Today brought one of those excursions with son, Harry, that I always enjoy so much.
We went walking in Portlaw Woods which are about twenty minutes drive from Tramore.
Walking in woods is something I associate very much with Christmas time and it’s something Mother and Father introduced us to from when we were very young.
A hauntingly beautiful feature of Portlaw Woods is De La Poer Tower which was built in 1785 by the First Marquis of Waterford, George De La Poer Beresford, Earl of Tyrone, in memory of his son who died in a horse riding accident. The tower is 70 ft high and is very much a local landmark.
Here’s how it looked as the sun was setting:

The tower certainly is a remarkable memorial to a son and it made me all the more appreciative of having my 6ft 3in towering son walking along beside me.
Everything looks better with the sun shining on it in late afternoon!
I agree, or in the morning with sunrise in action.
Almost everything, Suz. I think that many flowers look at there best in the rain.
🙂
Very very poignant!
Hi Luanne, I guess you’re. It didn’t feel quite as poignant as it may appear.
It must be your beautiful writing!
Ah, thanks, Luanne.
Don’t you just love the late fall light? Nothing like it!
And special mother-son time? Priceless…
Priceless is right, Dale. xx
Special moments hold them close! xxxx
Doing my very best, Willow. Thanks for underling the importance of doing so. xx
I cannot stress it enough 💙💙
I know and I understand. xx
❤ ❤
A towering son is a wondrous thing. Lovely, Jean!
He is!
Wonderful to have your son there with you in the “golden hour”
Absolutely!
That’s a remarkable landmark Jean, captured perfectly as always. I read that the son was only 13 when he died. You can apparently climb the spiral staircase. Must be some view from the top.
It’s very unexpected if you don’t know it is there.
Yes, H climbed to the top and said the view was great. He took a few shots but the light wasn’t great. It’s not the safest place to climb, he reported, and that says it all!!
I didn’t know it is still possible to climb to the top. Well, may be it is, but not for me, I guess. After I posted my Clonegam Church blogs I was planning to make it to the woods for a follow up blog, but it didn’t work out. I will probably leave the trip for Spring. Great afternoon sun, lovely glow.
Son, Harry, has been up there a few times. Apart from the dark winding slippery stairs, there is a bit of an issue with the top and it’s a hands and knees job. Definitely one for a dry day, if at all!
If at all…
I’ll try it in Spring and let you know!
ok 🙂
Beautiful honeyed stone Jean.
It looked stunning that day at sunset.