Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Coburg St. - Again

15/4/2013

I wrote recently about the strange translation of Coburg St – Sraid Ui hUigin

Those who are responsible for the walking circuits of Cork with the various routes and information boards obviously are unhappy with the translation and have tried to create a new one.

More reason to not translate people’s names.

Heineken

15/4/2013

Leitrim St

I note that the sign on Heineken Brewery (still known hereabouts as Murphy Brewery) had changed.

I wondered if Heineken had changed the brand and what this would involve with all the glasses, bottles, beer taps, and many others covered with the Heineken star. Even the possibility of rugby teams who have won European Cup would have to change the star shape over their crest.

But the web revealed that the star on the lager has not changed. Heineken have decided seemingly to differentiate between ‘Heineken – the lager’ and ‘Heineken – the corporate brand that owns more than the lager’

I would have thought a change of name for the holding company might have done that with less confusion – but what would I know…….

Spot the Gentleman?

14/4/2013

Leitrim St

So it is a Gentleman’s Club.

Is there a competition every night to spot the one gentleman in the establishment and determine appropriate titles for remainder of the patrons?

Or, is it that the owner considers himself to be a gentleman – above others?

Or is it that they only permit one person to enter at a time?

Or maybe I should stop taking signs so literally……

Junk Mail

12/4/2013

Margaret St

Douglas St

.
.

Bridge St

I remember some years ago being surprised when told by someone working in newspaper advertising sales that the advertising leaflets inserted in newspapers were proven to be a good return for the advertiser compared to other forms. Me, I find them as litter – even more unwelcome due to the fact that they regularly fall out.

A friend of mine, when buying his weekend paper, will regularly leave those sections that he never reads behind in the shop rather than clog up his recycling bin. I suppose I might try that in Easons with the advertising inserts.

One afternoon recently, I noted a lot of letterboxes with messages of no junk mail. I thought it would be better if the standard were that any house would need to have a sign permitting junk mail. I still wait for a T.D. to propose that any unsolicited mail or mail simply addressed to the occupier/resident was litter and so an offence. That T.D. would be sure of my vote.

One can register with Irish Direct Marketing Association to ensure no unsolicited direct marketing is delivered. But that will not cover non-personally-addressed leaflets/envelopes. Neither does it cover the local take-away.

I liked the suggestion to return junk mail in any prepaid addressed envelope.

Oh to see the end of the litter of advertising leaflets

Riddle

11/4/2013

There are seven (or eight) colours mentioned in names of thoroughfares in Cork City. What are they?

Our Lady's Well

10/4/2013

Leitrim St

"OUR LADY’S WELL

The Well can be Traced in Old Maps and Records for over 300 Years and Possibly had its Origin in Early Christian Cork. There is a Record of a very large Pilgrimage to the Site in 1748. Following Upon the Restoration of the Shrine by Employees of Murphy’s Brewery, Mass was Concelebrated by the Right Rev. Mgr. Deane J. Bastible P.P., D.D., V.C. and Rev Vincent Daly C.C. May 1981"

This plaque is located behind a pedestrian gate on Leitrim St. opposite entrance to Murphy’s Brewery/Heineken. The gate is locked and the steps up to the shrine are very overgrown with weeds.

Soon after photographing the plaque some weeks ago, I spotted a blog on Liminal Entwinings about the well which is accessed from Richmond Hill. The well is also in a poor state of repair and generally untended.

With the current anti-clerical and anti-religious sentiment, I’m not sure any organisation would now like to be associated with repairing or upgrading a Holy Well.

A pity that it has been allowed to fall into such a state.

Harrington Square

9/4/2013

Near Dillon's Cross

Another riddle for me.

It did look wrong to me. A friend called Harrington confirmed that the translation of his name was O hArractain. He had heard of mid-Cork translations to O’hUrdaill, which did lead to an interesting blog which has many variations on translation for Harrington.

That page explains a term I heard for the first time only recently -“cliamhain isteach”

However, no luck on Urdalaigh

UPDATE 20130409

Cork City Council library site has translation of all Cork streets and they have:

Harrington Square Cearnóg Uí Arrachtáin

Google Maps has a further different translation:

Cearnóg Uí Úrdail

So much for consistency…..

UPDATE 20130411

For some reason Harrington Row, which is opposite Harrington Square on Ballyhooley Road has a different translation.

Poop

8/4/2013

ENNIS TOWN COUNCIL

Formation of panel of temporary Dog Wardens

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for inclusion on the above panel from which temporary vacancies may be filled during the life of the panel.

