Blog Archives

Colour Blind in Irish

14/2/2015

Does Blue = Black = Yellow = Orange?

Blackboy Road, Limerick - An Bealach Buí ( The Yellow Way)

Boherbue, Co. Cork - An Bóthar Buí (The Yellow Road)

“When I'm born I'm black, when I grow up I'm black, when I'm in the sun I'm black, when I'm sick I'm black, when I die I'm black, and you... when you're born you're pink, when you grow up you're white, when you're cold you're blue, when you're sick you're blue, when you die you're green and you dare call me colored"― Oglala Lakota”

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Liam Whelan - Munich Air Disaster

13/2/2015

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Last week, both Myles and Stair na hÉireann reminded as to the Munich Air Disaster on 6th February, 1958.

When in Dublin on Monday, I took a trip to the Liam Whelan Bridge.

On my way home, I was contemplating that there were quite a few memorial plaques that I have come across to air crashes and their victims - and I haven't photographed Ahakista - yet.

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Artist at Work

13/2/2015

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When in Portobello on Monday, I took some photographs of the street art on display.

I have taken photographs of street art in many different locations at many different times. It was the first time that I was able to observe the artist at work.

Well done that man.

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Drishanebeg

11/2/2015

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Another blog prompted by the daily update from Stair na hÉireann.

During the Summer, I spotted this plaque outside Millstreet on the road to Mallow. I assumed it to be an ambush of road vehicles. I now know it was an ambush of a train.

It happened 94 years ago.

“To carry out this operation, a number of
Volunteers armed with revolvers waited at
Millstreet Station to board any East bound train
on which a certain number of armed military
might be travelling and get the engine driver to
signal and stop at the appointed place. Other
Volunteers, all armed, had positions taken up at
Rathcoole Station to deal with any West bound
trains.

Two of the men from Rathcoole travelled
each evening to the next station, Banteer, in
order to make observations and return in the
train to Rathcoole. It was a West-bound train
which was eventually boarded and ambushed.
The train, or to be correct, its engine was
boarded by two Volunteers - Jack O'Keeffe
and Dan Coakley - at Rathcoole Station which
is about 3 miles East of the selected ambush
position. These men, with their revolvers,
informed the engine driver that he was to carry
out their instructions or his life was forfeit.

Acting on these instructions the driver
blew a whistle blast about a mile from the
ambush position and the ambush party then
placed a lighted carbide cycle lamp between the
rails at the point selected to have the engine
stopped.

The engine overshot this mark by about
10 yards and the ambushers on each side of the
embankments (the position was in what is
known as a cutting) had to readjust their
positions accordingly.

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For Good People in Hard Times

10/2/2015

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Ian’s blog introduced me to this street art installation.

Yesterday, on my trip to Dublin, I stole some me-time and headed for Richmond Street/Richmond Place to photograph this myself.

So simple but so effective.

I have complimented all on the installation at Singer’s Corner but there are so many other deteriorated corners that could do with a facelift as simple as a few words to lift spirits and pose some thought.

Times are still hard so any feelgood time is to be encouraged.

“Seamus Heaney's last words 'Noli timere' – 'Don't be afraid.'
Painted this for Good people in Hard times. — with Natasha Copeland, Ramiro Ropero Morell, Mariana Morell Navarro, Viva and Gareth Kelly at South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.”
MaserArt

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There's Life Before Us......

9/2/2015

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The daily update from Stair na hÉirinn arrived when I was travelling to Dublin this morning.

It prompted me to take time out at the Royal Canal in Drumcondra to appreciate the sculpture of Brendan Behan who was born today in 1923.

I think that Niall Toibin in the Borstal Boy must have been one of the very first plays, as opposed to pantomimes, that I saw in Cork Opera House. The quote from Gearóid Cheast’s book will long live on tap in my memory. Two more reasons for the time-out.

I very much like the sculpture – the facial features and the bird. I really liked the engraving of quotes into the seat – but I am a sucker for a sculpted seat.

Thank you, John Coll.

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'A Grand Lad'

8/2/2015

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I have photographed over 70 Civil War and War of Independence plaques and monuments in Co. Cork alone so far. I definitely need to allocate some time to uploading them soon before the number increases beyond achievable levels

This monument is outside Mallow – in Glantane.

