Blennerville windmill

Saw this windmill near Tralee on our way to the south east coast in our camper. It has a big parking area without height barrier. It is sometimes very hard to find places to park our camper for a rest/make a meal as they put height barrier in most public parking area to stop gypsies from staying. 

After a meal, decide to visit the windmill which is the first we have seen in Ireland in good condition. It is huge, 4 storey high, the tallest we have visited. 

It was built in the 17th century to grind grains, but left to decay after the world wars. Until the 70’s when the community decided to raise fund and renovate it back to its original form. They hired specialist to draw the plan and how to rebuild using traditional materials and techniques. Hired local people to learn how to work the materials and the renovation process. A very inspiring story of how a community can work together to keep a legacy alive.

2025年8月12日社區風車


有回出遊，看到碼頭附近有座高大完好風車，想到愛爾蘭大風，卻是第一次見到風車，決定入去參觀。

導賞人異常熱心，仔細解釋風車如何運作，四方走動指出各項細節，充滿精力。

建於十九世紀初，五層高，是我見過最高大的風車，磨麥粒，建在海旁，以方便運送麵粉到英國，那時，這地區是個繁盛商業和運輸中心。

用了近百年，因為種種原因而停用，慢慢荒廢，最後只留下石頭圓塔，內裏木材全敗壞，這地區亦不再興旺。

故事最精彩部份，是1984年當地社區集資買下遺址，決定還原當時的設計、用同樣材料和建築方法復元。

請來專家起稿，仔細列出所需物資和大小、需要的器材、和技術。在當地請人參與工作，學習古老技術，花六年時間完成，除了請專家作指導以外，所有工作都由區內居民做好，把早年風光歷史留下。

以我所見，愛爾蘭的古蹟極多，散佈各角落，大多數都屋頂破爛牆磚脫落，慘不忍睹。真的需要有多些熱心人士，愛惜自家歷史，來好好的收拾殘局。