Dry Stone Walls

Roundwood, Annamoe, Moneystown and its hinterland has a wealth of very fine dry-stone walls. Dry stone walls and other structures are to be seen across the country and many date back to Neolithic times. Building dry stone has been part of Irish culture for a very long time and is very evident in the South and West of Ireland. In Wicklow, we have many fine examples of dry-stone walls particularly around the boundaries of the old estates. Alas many these are lost to us for decades now – being totally overgrown by gorse, brambles, etc.

Local resident of 30 years, Phil Guiney has uncovered an array of our lost dry-stone walls in many places throughout this area. You will spot his fine craftmanship in the restored boundary walls of Glendalough House at Oldbridge and the fine cairn that surrounds the Oldbridge rock in the same location.

Phil is a member of the Dry-Stone Wall Association of Ireland (DSWAI). Dry Stone Construction is now listed on the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage because of an successful application by the Association in 2018. This made DSWAI the representative body for Dry Stone Construction in Ireland. The craft of dry-stone walling is an art and forms part of our unique Irish heritage. Dry stone walling joins 30 or so other unique traditions that have been given official recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritages of Ireland by the state.

Many could identify the stone wall builder by its build – it was like a signature. The style pictured above is referred to a ‘cock and hen’.

​In conjunction with the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland (DSWAI) Phil organised a very successful stone wall workshop at Drummin in May 2022 where volunteers had the opportunity to work with him to repair some walls on the Laragh House estate. It was a very enjoyable day and a worthwhile learning experience for all involved. Such was the success that Phil, in conjunction with a local landowner, is working to establish an official DSWAI training area in the locality so that these workshops can happen on a regular basis. This DSWAI workshop was the second of its kind to take place on this side of the country, the first took place in Ballyknockan in Wicklow in 2017. It’s a great project and works like a Meitheal – the work helps out local landowners, preserves these ancient walls for centuries to come and passes on Phil’s super craft to others.

Phil lives and breathes these walls and working with stone. You will see his professional handy work all over the area including Moneystown, Glenmacnass, Tomdarragh, Glendasan, Laragh East, Carrigeenshinnagh and at the Lough Dan Scout Centre where he guided and worked with scouts from all over the world. His artistic structures are very eye catching.

Well done Phil – keep up the great work. We look forward to continuing to see the fruits of your wonderful hands in the years to come ~ a lasting legacy.

The Road to Roundwood Project

The Road to Roundwood is a voluntary group set up by local people with the goal of welcoming and helping to resettle a refugee family in our Community who are fleeing war in the Middle East.

It is set up under the ‘Community Sponsorship Programme Ireland’, itself an initiative of the Department for Justice and Equality. It is part of the United Nations response to the Humanitarian Crisis which developed in southern Europe due to mass forced displacement of people from conflict areas, particularly in the Middle East.

The Irish Red Cross are our Regional Support Organisation, and they provide guidance and training to the members of our group.

Basically, this local committee is working to secure a haven in Roundwood for a family displaced by war. If you would like to find out more information, get involved or donate please check out the Road to Roundwood.

The first fundraising activity is a family fun coffee afternoon in Roundwood Parish Hall on Sunday 15th of March from 12 noon until 4pm.  Check it out on the link below – looks like a great afternoon of entertainment as well as nice stuff to eat!

https://www.roadtoroundwood.ie/post/coffee-morning-and-bake-sale