Glenasmole Roads

GLENASMOLE ROADSThey also took a great interest in the local peasantry andintroduced woodcarving in the Swiss style among the people ofthe Glen. Specimens of this work are still to be seen in the house.The Grierson brothers, George and John often stayed here andthey travelled in a specially constructed vehicle fitted with whatwere then considered as powerful headlamps, to aid them alongthe narrow and twisted road. These two men were the founders ofthe Daily Express newspaper.Early in the nineteenth century this beautiful mansion wasdestroyed by fire and the contents completely lost, the occupantshaving to take refuge in an adjoining barn. It was later rebuilt byGeorge Grierson on plans drawn up by himself. Over the door isa tablet inscribed:Heathfield Lodge. George Grierson Esq. 1812Just inside the boundary wall where it adjoins the road toCastlekelly Bog there is a large granite boulder known as FinnMcCoole’s Stone. The Griersons had a marble slab let into it whichbore the following inscription:Finnakoom one of the Irish Giants carriedthis stone on his shoulder from the oppositeMountain on April 1st 1444. He was 9 feet7 inches high and weighed 44 stoneThis slab was removed towards the end of the nineteenth centurybut the mark where it was fixed can still be seen on the stone. 17Finn McCoole’s Stone.The mark where aplaque had beenaffixed can be clearlyseen.17