Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

Search the site

More Full, Fuller – or neither.

31/3/2016

This sign recently caused me to stop in the middle of Winthrop Street.

I mentally read the poster aloud to myself and was not comfortable with the word ‘fuller’. It did not sound correct. It did not sit well.

My thought at the time was that ‘more full’ sounded better. My Eureka moment came, putting that thought firmly in its box, when I read an online discussion.

I totally agreed that ‘full’ was like ‘dead’, an absolute condition - not a relative position.

Just as one cannot be more dead than another, how can something be more full? ‘Nearer full’, maybe. But not ‘fuller’.

But fuller is in MacMillan, in relation to ‘a fuller figure’ and Chambers. Microsoft Word suggests that I should use ‘deader’ than ‘more dead’ above.

That quote included in an earlier blog - “Words are in dictionaries because they exist – they do not exist because they are in dictionaries” Máire Nic Mhaoláin – once again may be appropriate.

Another expression that came to mind was one regularly used by GOM, ‘There’s nowt as queer as folk’. ‘Deader’ and ‘fuller’ may make absolutely no sense to one like me who is guided by logic, but their use by those folk has the words now included in dictionaries.

St Brigid's Well, Kildimo

30/3/2016

There are benefits to being the designated driver – not many, but some.

With the rest of the house still in a slumber fuelled by drinking into the early hours, I was up and out in the Limerick countryside early on a bright sharp Saturday morning. The rural location and time of day conspired to restrict the number of other road users that I came across to just one.

We had passed the sign to St. Brigit’s Well on a few occasions when travelling to friends, but we had never stopped and paid a visit. That box was ticked firmly that Saturday, just me and nature.

The Well is a bit of a walk from the road – up and over the field; down a wooded passageway beyond the electric fence; across another field; then another glade opens up to reveal the Well site. The site is enclosed by a stone wall with a solitary gate. The well itself has a concrete surround with the statue above.

There is an old donation box in the wall which appears to be rusted shut. There were a small few memorial cards adjacent to the statue – nowhere near the amount left with St Bridget in Co Clare.

There are two Rag Trees, one adjacent to the well; the other on the final wooded pathway before the Well site.

Driving away, I spotted that there was a Lenten Walk later that day, including a visit to the well. As we were making our way home that morning, we spotted some on the walk and it brought some thoughts to the fore.

The walk organisers had arranged for Stations of the Cross along the route for the participants.

There were quite a few walkers that morning – more than one might observe leaving a city church after a Saturday morning mass.

With Pilgrim Walks and Pattern Days, I do think that any increase in catholic religious observance may involve old traditions – but this agnostic may not be the best judge of such matters.

Even with my religious persuasion, a very pleasant twenty minutes were enjoyed that morning.

A bit of Kerry long ago – in Cork

29/3/2016

A while back, I was travelling the roads around Kilmichael and Inchigeela. Taking a road new to me, I ended up in Johnstown.

There is not much more than the Cill Eanna Bar in Johnstown. I did not even spot a postbox – and I was looking.

The Cill Eanna Bar did cause me to stop and exit the car – the Murphy’s Stout advert to be more precise.

The words on the advertisement sign did read like an extract from a poem and went on the mental ‘To Find Out More’ list.

Earlier today, it was struck off that list when I learnt that it is from a folk song, ‘In Kerry Long Ago’. Listening to the song on YouTube, I suspected that I had heard it before but could not, with any certainty, remember where or when.

Why this particular song is on the wall of a pub in Co. Cork, I do not know. This query has now gone onto that ‘To Find Out More’ list. It may only be answered over a pint at the Cill Eanna – as if an excuse was needed.

God Be With You Kerry
O God be with you, Kerry,
When in childhood we were merry!
When we'd hear the fiddler tuning up
and resining the bow.
At the crossroads we'd be dancing,
And our colleens shyly glancing,
Just like their dads and mothers did
In Kerry long ago.

