Claudia Kinmonth MRIA FSA PhD MA(RCA) BTecHND

Thanks for explaining, it's an unusual place to be wearing jewellery (other than an elaborate belt buckle), presumably it was important to her.

A really impressive hairstyle as well!

That's a spectacular looking dress, she was obviously an advanced accomplished, seamstress. I'm puzzled by the almost vertical straight feature on the front of her waistband, & wonder what it is?

Just saying, the coins are wonderfully decorated. The dot & circle motif occurs as recently as up to the early 20th century symbolucally on Irish vernacular furniture & is probably in that context apotropaic.

It's not working it keeps saying it's expired ...oh dear

Historically rural Irish people made milk from oats: they called it 'Bull's milk'! Soaking oats & straining it to make a milky drink was also taught to me by a frugal Kenyan friend. It's all delicious & needs no cow. Oatly's barista oat milk is absolutely the most delicious addition to coffee...

Ok thankyou. Then having achieved that is lidar a subsequent stage (& who in Ireland, handles that?)

Brilliant to see this release. I've previously seen the positive effect beavers have on the environment, in Vermont.

Those horses have intriguing bridles: what impressive detail!

That's impressive. How might I organise to obtain a lidar on an old wooden door to reveal graffiti symbols, please?

The scabbard features protective or apotropaic symbols, most prominently the two gold X symbols, protective barring symbols commonly used ever since in Ireland on entrances, gates, eating & drinking utensils, near fireplaces, windows & arrow loops...so appropriate on a scabbard to reassure its owner

Great how the paler, crisper pieces still bear distinct X symbols which were traditionally placed at entrances & openings to houses (hearths, doors, windows etc) & considered apotropaic or protective. Irish use includes small versions on wrought iron gates, spoons, salt boxes, butter prints etc

I especially adore woodcuts by Ravilious & hadn't seen this one before. I agree it has fantastic detail especially the foreground. I also love the ceramics he designed for Wedgwood. Thanks for sharing this!

Compass graffiti across an early 19thC mill door, revealed in blue overlaid lines to show over a dozen circles, some overlapping to create vesica symbols, to protect & deflect what's inside. Author's photo.

I'm looking forward to this IPMAG event in Waterford this weekend. I'll be presenting 'Apotropaic marks & protective graffiti in Irish Material Culture' 11am Sat.

Check this out!
IPMAG XXVI Death & Superstition in Post-Medieval Ireland - allevents.in/waterford/20... allevents.in/waterford/20...

A comfortable interior shows young woman, barefoot, seeming to step away from the controlling gaze of a priest, sitting by his parlour fire. An older woman in the centre, appears to sympathise with the priest.

This chimes with Howard Helmick's narrative genre oils: He spotlit powerful Irish Catholic clergy's castigation of young people. Eg 'The Wayward Daughter' exhib at RA in 1878. This fellow is smart but lacks socks. An eavesdropper revels in their discomfort, giving the audience plenty to discuss.

Yes I was surprised to see that fabulous green, I'd always thought mistakenly, they were black...but it's years since I got close to a real Muscovy!

They're spectacular looking, with lovely colours, thanks for sharing your photos, especially the closeups!

I never thought sea slugs could be that beautiful! What splendid photos & an intriguing article. Thank you for posting it.

Thankyou, we are so very lucky looking at that valley, with the Atlantic sea inlet just visible at the bottom. It's what made us fall in love with this old home...

Fantastic

Only with special care & attention. It's easy to buy a new bulb ready to go (& still it's spectacular to watch). But coaxing one to reflower is like the difference between buying a cake, or baking a really elaborate one yourself! My windowsills are occupied by pots amaryllis leaves: but few flowers

Closeup of Amaryllis Picotee cream white flower with pale green centre and fine red lines around each petal edge. Behind a blue sky has white clouds over green fields through the window.

I try coaxing my 8 bulbs to reflower each year. I have a low success rate, but this week my top favourites bloomed (not it's first time) Picotee, usually has white with thin red edge, but Joe it's become freckled (& a bit smaller) but I'm enthralled. Usually the red ones reflower most easily.

The Viking ship is such an amazing, impressive, elegant object, with a brilliantly evocative story, (even as short as your version): it's thrilling. The detail of the carved decoration is so intricate & accomplished, and as crisp as if it was new. It makes me want to plan the journey to go & see it.

Thankyou Dorothy. It does seem things are being made as difficult & complex as possible, for ordinary members of the public to voice complaints about the impending changes & proposed costs.

It's such a pity that leads to a subscriber only article, so no-one can sign via your link! Can you post the petition (or equivalent) instead, please?

They may also have looked like companions (I'm unsure of their purpose being to surprise visitors) some of them were designed to look like servants. Research on their context may well have evolved since I worked at the V&A, when they were rather mysterious (which appeals to me).

Pretty...potentially deadly (with ominous looking black berries). We have a few varieties which seed themselves all over our garden in South west Ireland & attract phenomenal quantities of bees compared to any other plants.

Pooh versus the Asian Hornets!

Positively livid looking! Even her dog looks grumpy...we reckon they sat for ages & were being mean with firewood

One would expect them to be v dense if they are (& could easily be) fragments of bogwood. It does look like 1 piece was sawn or cut at right angles to the grain, but wood that's been charred or burnt can also show such tool marks. Differentiating between charred timber/bog oak needs physical exam'n.