Blog Posts

Headless in the Glen of The Wedge

11/11/2017

I was sorting through some photographs taken during the Summer and spotted that today was the anniversary of the Earl of Desmond.

As good a reason as any to try to get back to more regular blogging.

Logainm assists with the meaning of Glenageenty – Gleann na Ginnte

Another word added to my Irish vocabulary – dícheann – to behead

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A Graveyard Clown

7/9/2017

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Clowns were never meant to be funny.

‘People like eccentrics. Therefore they will leave me alone, saying that I am a mad clown.’ –
Vaslav Nijinsky

“I am not crying, but have tears in my heart.”

― Vaslav Nijinsky

I read on twitter this morning that originally, they were masked demons. This has led to a lost half hour of work reading about the dark side of clowns and clowns impersonating the dead at their funerals.

I have even pondered reading my first ever Charles Dickens book, excluding the school enforced Hard Times. No doubt, if spotted in a charity shop, The Pickwick Papers will make it onto my shelves to tempt further.

The photograph that accompanied the tweet this morning reminded me of my escape time at Cimetière de Montmartre in Montmartre last year and this particular clown – a sculpture of Nijinsky.

I was pleasantly surprised at the time with the Clown of God – now I will have to think as to whether it was intended to be pleasant after all.

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Two Firsts

17/8/2017

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I spotted this roadside memorial for the first time in the past few weeks.

I travel that road fairly regularly during the summer months so suspect that it may have been erected within the last year.

I have visited very many cemeteries and have photographed hundreds of roadside memorials. This is the first that I can recall being made of horseshoes.

I do have a recollection of trying to play Horseshoes when on holiday in Wexford in the 70’s before my teenage years. I do not think that I have held a horseshoe in my hands since.

Maybe many, or even all, horseshoes have a stamp of the initials of the blacksmith but I had never spotted this detail until this memorial on the Mallow to Killarney road, a little before Longueville turn-off. This has now been mentally filed away for cross-checking in the future.

I do not know who this cross commemorates. It did cause me to stop, stand and ponder for a few minutes.

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Registered????

16/8/2017

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To what does ‘Registered’ refer, when carved on a headstone?

I was in Kilshannig Cemetery, near Mallow, a few weeks back and noted this headstone to remember Maryanne Turner who died in 1839.

I cannot recall seeing the word ‘Registered’ on a headstone previously.

Maybe some burials were not registered with the church/cemetery authorities.

Maybe not all deaths were registered – or even all births.

Another item has gone onto that ‘TO FIND OUT MORE’ list……..

UPDATE 2017.08.17

Many thanks to John Tierney who provided some education and guidance on Twitter to effect that –

We see if fairly regularly throughout the country - it means they bought and registered the plot with the powers that be - usually the COI.

I think in Garrankennefick (nr Aghada, Cork) there is a "Registered and three foot on either side"

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Dungarvan - Take A Bow

15/8/2017

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Public Realm is definitely a recent buzz word.

From what I have observed on St. Patrick’s Street, Cork; Cornmarket St., Cork; Limerick Railway Station; and, Tralee, there appears to be a formula of sorts including:

Limestone paving, laid to an irregular pattern, with some colour or granite thrown in for good measure

Some timber or stone plinths for seating, but not so comfortable so as to encourage one to stay too long

Stainless steel or maybe timber block traffic bollards with some stainless or colourful bike racks

And some funky light fittings

All involved in the reallocation of vehicular space to pedestrian space.

Splitting The Atom

An Spailpín Fánach

Personally, I would like to see more green in these Public Realm spaces – grass; trees; green walls – even herb or vegetable beds maintained by locals. I think that they would encourage greater use by the city residents and visitors.

I would also love to see a sail like covering similar to the Limerick Milk Market and Temple Bar Square – then a town/city would have a useable multi-functional space and would facilitate gatherings and events.

I am a fan of public sculptures and believe that they should be introduced in such Public Realm spaces – as Westport did successfully.

Decent seating would be an improvement.

My recent visit to Dungarvan added another item to that wish list.

Dungarvan - Home of Ireland's First Cycle Club

Westport, Co. Mayo

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Look what they started 130 years ago

24/7/2017

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Two week ago, I had an early start for a number of meetings in Waterford. I afforded myself the luxury of a slow-ish spin home and some stops for discovering and learning – there are always new plaques and signs to be read.

The leisurely speed presented the opportunity to spot a plaque in the grounds of a GAA Club through the fields. I went exploring and learnt.

I had known that in the early years of inter-county G.A.A. matches, the county was represented by a Club – effectively similar to the All-Ireland Club Championship as is now. This had been filed away in my knowledge bank with Kildare’s white jerseys being first worn by Clane who represented Kildare in their first inter-county match.

I did not know that the first round of inter-county matches was held in 1887, 130 years ago, on this day. Ballyduff Lower represented Waterford and this plaque was erected to record the event.

I was somewhat surprised at the listing of 33 names but assumed that it related to all players who played in the county championship as well as the inter-county.

