How long will it take me to transcribe this grave?!!!!

[Maiden Stone]

A quick glance at your headstone, Eadaoin, and you can almost see a face in the ivy - 

It looks like something out of Lord of the Rings.

Definitely!
Martin's picture might be an Ent nursery.
Gives new meaning to the term "green burial".
There may be overwintering butterflies or eggs/caterpillars/ pupae among the ivy so please dispose of foliage carefully.

[Wiggy]

When we were travelling in Ireland some years ago we were fascinated by the number of power poles covered in ivy - we thought then they represented Green energy!!   

[brigidmac]

Look forward to a pic of what's unde some of the foliage

[Maiden Stone]

When we were travelling in Ireland some years ago we were fascinated by the number of power poles covered in ivy - we thought then they represented Green energy!!   

Were they 40 shades of green?

2 examples of Irish greenery which have taken on lives of their own:

https://twitter.com/Borderirish
Scroll down to the earliest tweet on October 14th.

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/are-you-crinkly-or-squiggly-and-19-other-questions-for-the-irish-border-1.4057969?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Ivy on the custom's hut in the photo resembles a Shetland pony or a bull on hind legs. 

PS I have committed an apostrophic error with "custom's hut". So long since they were in use I didn't know the correct form.

[eadaoin]

Look forward to a pic of what's unde some of the foliage

With all the rain we're having, making ivy-cutting very unpleasant, I don't think we'll see anything this side of Christmas.

[eadaoin]

Update: I've managed to uncover a small bit of the inscription.

.. .. .. | .. ..ar wife .. .. |b . .g?et gately? | .. .. | .. .. |

(?? dear wife?? . . . Bridget Gately??)

[hallmark]

Trouble is they are protected and one is not allowed to clear them of Ivy.

[Guy Etchells]

Trouble is they are protected and one is not allowed to clear them of Ivy.

Not sure what you mean.

It is not legal to remove many types of Lichens from gravestones but there is no law that prevents ivy from being removed. I should of course remind forum members that gravestones are the property of the person who bought it or the people who now own it through inheritance. He/she/they may not want the ivy removed and their permission should always be taken before anything physical (even washing) is done to a gravestone.

Cheers
Guy

[Viktoria]

The “ face “ looks like The Green Man, a figure from folk history.
Not exactly sure of the history.
I think the name might be more modern than the idea ,Jack in the Green may have been the same “ person”.
Viktoria.