Reading the Signs - Blog

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Numbers - Queens is the Clear Winner

2/4/2020

For some time, I have been photographing specially made house numbers. They are generally of tiles or moulded plaster. Some tile-types have been used at a number of developments but many of these developments have a numbering system that is bespoke and unique to them – a record of a time when it was nice to be different.

A while back, I spotted some buildings on College, generally owned by U.C.C. where the numbers were stuck to the glass fanlight which I had not previously spotted on my search.

But U.C.C.’s numbers paled into into total insignificance when I spotted the fanlights at University Square in Belfast – the gold standard in unique door numbers has been set.

Remembering A Private Census – Cobblers

1/4/2020

In Goreybridge in Wexford, between 1862 and 1867, the landlord’s agent kept detailed records of the occupants of the dwellings, names, ages, relationship to tenant, occupation – all of which are recorded on the modern census.

I learned of this from Dr. Rachel Murphy in January when I attended the Irish Modern Urban History Group Symposium in Limerick, when she spoke on ‘The Goreybridge Censuses, 1862-7’. A significant proportion of the houses were occupied by one trade, Cobblers (if I remember correctly). There were only a small number of houses – 13-15 from memory – but shoemaking/cobblers was the trade of quite a number of houses, making the percentage significant.

I was in Belfast a few weeks later and spotted this plaque on a modern building on North St. This is definitely my type of plaque – small history, local information. A visit to census information is calling out to me as to whether the Belfast shoe-makes on North St were shops or whether they lived there too. A 2m distant conversation with my father is also calling to discuss whether others who worked with his father in the Lee Boot Co lived near him growing up – whether there was, decades later, a tradition of living near you work/trade colleagues.

If I only took better notes on the Goreybridge talk, I might be better placed to join some dots ……

A Right To Protest

31/3/2020

Over the past couple of days, I have spotted a number of graffiti and stencil messages around the city suggesting disobeying the guidelines on Covid 19 – at least that is my reading of them.

If I had a choice of not entering a room and staying alive, or entering a room in which 6 of the 100 people would die, I am happy to avoid the room.

Just because it is the government doesn’t make it objectionable all of the time

Remembering Those Of This Community

30/3/2020

Last Summer, on a trip to The Maharees of the Dingle peninsula, I spotted a plaque the likes of which I had not seen before – a plaque listing and remembering those of the locality who left for farms elsewhere as part of the Irish Land Commission.

It might answer the question as to why the Shally family moved to Tulsk – an investigation for another day.

Fahamore, Maharees, Co. Kerry

Williamstown, Co. Galway

Behold - the Conjun Box

29/3/2020

I blogged some years back about the conjun-box which was a connection between my grandfather and each of his early crop of grandchildren – he being the guardian on our bank accounts and who would bring us to the Cork Savings Bank for our box to be opened and monies transferred into our account.

Last November, there was a box-lot at Woodwards auction. I was tempted but there were too many other things to drive the price up.

The remote for the car acted up over Christmas and I ended up at ADM Locksmiths on Tramore where a conjun-box is on display. The owner, Morgan, told me that the conjun-box was his and that his interest in locks and his career as locksmith started when trying to pick the conjun-box open – a feat successfully completed.

Oh! Where I might be now if I had preserved with my efforts.

Woodwards Auction - Lot 3 - Nov 2019

Woody

28/3/2020

Another blog post inspired by the builders’ vans on Prince’s Street a few months back.

The attachment to the rear bumper caused a smile as I walked past.

It demanded a few minutes of escapism when filing away my photographs now.

Enjoy……..

Legs Eleven

27/3/2020

A smile came upon my face driving through Ballyphehane a while back.

I really like the house number sign.

It brought me back many years to when it was a treat to be allowed go with my grandfather to the Bingo at The Barrs. Grandad was one of the callers, so I was given a few cards and allowed play. Keys of the Door and Two Fat Ladies were first imprinted on my mind in the hall of St Finbarr’s Hurling & Football Club on a Friday night before we got the special Bingo bus home.

