cricket

Schoolboy cricketer in action, chasing a victory.

Google Lens found a copy of the dolmen photo on Facebook, which says,
"AUGHNACLIFFE DOLMEN OLD PHOTO
Following our recent article on the Dolmen Portal/Tomb at Aughnacliffe (see 13th September) a reader has sent us in this photo.
It was taken at the site around 1910 and includes both locals and visitors appreciating the history of what they are standing beside."
See - www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3014354222139798&id=1...

Amazed that it is still standing. I wouldn't spend too much time underneath!
In 2017 via Hugh Rooney 34, who says,
"... The Village of Aughnacliffe in County Longford is home to the Aughnacliffe Dolmen. The dolmen gives the townland its name “The Field of the Stones”. These tombs are thought to be places used for burial, ritual and religious activities. Dating from 3800BC this is quite possibly the most unusual looking dolmen in Ireland. On your approach to the dolmen it looks as though someone has been balancing huge stones one on top of the other. As you go around the portal tomb the form and shape appears completely different from each side. This monument is also unusual in that it has two capstones or roofstones, as similar portal tombs and dolmens typically have only one."

The Aughnacliffe Post Office and Mr K. Mulligan's premises (right hand photo) seems to have been rebuilt - maps.app.goo.gl/BCW6wrqi9rAnPkPA7

[Aside] Pssst! Do you want to know how the dolmen looked on Tuesday 4 July 1786 ?
catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000740203
The NLI is always amazing ...

There appears to be an animal (donkey) on the cricket field, on the right-hand picture, partially obscured by the non-striking batsman.

ALBERT SPORTS GROUND. The opening of the new Albert Sports Ground was an event of considerable importance to the cricketing and sporting community in a city which, like Brisbane, is but poorly supplied with cricket grounds. That the new ground supplies the actual want will not be generally admitted, for sooner or later the association must obtain a ground of equal, or nearly equal, proportions to the cricket enclosures of Sydney or Melbourne. Nevertheless, the Albert Sports Ground will prove exceedingly useful. Its situation is easy to access by omnibus or rail. It forms a portion of the seven acres of land occupied as a garden by the Chinese between the Bowen Bridge-road and the Bowen Hills railway station. The company at present possesses about four and a half acres, but on the lease of the remaining portion falling in, as it will in about five months' time, the whole portion will be in their hands, and will be devoted to the purposes of athletic sports of all kinds. The ground is bounded at the back by Breakfast Creek, and in one cool "sequestered shade" will be found a delightful bathing spot. The ground is surrounded by a high paling fence. The chief entrance gates are near Bowen Bridge road, but a pedestrians' entrance gate has also been placed in convenient proximity to the railway station. The buildings at present on the ground consist of a small dressing-room for cricketers, with a veranda in front, and a galvanized, iron shade attached to the fence nearest the roadway. Along this fence, there is a grassy slope, and on this, not a few spectators reclined yesterday. The wicket pitch has received much attention, and although during the opening match yesterday played rather slowly, it will very probably soon develop into one of the best wickets in Brisbane, if not the best. Even towards the close of the match it "quickened" considerably. The fielding space has been carefully prepared, and the ball had a moderately good chance of traveling to the ropes. The circle enclosed for the play was about 120 yards in diameter, but when more land has been acquired by the company a much larger circle will be obtainable. The only arrangements for other sports thus far made are two swings for children. These were used very largely yesterday. It is, however, intended, when space permits, to have portions of the ground set apart for lawn tennis, bowls, quoits, skittles, and other games. Among other plans for the future is the very necessary one of planting shade trees of rapid growth around the ground. The company has apparently worked hard to put the ground in its present forward condition, and deserve success. The ceremony of opening took the form of a cricket match yesterday between elevens selected from the Albert and Stanley clubs and was witnessed by about 300 spectators. The Albert team was a very strong one, notwithstanding the absence of R. M'Gill, whose bowling abilities are too high to be lightly esteemed. The Stanleys suffered from the loss of Neeson and one or two others of their best players. The Alberts took the creases first, and before the last wicket fell had scored 70. The Stanleys failed to reach nearer to that number than 70. It was still anybody's game, and the excitement as to the result of the second innings was unmistakable. Source: The Brisbane Courier, 02 Jan 1884 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3425588