The entrance gate to the club was being painted at the time when I visited. I have no doubt that the painter was a volunteer club member. It was he who educated that teams had 21 players a side in 1887. He also said that in 1987, there was 21-a-side match between Ballyduff and Young Irelands to commemorate and record the first inter-county match.

Interesting asides from the 1887 football championship include that Kilkenny beat Cork; and, that Commercials of Limerick were the inaugural winners.

I now have another prompt not to forget my wedding anniversary.

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A Hidden Gem in Dingle

23/7/2017

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My conversational Irish weekend took me west of Dingle last April.

Saturday late afternoon had me walking around Dingle when I came across this manhole cover.

It records the raising of the Green Irish Republic flag over the G.P.O. in Easter 1916 by Eamonn Bulfin. Finola on Roaringwater Journal educated that there were actually two flags raised with Gearóid O’Sullivan’s raising the tricolour, remembered in Skibbereen.

Dingle

Skibbereen

I was intrigued as I had not seen one of its type previously, or since – and I do look out for the likes of manhole covers.

Last week, we left our holiday location for a spin over the Conor Pass to Dingle where I was hopeful of discovering more about the manhole cover. It was the first that the Tourist Office knew about the manhole cover. They suggested a visit to the library who were equally unaware.

On the off chance that it was a specially commissioned piece, I did ask at the Green Lane Gallery but they had not spotted what is near their door.

My next step was to be a visit to the Council offices on my next trip west but the internet has provided some answers.

There were manufactured by EJ Co in Birr, Co. Offaly – the former Cavanagh plant. The August 2016 edition of the Local Authority News publication advised that the commemorative covers were designed in conjunction with Siobhan Bulfin.

Twitter revealed that Kerry County Council installed one in Listowel.

I do think that such covers are a great way to record and commemorate, as well as display art – I do hope that there will be more such commemorations to be spotted under our feet.

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Rock, Paper, Scissors – Sorta

31/5/2017

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Rock Smashes Scissors.

Scissors Cuts Paper.

Paper Covers Rock.

Or in this instance, the paper has not yet been pulped and milled. It is still in timber form.
But it is doing its best to cover rock.

Hungry Tree on Constitution Hill

The garden of the Kings Inn in Dublin was a short cut to college for a few years. It was even a location of practical exercises with chains and levels when we made efforts to learn of land surveying.

Our section was to the top of the garden so I never knew of the hungry tree until a few years ago from the Secret Dublin – An Unusual Guide by Pól Ó Conghaile . It is on the ‘To Visit’ list – just to see in person.

Headstone by Seamus Murphy

Headstone by Ken Thomson

Headstone by Seamus Murphy

The North Cork Variety

Work this morning brought me to Ballyhooley and I stole a short time after the meeting to go searching for two Seamus Murphy headstones in the Church of Ireland churchyard cemetery – a Ken Thomson headstone was also spotted.

As I was leaving, I spotted something odd near a tree. It cried out for closer inspection which was given.

The yew tree is very tall. It may well fall within the technical term, ‘huge’. As it has grown, it has devoured the majority of the headstone.

All I can make out is ‘Browne’ who was either a (br)OTHER or (m)OTHER. No further information as to name, date or address has been spared by the tree.

The web reveals that there is a tree with similar taste in carved stonework in St Colmcille’s Cemetery in Swords, Co. Dublin – but overlooking the Blackwater today in Ballyhooley, it was the first time I had seen such a hungry tree.

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Cork – Down Under

26/4/2017

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Bunratty Folk Park

This may look like many other postboxes – V.R. insignia, made by H & C Smith in Cork – but it has a very unusual feature – a feature that I have not seen on any other postbox, and I have photographed over 850 boxes – new, old, disused, red, green, or many different manufacturers.

There have been more than a few blogs hereabout on various matters relating to postboxes – alternatives use; additional insignia; Queen Elizabeth; old; older; and, oldest.

This postbox, as manufactured in Cork, is likely to have seen service in Ireland. It currently resides in the Bunratty Folk Park where we spent a very pleasant and pleasurable afternoon on Easter Saturday. I do recommend a visit.

There is a second box in the village section of Bunratty – another red box; Victoria Regina; but a Penfolds postbox, similar to Skibbereen.

Bunratty Folk Park

Sbibbereen, Co. Cork

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Patrick Costelloe - from Boolteens to New Zealand

25/4/2017

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On Sunday, I was returning from my conversational Irish weekend, happy and relaxed. I decided to go along some roads not before travelled by me. I took a stroll through the cemetery at Kiltallagh, outside Castlemaine.

I met with the name of Patrick Costelloe.
I was particularly struck by the fern. To my recollection, this is the first time that I have seen a CWGC headstone with the New Zealand insignia, for someone that served in the New Zealand forces, and I have seen a few in my cemetery visits. This caused to be pause a while longer.

A tweet today from the Imperial War Museum educated that the Haka was first heard and seen by many in Europe in the fields of World War 1 when performed by New Zealand soldiers. This reminded me of Dave Gallaher.