Now my heart is sad and weary,
Still in dreams I see my Mary,
With her golden tresses flying - on her
checks a rosy glow!
In her joy I hear her singing,
While Bill ? alpin's fiddle ringing
As he played The Stack at Barley,
Down in Kerry long ago.

We'd go down to Mary's dairy,
And our feet so light and airy.
At the churn we'd take our turn,
'till the butter would overflow.
Then to the kitchen we'd retire,
And pick out the biggest liar,

Just to tell us `fairy stories'
of Kerry long ago.
Then we'd stroll home in the moonlight,
And the colleens' waists we'd hug tight,
Just to save them from the fairies in the
Raheen' down below.
Then we'd say 'good-night' and kiss them;
We'd go home and pray; God bless them,
The sweethearts of our boyhood days
in Kerry long ago.
Irish Folk Songs.com

Side Question:

Why Cill Eanna, Church of Eanna/Enda, in Johnstown, Cill Sheanaigh? Another without an answer.

Dereliction Art on Dock Road

28/3/2016

Limerick city, I believe, dealt with the decay of the Celtic Corpse better than Cork in that they used a number of derelict sites as opportunities for art.

I was on the Dock Road a few weeks back and noted that a large site is as yet undeveloped.

I remain firm in the belief that if the local authorities had exercised compulsory purchase on derelict sites and then sell on at auction, it would have had the effect of setting a new base price and allow developers to purchase at a viable base price. Instead, we had banks and receivers holding on to property waiting for an upturn in prices while keeping a visual blackspot intact.

I did stop to view the artwork and did like a few of them.

But sometimes streetart is not enough to cover up inaction and the mind wanders back to the extent of dereliction in Cork and the inertia of Cork City Council in dealing with the disrespect shown to the city.

That bright early Saturday morning, I did not leave the site uplifted and happy.

Home Farm Stores

27/3/2016

To many, or even to all but very few, this building on Leitrim Street might appear to be an old shop where the signage has been painted over.

I was walking past last month and the light was such as to help make out the ghost that was lurking behind the numerous coats of bright white oil paint.

John Spillane’s album, The Man Who Came in from The Dark, is regularly played in our car. Our nine year old has the words of The Sirius and others learnt off at this stage.

My own favourite is Prince’s Street where John Spillane and Cónal Creedon combine. On Cónal’s grandad’s scove from Blackpool into town, ‘he’d know then he was on the right track so he put his hands into the pockets and whistle, whistle all the way from Poulraddy Harbour to Home Farm Stores, eyes wide shut.’

Youtube only has the two separate components. The combined effect is well worth the purchase.

The Home Farm Stores may have closed down many years ago but it is still there in word and song – and as a ghost that can be viewed in a certain light.

Go on. Take a stroll past to spot the ghost.

Coburg Lane - Again

26/3/2016

A while back, I posted a blog with the street art on Coburg Lane.

Recently, I paid a return visit and noted that new paintings were in place – as good a reason as any for a blog post.

Robert Emmet by Jerome Connor

25/3/2016

A few years ago this would just have been another statue on display in St. Stephen’s Green.

Having learnt from signs about the sculptor Jerome Connor from Annascaul, Co. Kerry and a small bit about Robert Emmet, I did appreciate the sculpture a small bit more.

It was made 100 years ago – obviously the Easter Rising was not the only thing that happened that year.

The few minutes in St Stephen’s Green yesterday looking and touching did allow the centenary overload to be forgotten for just a while.

Industry and Commerce – Looking Up

24/3/2016

For Christmas, I received a copy of Séamus Murphy, Sculptor – a lovely book with details of the work of Séamus Murphy. I realised that I had photographed many of the headstones and sculptures already. They had been the source of quite a few blog posts already.

The book is now being used as a route map to photograph the work on public display that I have not yet photographed – expect a dedicated Séamus Murphy section soon.