The whistles that accompanied Legs Eleven made it even more impressive, more deserving of questions seeking explanation over milk and biscuits when safely back in St. Brigid’s St on a Friday night.

I don’t know how long the number sign has been on the house but it brought me back decades.

Know Your Market

26/3/2020

Better Painted by Kerry Painters

This by-line, catchphrase or ‘Unique Selling Point’ may well work in Co. Kerry.

I spotted the van last October on Prince’s Street in Cork.

I suspect that the branding message did not result in many enquiries from the locals, but maybe that is just me.

Valued Valuables

21/3/2020

A tweet this morning from Stan Carey on the matter of eggcorns prompted a return to the blog. Samples of eggcorns that he cites include ‘hare’s breath’ and ‘mute point’. His full blog article can be enjoyed HERE.

I spotted this sign on Opera Lane earlier and was wondering if marketing had yielded to an openness that primarily considered the customers' money extracting potential – but may be it is an eggcorn.

Or maybe both.

Killed – Not Guilty

16/1/2020

Following on yesterday blog about Breda O’Connell who died when struck by a car and whose headstone includes the words ‘Killed In Athlunkard St.’, I spent some time searching.

The internet revealed that Patrick Manifold of Anne Street, Limerick was in a motor accident on the way to Shannon Airport on 2nd June, just eight weeks earlier, but this was not mentioned in reports on the inquest. The Cork Examiner of 6 August reported on the case at Ennis District Court where Patrick Manifold of the same address was on trial for dangerous driving, where he was fined £3.

Killed By Motor Car

15/1/2020

‘Kill’ is not a word that I have often seen on a headstone. A word like that does prompt the inquisitiveness in me.

This headstone at Kilmurry, Limerick did intrigue. The internet, and Limerick City Library, provided some information that Breda O’Connell died after being struck by a motor car driven by Patrick William Manifold on Athlunkard Street, Limerick. The inquest believed that Mr Manifold was unfit to drive. Mr Manifold was returned for trial but my web searching will need to improve to try and find the outcome of that hearing.

Whiddy - Remembering The Victims Whose Names Are Known To God Alone

15/1/2020

Last week was the anniversary of the Betelgeuse disaster on Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay. There were a number of tweets reminding of the 51 who died in 1979. I remember that my mother wanted to drive down to Bantry and see what was being shown on the television. The young me thought that wish very odd. The current me is disappointed that she didn’t get there and bring us with her.

In 2018, I visited Bantry graveyard and was well impressed by the monument designed by a J. L. Fontaine, who does not appear on a web search.

I had not realised that two victims were unnamed.

Margaret Jones d. 29.12.1870

29/12/2019

Another from my visit to the cemetery at Aghada in East Cork. The headstone to Margaret Jones who died aged just 20, on this day 149 years ago did cause me to stop, ponder and leave with some thoughts and queries.

The engraving has stood up a lot better than others that I have seen.

What does 21st Co. R.E. mean? My best would might be 21st Company Royal Engineers.

The spacing of the engraver with regard to YEAᴿˢ.

The apparent expectation of remarrying – How Few Her Equal Shall I Find.

I suppose the world of any period is frail to any bereaved.

Sacred
To
The Memory
Of
MARGARET JONES
The Beloved Wife Of
J. F. JONES 21st Co. R E Who
Departed This Life
29th Dec. 1870 Aged 20 Years

I Mourn Her Loss.
The Fond. The Kind.
How Few Her Equal Shall I Find
In This Frail World Today.

Conversations From Calais

27/12/2019

Over the past few weeks I have spotted a few small posters stuck up around the city. Many did not survive very long as if someone tried to take them down.

Twitter educated that some similar posters appeared in London.

Definitely are messages to stop and make one think.

How Soon Thy Self Must Like Me Be

26/12/2019

Whoeer Thou Art That Comst This
Way. Pray For Me. O Dear r Prayyr.
How Soon Thy Self Must Like Me
Be. Think And How Late I Was
Like Thee.

I have spotted this sentiment before on headstones but I think this must be the earliest.

John Verling rests at Aghada Cemetery in East Cork and died in 1734.