An entrance into the former demesne of Affane, County Waterford. The core of the house here dated from the 17th century but had a new front added in the first half of the 19th century with canted bows on either side of the entrance. These ashlar gateposts with screen walls on either side and arched pedestrian openings on either side were probably erected around the same time. Once leading towards the main building, now they go nowhere but provide a reminder of what used to be here: the house itself is a ruined shell.
It is strikingly strange that one of the side arches has a prominent keystone and the other does not!
Indeed, I noticed that myself. But if you look at the right-hand side arch, you can see that it has been repaired (with concrete breeze blocks) at some date, and that might account for the absence of a keystone…
Yes, that would explain it!
A ruined shell….so many lives spent in these gentry houses, and if they could see now, how would they feel that their home no longer exists, no house to haunt even !!
Sadly so many other similar stories throughout Ireland