The book includes photographs of designs by Séamus Murphy from 1941 for a competition for the then proposed Dept. of Industry & Commerce building on Kildare Street. The designs were shortlisted.

In Dublin earlier, I walked along Kildare Street to appreciate the winning design by Gabriel Hayes.

I left wondering why modern buildings do not incorporate sculpture or other art. There are very few that I can remember in recent buildings.

I hope that there will be more – curtain walling glazing could do with something else for variety.

Suit's - Made to Order with a Rogue Apostrophe

23/3/2016

I hadn’t spotted a flying apostrophe for a while.

A walk up Shandon Street recently confirmed that they are still around – they have not gone away are not likely to do so for some time.

Irishmen and Irishwomen, Welcome to Paradise

22/3/2016

This street art is on Liberty Street in Cork – looking onto Paradise Place.

I took some photographs prior to it being completed and some more when finished.

With the Proclamation centenary celebrations so much in the news, I thought I’d share the reference to Irishmen and Irishwomen.

The artist Peter Martin also did the glass installation at The Sextant and the street art at Market Avenue – well done that man.

Some More Utility Boxes

21/3/2016

A couple more decorated Utility Boxes that I have spotted on my recent travels – from Limerick and Dublin.

I hope that there will be a time when they are obliged to be decorated.

I cannot recall more than one decorated utility box (Stay Sharp) that was damaged or subject to graffiti whereas nearly all decorated boxes have graffiti.

Dublin Canvas is seeking proposals for boxes in Dublin – hopefully other cities can follow.

Sparkling Shoes on a Wire

20/3/2016

We purchased this photograph in the George’s Street Arcade when in Dublin last month.

Leaving the Arcade, we spotted these bright glittery high heels over the wire on Castle Market. This co-incidence made us even happier with our purchase.

When a friend saw the photograph, we were educated as to the presence of shoes on a wire signifying a place where drugs are sold. This was confirmed by the internet – which also advised as to many other reasons. Once again, still learning.

TheJournal.ie educated as to these particular shoes – to encourage people to look up.

I still like the image and colours in the photograph.

What is a Window?

19/3/2016

This blog is further proof that I am still learning – every day – or maybe sometimes remembering.

I spotted this sign on the window of Next and immediately thought that the glass and frame were unlikely to be changed but that the window display was likely to be changed – so why use ‘window’ and not ‘display’?

My mind set off quickly in so many different directions as to the possible format of the blog until it hit the wall of MacMillan dictionary and a certain doggie.

MacMillan includes as one of the definitions for window ‘a similar frame in a shop, used especially for showing goods to the public’ and cites an example of ‘What size are those shoes in the window?’

As the shoes are not within the pane of glass held in the frame, it does imply that the inner side of the glass used for display purposes is now considered part of the window.

Collins Dictionary includes a definition of ‘the display space in and directly behind a shop window.’ Chambers Dictionary similarly includes ‘the area immediately behind a shop's window, in which goods on sale are displayed.’

If I that doggie and his price tag had come to mind when I spotted the message, my mind would not have even started off on blog mode and I would not have had to put up this post…..

Using Roller Shutter as a Canvas

18/3/2016

A while back, I spotted a tweet about the new roller shutter at Broderick’s Pharmacy on Barrack Street.

I had to go and take a photograph myself.

I think that I prefer the painted shutter of Vikki’s but I do very much like the printed shutter at Broderick’s.

It is such an improvement on the dark and cold streetscape created by roller shutters.

Would it not be good if the local authorities insisted that each and every roller shutter was treated as an art canvas and the artwork had to be submitted for approval?

More Extentions

17/3/2016

This is not the first time, or even the second time, that the word ‘extention’ has made an appearance on the blog.

It has not yet made an appearance into the MacMillan Dictionary, Collins Dictionary or Chambers Dictionary.

Maybe I have come across a campaign by Irish builders for the inclusion of the word ‘extention’ in the dictionaries as an alternative to ‘extension’ – or maybe not……