[recedite]

Originally Posted by Maudi

one of the tunnels mentioned..it runs under the track up to the octogon and is 30meters long..has anybody any idea what these were for?

The tunnel is to facilitate mountain bikers

Re the icehouse, some archaeology students did an experiment on a similar one a few years back, filling it with hard-packed snow in March. There was still some ice left 3 or 4 months later. Would have been very useful for storing venison, as the deer come down off the mountains in Winter.

[Maudi]

Originally Posted by recedite

The tunnel is to facilitate mountain bikers

Re the icehouse, some archaeology students did an experiment on a similar one a few years back, filling it with hard-packed snow in March. There was still some ice left 3 or 4 months later. Would have been very useful for storing venison, as the deer come down off the mountains in Winter.

hey...i see where your coming from..i noticed the bike tracks...but seriously..the tunnels??what are they for?

[Jimjay]

Originally Posted by loyatemu

I assume that golf course plan has been "put on ice" (sorry)

far too many courses in the area already, some of them are really struggling financially.

Isn't delgany golf course built on the latouche site? The course was rebuilt as far as I know in 2003 and that story was in 2002. Could the planning for the new golf club they talked about just be planning permission to redevelop the old one?

[Alun]

Generally in these old estates, tunnels were used to hide servants from view when going about their work. Possibly the Octagon was used as a summer house of some sort, and the tunnel was used by servants from the house to bring food, drink etc. Or possibly as access to the ice house to transport meat to and from the house?

BTW I've just found an interesting book on Google Books called "Technology and the Big House in Ireland, C. 1800-C. 1930". Go to Chapter 3, starting at page 111 and there's a whole chapter on ice houses and their construction!

http://books.google.ie/books?id=vAeb...page&q&f=false

[recedite]

The tunnel is definitely there to keep two paths separate, where otherwise there would be a crossroads. As the La Touche family started up the whole banking industry/scam in this country, they were stinking rich. They had paths laid out both sides of what is now the N11 and the Octagon was a kind of tea house, for picnics. It seems likely that the separation was to avoid the awkwardness of bumping into some half starved peasant worker while they were out for an after dinner stroll.

Re the PP for a Golf Course; it would have been a new one , on Ballydonagh Lane (the lane opposite Kindlestown Woods), midway between two existing courses; Delgany and Glen of the Downs. The entrance to Bellevue Woods off Ballydonagh Lane is I think the Right of Way mentioned. Most of the forest north of the Octagon is privately owned. Even though it seems to be part of the "Nature Reserve" part to the south, it isn't.

[Cheeky Chops]

Is the entrance to the woods that sharp turn off the N11 or is there another way in? It seems I have missed a great spot to go walking because of scaremongering. I was advised years ago to not go near the carpark because of cottaging!

[Alun]

That's the one, the Glen of the Downs car park. I also heard it was a notorious dogging spot, but haven't seen anything untoward there to be honest, but then I've always been there on a Sunday afternoon, probably not prime time for such activities!!

[Cheeky Chops]

Thanks Alun. I'll try it on a weekend afternoon so!

[Robertr]

Here I was thinking we were getting the Ultimate Fighter in Greystones

[Maudi]

Originally Posted by Cheeky Chops

Is the entrance to the woods that sharp turn off the N11 or is there another way in? It seems I have missed a great spot to go walking because of scaremongering. I was advised years ago to not go near the carpark because of cottaging!

dogging i know..
but cottageing??
more likely to return to broken windows in the carpark...however the lane xcross from kindlestown wood..drive maybe a k. down come to a farm gate..room for two at the most cars ( on left)

[Maudi]

Originally Posted by Alun

Generally in these old estates, tunnels were used to hide servants from view when going about their work. Possibly the Octagon was used as a summer house of some sort, and the tunnel was used by servants from the house to bring food, drink etc. Or possibly as access to the ice house to transport meat to and from the house?

BTW I've just found an interesting book on Google Books called "Technology and the Big House in Ireland, C. 1800-C. 1930". Go to Chapter 3, starting at page 111 and there's a whole chapter on ice houses and their construction!

http://books.google.ie/books?id=vAeb...;q&f=false

hi..that explains the tunnels..they run under the path to the octogon..so if lordy was on the path taking the air..and the poor servants had to stay hidden but continue on their way back and forth...the complete and utter snobby contempt of it!!!

[Cheeky Chops]

Originally Posted by Maudi

dogging i know..
but cottageing??
more likely to return to broken windows in the carpark...however the lane xcross from kindlestown wood..drive maybe a k. down come to a farm gate..room for two at the most cars ( on left)

I was under the impression that there was some kind of derelict building there which was used. Sorry, I didn't mean to go off on a tangent.

[loyatemu]

used to be a popular spot for raves until the Guards raided one and seized all the equipment.