Frank is rightly proud of the ‘Great Wall of Gurtymadden’

IT should have been the normal repair of an old ‘single’ stonewall . . . but Gurtymadden farmer Frank Martyn decided to go one better and opt for a full reconstruction.

Now his double stonewall is a ‘thing of beauty’ – all 140 metres of it – and one of the high points of his REPS plan and farm.

Located in the townland of Carrawroe, Frank – with the help of his sons Calvin and Kerril – took on the task over the summer and are now delighted at how well the job has turned out.

“We’re definitely very happy with the job – it’s a solid structure. I’ll definitely fall before the wall will,” Frank Martyn told the Farming Tribune.

His daughter Priscilla also helped out during the summer once her Leaving Cert duties were out of the way, while the ‘woman of the house’ – Kiltulla native Geraldine (Murphy) – helped out with the motivation.

“I got the stone from an old quarry on the land and while it was a slow job we just kept tipping away at it. We’re delighted with how it has turned out,” said Frank, a father of three girls and two boys.

The wall got two helpings of concrete – on top and in the centre – to give an extra measure of stability to the structure.

“It’s definitely not for shifting now – it’s there to stay,” said schoolbus driver Frank.