The modern Long Stone, near Pearse Street Garda station, Dublin. “I wonder if you’ve missed the leper under your nose,” he writes, pointing out that Dublin’s Townsend Street is known in Irish as Sráid Chnoc na Lobhar. But until recently (five minutes ago), I remained vaguely of the impression that Townsend Street was a geographically descriptive name. Hence the Long Stone, originally placed as a landing marker by the Norsemen, where the end of Pearse Street Garda station and a replica stone now stand. Indeed it was just a mark opposite your name in the attendance book if you didn’t make it in to Lepers Hill before the 10am cut-off.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2026 10:43 UTC