayo team with Catholic University Spirit of Place students are building our largest one yet!   Travis

Arrived!

The Spirit of Place clans gathered in Washington and Boston via New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, and Egypt (!) and arrived in Dublin, and headed to the Wild West of County Mayo! We stopped for a tour of Turlough House and the National Museum of Country Life outside of Westport. Not only is the museum a great example for architecture students of a modern design that fits it historic context and landscape with stunning effect, it also offers an insightful glimpse into 18th and 19th century Irish life at a country 'landlord' estate, and fascinating exhibitions about traditional Irish everyday life, craft and building traditions, and folklore.  It is a perfect introduction to Ireland, along with the Irish language radio and music that reeled through the bus as we drifted in and out of sleep while gazing out onto the pastoral Irish countryside on the 3 1/2 hour drive from Dublin to Mayo.

We arrived in Ballycastle, County Mayo--our home away from home for the next 2 and a half weeks, with a very warm welcome by our Mayo County Council project sponsors and good friends:  Peter Hynes, Joannne Greihan, Danny O Toole, and photographer extraordinaire, Michael McLaughlin.  After a round of Guinness and toasts in the Seaview pub (a very appropriate venue, emblazened with a painting of of the Downpatrick Head sea stack outside the door, and a view of the real thing!) we went down to check out this sight/site for ourselves!

Led by Danny O Toole, we met the rest of his crew (almost all of whom worked with us on last year's project in Inishturk!)  Danny's brother, Eugene O Toole, Gus O'Toole, and his brother, Viv O'Toole, and Joe Heanue.  We were issued out safety gear:  hardhats, and Mayo County Council yellow safety vests, and then we were oriented to this awe-inspiring site, and saw all the advance preparation that Danny and his team accomplished. Wow...we would not have been able to do this project without them...Slainte!!

After the tour, we checked into our three bed and breakfasts (Doonfeeney, Atlantic View, and
Keadyville) and met our wonderful hosts.  Then to Mary's Cottage, where we'll be having dinner each night, for the first of nightly huge three-course dinners!  It is clear we won't be going hungry this trip, but we;ll need the fuel to keep us going for the long days of construction (it doesn't get dark until 11:30 pm!)

What a wild ride we are in for on the Wild Atlantic Way!

Advance Work

While we've been packing, Danny O Toole and the team have been preparing the site, and setting foundations...note the safety harnesses:  a must around the blowhole!

Gearing up!

We're excited to head to Ireland on Thursday, June 19!

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