The Monument When Dr Cinta Ramblado of UL addressed the assembly today and thanked all as the daughter of Spanish Republicans and as the granddaughter of a disappeared Republican, I was so glad that we had travelled to Limerick today, that my eight year old had walked in the parade with me, and that we had made a small donation to the creation of the sculpture. There were many other words said but that sincere, emotional and heartfelt thanks was all that was needed to make the day for me. The Order of Ceremonies
Culture Night impacts in this quarter similar to Heritage Open Day – too many choices and too little time. I have just read through the catalogue for Culture Night and will probably try to get to the talk on Montenotte House and another on “Holy Wells: Exploring the Ritual and Custom of the Pattern Day in Irish Tradition” There is so much that I would also like to take it but times clash. I will probably miss the lesson in grave rubbing at St Finbarr’s Cemetery, learning about the Doneraile Conspiracy, and those of the locality who served in WW1. ‘Bats – Myth and Reality’ at the Quaker Meeting House, Guided tour of the School of Music, photographic exhibition at St. Vincent’s, The Muskerry Train, as well as a Walking Tour from the Quad following in the footprints of famous and not so famous Cork Women are among the events that would also like to catch – if they did not clash. I can understand the benefit of the publicity and buzz created by multiple events but it does leave a sense of disappointment of what might have been seen if carried out over a weekend rather than just one evening. Another reminder to self.
In the past few days, there has been some press coverage on the removal and subsequent finding of a statue from a grotto, at Horgan’s Buildings close to University College Cork. I must get around to uploading all the recent photographs of grottos spotted on my travels and also updating the Google Map. It is surprising when my blog comes up in conversation, how many new grotto locations are mentioned to me. Further journeys are required.
There are so many pieces to every jig-saw. In many cases, there are new pieces still to be found. I remember listening to Mario Rosenstock on Miriam Meets with his uncle Gabriel Rosenstock. I have a recollection that I may have heard it more than once in one week – the programme being repeated in the early hours during the week. That was the first time that Gabriel Rosenstock would have registered on my own particular and peculiar wavelength. Last November, we went to Túr na nAmhrán: Tionscadal Cohen(The Tower of Song: The Cohen Project) and left very impressed. Gabriel Rosenstock was one of the translators of the lyrics of the Cohen songs. In the last few weeks, having viewed the Blog Awards 2014 Short Lists, I found Rogha Gabriel. I have been dropping in almost daily since then. My Irish does not allow total understanding and the dictionary has been called upon on more than one occasion. I do like the sense of fun – spot the vocal smile on Enda Reilly at 1:30 through the Banana Boat Song. I like the songs being translated – a lot being of my time. I have been introduced to a poem – new to me but finding soft wood in the current me in which to be driven home. I suppose that I am in the early stages of being a fan. So when I read on Saturday of the invitation to the evening of poetry and song accompanied by some refreshment, thoughts went in all directions – would, should, could, what if…… The practical and sensible said that it was 160 miles away and so not feasible. The real me, who hides here behind mixed messages, retorted that even if it was only 160 yards away, the inbred sense of not wanting to intrude; of not accepting an open invitation as exactly that; and, of fear of the unknown surroundings, would still prompt an excuse not to attend. Maybe they will be discovered at some time but the real me hammered home that, níl liathróidí agam. "In a very short time, the world has learned much about unaccountable secret agencies and about sometimes illegal surveillance programs. Sometimes the agencies even deliberately try to hide their surveillance of high officials or the public. While the NSA and GCHQ seem to be the worst offenders – this is what the currently available documents suggest – we must not forget that mass surveillance is a global problem in need of global solutions. Such programs are not only a threat to privacy, they also threaten freedom of speech and open societies. The existence of spy technology should not determine policy. We have a moral duty to ensure that our laws and values limit monitoring programs and protect human rights. Society can only understand and control these problems through an open, respectful and informed debate. At first, some governments feeling embarrassed by the revelations of mass surveillance initiated an unprecedented campaign of persecution to supress this debate. They intimidated journalists and criminalized publishing the truth. At this point, the public was not yet able to evaluate the benefits of the revelations. They relied on their governments to decide correctly. Today we know that this was a mistake and that such action does not serve the public interest. The debate which they wanted to prevent will now take place in countries around the world. And instead of doing harm, the societal benefits of this new public knowledge is now clear, since reforms are now proposed in the form of increased oversight and new legislation. Citizens have to fight suppression of information on matters of vital public importance. To tell the truth is not a crime." EDWARD SNOWDEN
One wall at a Dublin railway station – three plaques. Middle plaque is the 1916 Proclamation – two commemorate war dead. The war dead all worked for the same company – The Great Southern & Western Railway. The war dead all died between 1914 and 1918. They all laid down their lives for their country but that country was not the same for all. All bar one died fighting with the British Military Forces – one was shot by the British Military Forces. Just one representation of the complex nature of the Ireland of 100 years ago.
Within a period of just over a month, I came across plaques or monuments referencing Robert Emmet in three separate counties.
I thought that I’d put them together. The Award for the Most Striking Marketing Tool for 2014 to date goes to Bengour Harvest Festival – a pity that it does not state where or when. We spotted this on the roadside beyond Lissarda and it was appreciated by all. If the hoped for trip to Brandon on 28th September does not happen, we may take in a trip to Coppeen – interesting to note that Donal Walsh’s father opened the Festival last year.
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