Geograph - photograph every grid square

Located on the North Road, which was part of the main road from Dublin to Derry before the adjacent Finglas bypass was completed. Shows 19 Irish miles to Slane and Drogheda and 20 to Navan. The other side has 3 miles to Dublin, which at 6145m, is the distance from both Fr Matthew Bridge at the bottom of Church St and the GPO on O'Connell St, so it could refer to either.

19 milestones are shown on the old OS maps between Dublin and Slane, latterly known as the N2. Of these 9 are still in place (or located a short distance from their original homes): N9965 : Milestone on the N2 at Flemingstown, Co. Meath, O0063 : Milestone on the N2 near Balrath, O0161 : Milestone on the N2 at Rathfeigh, Co. Meath, O0456 : Milestone at Baltrasna, north of Ashbourne, Co. Meath, O0652 : Milestone in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, O0750 : Milestone south of Ashbourne, Co. Meath, O0848 : Milestone on the N2 at Wotton, Co. Meath and O1045 : Milestone on the R135 (old N2) at Ward, Co. Dublin.

The distance between them (along the road) is somewhat inconsistent, varying between 2050m and 2225m, with an average of 2090m (an Irish mile is supposed to 6720ft or 2048m). The errors add up, meaning that the first stone south of Slane, which showed 21 miles to Dublin, was actually 21.4 miles away, thus giving everyone an extra 800m to trek - as if life in 19th century Ireland wasn't hard enough already!