It was another monument. It had names of people who I did not know of previously.

Then today, I was reading in the Holly Bough, an article by Patrick O’Sullivan about Dan Kiely, Michael’s father. Dan married Annie late in life and Michael was their only son who died aged eighteen when Crown Forces raided a farmhouse in which he was taking refuge in the townland of Inchemay.

He is no longer just a name written in stone.

“At Michael’s funeral, your mother and I stood in the crowd behind Annie and Dan Kiely as they hunched over the bitter grave, racked by stifling grief. When the prayers were said and the flowers placed over the brown earth, Dan raised his head, just as he did today and said gently ‘Thank you all for honouring Michael on this sad day. He was a grand lad, our Michael. Maybe he wanted to die a Fenian hero.’

Then, putting his arm around Annie’s slender shoulders Dan added ‘We’re going home now. We will be all right. We have given our only son for Ireland’.”

An Irish Medley, Memories of Home And Abroad – Patrick O’Sullivan

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Ennis Waterfall

7/2/2015

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I spotted this wall art, close to the Tourist Office, when in Ennis some time ago.

I liked.

I still like.

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Becoming A Postman

6/2/2015

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Postcard by slow mail

My brother went to the Galapagos Islands last year on his holidays. When he returned home at Christmas, he had a postcard which he asked us to deliver, which we hope to do over the next week.

I had, until then, not heard of Post Office Bay. I had definitely never heard of the eighteenth century tradition still continuing whereby one leaves one’s mail in a barrel and it is then picked up by a sailor (or now tourist) returning home.

The postcard has taken at least six months to get to Mountshannon, Co. Clare but hopefully it will get there safe and sound - soon.

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For Those You Mind Children

5/2/2015

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Paediatric First Aid for those you mind children

There I was enjoying my coffee the other morning. For some distraction, I read through the leaflet of Evening Classes commencing soon at Mallow College of Further Education.

I did not see any course for proofreading – I suspect that there is at least one possible candidate for such a course.

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Don’t Argue with the Person Holding the Razor

4/2/2015

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MacCurtain Street, Cork

I went for a head shave earlier.

The days of haircuts are now in the past. Haircuts have an implication that one has a choice of style and extent. Now, my only choice is a number – 0, half, or one.

I did spot the anomaly in the pricing between the window sign and the hanging sign before I entered but decided it probably better not to say anything at the time.

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A Nod to Royalty

3/2/2015

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This policy of looking up is proving to be rather productive.

Yesterday, I came across this hopper on the former offices of The Cork Examiner/Irish Examiner, now the Opera Lane Apartments.

Not alone do the hoppers note a date (presumably of the completion of the building) but also bears recognition to the King, Edward VII.

Having attended some talks at local Historical Societies, there has sometimes been comment as to the anti-Republican commentary in the Cork Examiner at the time of the War of Independence. There has been some counter argument that Victoria Barracks (as then, now Collins Barracks) had some veto on publication.

The hopper may provide some assistance to argument for one side of that debate.

Regardless, it is a nice hopper.

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Munster & Leinster Bank - 1912

2/2/2015

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This blog started two years ago. That is two years of looking at signs and buildings in Cork.

On Friday, I learnt again that there can be messages or information in odd locations – yet another hopper with a message.

I am still learning.

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Queen Elizabeth II of East Cork

1/2/2015

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There definitely seems something odd in Shanagarry.

The accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne was on 6th February 1952. Thirty years previously, on 16th January, 1922, Michael Collins accepted control of Ireland at Dublin Castle.

Last year, I learnt of the difference between ER and ER II on post boxes – ER II referring to Queen Elizabeth II of England & Wales. It now appears that this jurisdiction may extend to a part of East Cork – the former home of the 1st Cork Brigade of the I.R.A. in the War of Independence.

I can understand, and fully welcome, the retention of the old post boxes bearing the insignia of Victoria, George and Edward VII – they stand as a record of a time past. However, I cannot come up with any logical reason for the existence of an ER II post box in Shanagarry.

Think of the number of hands that must have touched it – from its original delivery from Scotland; its first, and many subsequent, coats of green paint; and, its opening every weekday. Did anyone pause to read what it said? – or maybe they thought it might be a good trick.

I’m afraid that I have only questions – searching for answers has to go onto my To Do List.