Applicants must:

•Demonstrate experience and expertise in the assessment of dog poop in terms of odour, viscosity, colour and overall size so as to determine which maximum fine is to be imposed.

•Have a good standard of general education including ability to converse with dogs not on leads and impose appropriate fines.

•Have a level of Irish language to be able to communicate fine to Irish-speaking dogs

•Have good mental arithmetic to be able to calculate change to be given upon payment of a fine.

•Demonstrate good levels of fitness to be able to catch and fine dogs not on leads.

Applicants should note that in the event of a large volume of applications being received, desktop short listing will take place based on the type, length and relevance of dog lead in applicant’s possession.

Completed applications must be lodged not later than 4:00 p.m. on 1st April, 2014

Butter Exchange Brass & Reed Band

7/4/2013

John Redmond St

Staying Sharp

7/4/2013

Leitrim St / Link Road junction

Seamus Murphy - Dog Water Trough

5/4/2013

St. Patrick's St

It is so true that we can regularly pass something and take absolutely no notice of it whatsoever. We know it is there from having observed previously but we are looking ahead or are on telephone and so not taking it in.

Last week, I walked past the dog water trough and thought – ‘I had forgotten about that’.

Yesterday I was leafing through Tom Spalding’s book in the library and noted the paragraph below.

Last night, I was in Henchy’s Bar at St. Luke’s Cross and noted framed pictures of Seamus Murphy – one of him actually in Henchy’s.

I hadn’t planned doing a blog on the word ‘Madrai’ or on Seamus Murphy but the extent of coincidences compelled it.

“Seamus Murphy R.H.A.

Seamus Murphy (1907 – 1975) is easily the best-known Cork sculptor of the 20th Century. He is responsible for much public sculpture throughout the city, as well as the design of Blackpool Church. Apart for the main works he undertook private commissions. One of these is a notable, but generally overlooked, drinking trough set into the base of the shopfront of 124 St. Patrick’s Street. This little limestone trough was commissioned during the 1950s by Mr Knolly Stokes, owner of the Old Bridge Restaurant. Mr Stokes was a dog lover and arranged for a staff member to clean and re-fill the drinking trough each morning. It is said that he asked Murphy whether all of his dog-owning customers would understand the Irish for ‘dogs’, so crisply carved into it. Murphy is reputed to have said that whether the owners were bilingual or not, he was sure the dogs would be able to cope with Gaelige. After the restaurant was sold in the 1970s, Mr Stokes stipulated that the trough become the property of Cork Corporation, but sadly, no one now fills the trough with drinking water for the doggy denizens of the city.”

Cork City A Field Guide to its Street Furniture – Tom Spalding (available Liam Russell’s)

Rev Thomas Dix Hincks

5/4/2013

Princes St

I have been thinking as to why and what.

My best guess as to WHAT is:
??V?ENT of FORMER PRESBYTRY

but that does not make much sense

If the first word is ??V??NT which looks very possible the Crossword Solver is suggesting DEVIANT as only possible answer. On that basis, I suspect it is not ??V??NT.

As to WHY, it looks to neat and deliberate to be vandalism. Maybe it was incorrect. Maybe just misspelt.

It remains a riddle.

Kimex - Own Goal?

4/4/2013

“Goal

noun

1.the aim or object towards which an endeavour is directed”

Collins Dictionary

If there is a goal, aim or objective, is there not an inference that the goal or objective has not yet been achieved?

If so 'Quality Food' is not the current standard.

Pamela Scott is Irish

2/4/2013

O'Connell St., Ennis

I like this.

I am one who has made a conscious decision to try to purchase groceries at Irish owned supermarkets (Musgraves, Dunnes) rather than non-Irish owned (Tesco). The owners of the supermarkets may well decide to spend overseas but, to me, there is a greater chance of the money recirculating in Ireland and locally.

It will have a minute effect but I am noticing too many small local-owned shops closing down. The effect on the streetscape is so depressing. The likes of Opera Lane with its chain store shops could be any city anywhere. No individuality or reference to location.

I will still visit the discount supermarkets. My decision will unlikely affect Tesco’s market share unduly.

It does take a long time for dripping water to make effect in a stone.

Painted Signs - Old

1/4/2013

Woods St

Recently I put up a blog about a new(ish) painted sign on Winthrop St.

I saw painted signs on a building on Woods St. that appear to have outlasted the business at the premises.

The signs have definitely outlasted the ‘Crown’ logo.

They even appear to have outlasted the ‘Crown Plus Two’ range.

‘The Great Ease Makers’ – not sure on that line.