¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ

Margaret O'Sullivan, research assistant, on the Heritage Council and Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) co-funded project Locating Bench Marks, Preserving Heritage, has been busy promoting the project since it was launched on 27 June 2025.

This exciting project has captured the imagination of the community and the media alike. The aim of the project is to record both the extant and lost bench marks throughout County Limerick. These bench marks first began to appear in the Irish landscape from the 1830s and were in use up until the 1990s, when they were replaced by modern technologies like GPS and digital surveying tools. Margaret has taken to the airways to rally community participation. She explained how these markers blend into everyday surroundings: ‘They’re hidden in plain sight … you could even find them on the boundary wall of your own house’ she told Live95’s Joe Nash. ClareFm’s Alan Morrissey likened the search to ‘a treasure hunt’ that all the family could get involved in. Both hosts encouraged locals, visitors and those living near Limerick’s borders to get involved.

Furthermore, the project has gained significant press attention featuring in local and national press and has also been promoted on social media platforms. For anyone who wants to know more about how they can get involved email us at benchmarksireland@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page Locating Bench Marks Preserving History