I knew that Irishmen fought in the armies of very many different countries in World War 1. Dave Gallaher from Donegal was captain of the first All Blacks team to tour in 1905, called the Original All Blacks. He died after the Battle of Broodseinde on October 4th, 1917, shortly before his forty-fourth birthday.

Patrick Costelloe died in September 1915, less than 3 months after departing from Wellington His father was from Boolteens on the Dingle peninsula. He was born in Castlemaine and was single when he died at the age of 25 years. He is remembered on the cenotaph in Auckland.

This morning, the web advised that today is Anzac Day. It is 102 years since the Australian and New Zealand forces landing at Gallipoli. It is also the day upon which New Zealand and Australia commemorates their soldiers who were killed in war, and honours returned servicemen and women.

It has been only two days since I first learned of Patrick Costelloe. I have wondered why he travelled so far from Boolteens.

For Anzac Day, I thought I’d share his name.

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Cow’s Head

14/4/2017

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We often visit Ennis – you might have gathered that from the number of blog posts.

Our butcher of choice in Ennis is Kelly’s in The Market – absolutely lovely beef. I have been in the shop a few times a year for many years. I have walked past very much more frequently – regularly on the way to Scéal Eile.

It was only today that I noticed the fascia on the shopfront.

Maybe it is new. Maybe it has only recently been redecorated. Ot maybe those heads passed me by for so long.

Regardless of the reason why I didn’t see them before, I do like.

I think they are great.

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Stealing The Eye Out Of Your Head

13/4/2017

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Or should I say, ‘Stealing the ‘I’ from your alarm system’.

I spotted this van this morning on the way for my coffee fix.

I first wondered if ‘NTRUDER’ was a branded alarm system. Then I noted that ‘INTRUDER’ was printed elsewhere on the vehicle.

I walked on smiling in admiration at the person who stole from a security company.

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Going, Going, Gone

11/4/2017

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I took this photograph at lunchtime today, 11th April.

I was somewhat puzzled at the message on what was obviously a vacated premises.

It appears that the ‘move’ has already started – but may not be finished with new premises.

Is ‘will re-open at new premises on 25th April’ more correct.

Does ‘We are moving’ not have a connotation that they will be remaining until that date, 25th April?

Maybe I need to learn all of the possible uses of the verb, ‘move’.

Maybe, just like ‘Hearing’, it is an advanced notice.

Or maybe I need to learn to ignore some signs…..

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Ghost of My Past

5/4/2017

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In the early 1980’s, the Grosvenor Bar was a regular haunt for those in my final years of school – a time before strict i.d. for underage drinking.

I took to alcohol later in life so was only in the Grosvenor on a small few occasions but its name, and particularly the silent ‘s’, are part of my history.

The Archive magazine has a piece where the owner of the Grosvenor said that the gardens of the Trinity Presbyterian Church were used for overnight grazing by drovers (p23).

For many years now, Brú Bar & Hostel has operated from the premises with a white frontage.

But driving home this evening, MacCurtain St brought me back thirty-plus years as the ghost of The Grosvenor Bar has reappeared.

It is probably beyond hope that the will retain this ghost……

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X marks the spot – but not as Gaeilge

2/4/2017

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It is probably a question better suited to a high stool than a Table Quiz.

‘How many letters in the Irish alphabet?’ can provoke debate as to whether ‘á’ is a different letter to ‘a’; whether ‘ċ’ is a different letter to ‘ch’; and, they are before one gets to the incorporation of new words such as ‘X-gatháim’ and‘vacsaín’.

The Irish Grammar Book advises that the Irish language comprises 18 letters. The remaining 8 – j k q v w x y z – ‘are sometimes used in foreign loan words or in mathematical or scientific terminology’.

I have recently been cataloguing the thousands of streetname signs that I have photographed. I smiled at this one in the St. Luke’s Cross area of Cork.

The ‘x’ jumped out at me immediately – an ‘x’ in the Gaelic script.

The dimensions of the letter ‘x’ do look different to the rest. Maybe the signmaker was a Gaelgóir and wanted to point out the abuse of the Irish alphabet – to my eyes he succeeded.

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MIXED MESSAGES.

Headless in the Glen of The Wedge

A Graveyard Clown

Two Firsts

Registered????

UPDATE 2017.08.17

Dungarvan - Take A Bow

Look what they started 130 years ago

A Hidden Gem in Dingle

Rock, Paper, Scissors – Sorta

Hungry Tree on Constitution Hill

The North Cork Variety

Cork – Down Under

Patrick Costelloe - from Boolteens to New Zealand

Cow’s Head

Stealing The Eye Out Of Your Head

Going, Going, Gone

Ghost of My Past

X marks the spot – but not as Gaeilge

Author

Archives

Categories

Blogs I Read & Links

MIXED MESSAGES.

​UPDATE 2017.08.17

Hungry Tree on Constitution Hill

​The North Cork Variety

Author

Archives

Categories

Blogs I Read & Links

UPDATE 2017.08.17

The North Cork Variety