Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Recognising the Artist

30/4/2014

Newmarket On Fergus, Co Clare

When one sees paintings in a gallery, the artist’s name is generally on a card or plaque under the painting.

Similarly for sculptures, the name of the sculptor will be visible for recognition.

I appreciate that much of the built environment in this country is functional but sometimes one sees an interesting building; a building that this observer, for one, would actually call artistic; a building that is unique. The name of the company is stated but not the artist.

No Such Thing as Bad Publicity - Chapter 8

29/4/2014

Many thanks to Beefster for submitting the photograph

Chambers Dictionary does not recognise the hyphen in ‘lift-up’ and suggests alternatives for ‘aroun’.

With two errors in one sentence, it does query the Quality Control procedures that may be adopted at Cif – do similar standards actually apply to the product.

Driving Me To Distraction

28/4/2014

I have mentioned previously that I am trying to improve my Irish. I have attended Conversational Irish course; bought the grammar book; and am listening to RnaG when not listening to the Buntús Cainte cd.

I have also been looking at streetsigns but I do wonder at the value of this – there are three options for ‘Drive’ – ‘Cabhsa’, ‘Slíghe’ and ‘Céide’.

If one decides to go on foot, three options also exist for ‘Walk’ – ‘Siúl’, ‘Cosán’ and ‘Coslighe’.

When it comes to ‘Place’ , there appear to be four options – ‘Áit’, ‘Áitread’, ‘Ionad’ and ‘Plás’. And to confuse the novice even further, ‘Ionad’ is also used for ‘Centre’.

I understand that direct translation is not always possible but the authors of the streetsigns are not making it easy to improve one’s Irish.

Tailor Made

27/4/2014

Last year, Micko submitted a photograph taken at Funderland.

He submitted a photograph from their recent visit over Easter.

Maybe it was tailor-made by Mr. Taylor……..or maybe not.

No Such Thing as Bad Publicity - Chapter 7

26/4/2014

I am not sure that Niall Horan of OneDirection anticipated such a name change when his marketing gurus suggested the life-size cut-outs.

Maybe those in Smyths need to play with some of their educational games.

Or maybe, if the name was actually intended as a verb, the author of the sign was signalling their aspirations

Many thanks to Beefster for submitting the photograph

Millennium Monument, Finnavarra

26/4/2014

THE FINNAVARRA MAN LOVES HIS NATIVE LAND LIKE BARNACHS LOVE THE STONE

Why a cap????

CHRIST YESTERDAY TODAY FOREVER

We went for a walk around Abbey Hill in north Clare at the weekend and thereafter went for a drive around the New Quay area. On the way to the Martello Tower, I spotted this unusual feature.

I remember some years ago, CC commented that he regularly purchased local history books when he visited an area. Back then, it did not hit home with me. The ‘current me’, the me doing this blog now has a decent quantity of such local books which so help with the signs and plaques that one might see on one’s travels – as proven by my later purchase of ‘A Burren Village’.

As well as wondering about and admiring the work, there were some initial thoughts rushing about my head including:

I read ‘Christ Yesterday Today Forever’ as ‘Christ was for Yesterday’ Always Live for Today’. It was only when looking back at the photograph that I believe that my original thought was incorrect.

If we had only spotted the monument and book last year, then I would not have needed to ask about W.D. – although the retreat directional arrows would still be new to me.

Well done Mr. Tommy Fahy for providing a very interesting distraction to the passers-by.

Election Candidates

24/4/2014

I was reading Grandad’s blog yesterday and it reminded me of this photograph that I took in High Street a while back.

How things were...

24/4/2014

Connonagh

Ballyfeard

As you might have gathered from some of the blogs on here, I have a quirky interest in post boxes. I have been photographing them on my travels and will eventually get around to doing something with that.

A few weeks ago I spotted a post box in Connonagh in West Cork which did not have the standard printed notice indicating Last Time of Posting, Box Reference and other information. I had forgotten how the information had been presented.

Irish Winner of Boston Marathon

23/4/2014

Last week I was in Bandon and spotted this plaque close to the courthouse – something that I had not known before.

With all the news this weekend about the Boston marathon and the security after the bombing last year, it is as good a prompt as any for a blog entry.

John C Lordan, Olympian, is now in the memory bank.

Street Image

21/4/2014

Last month, I blogged about the first photograph that I had seen framed as street art.

Yesterday I blogged about the Notice on Camden Palace.

Today’s find was at Gravel Lane off Washington Street

Maybe I was just looking in the wrong places…..

Notice

20/4/2014

NOTICE!

IF YOU HAVE NOTICED THIS NOTICE THEN YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THIS NOTICE IS NOT WORTH NOTICING AT ALL.

Recently I spotted that those at the Camden Palace Hotel have added a new dimension to their wall art.

I thought the notice deserving of being brought to a (very slightly) larger audience.

A foot in times past

18/4/2014

Before mine, but there was a time when usefulness trumped ‘health & safety’; a time when if someone tripped over what was obvious they were considered stupid and not a victim and potential claimant.

There was also a time when very many items in the construction of a building were bespoke and made specifically for that building; a time when the building owner could design or stipulate exactly what he wanted; a time different from today where only those in the catalogue are available unless one wants to expend a huge proportion of the budget on an off-standard piece.

There was a time where buildings had unique pieces.

There were probably very many drawbacks of those times, but the lack of individuality in buildings now makes me think would have enjoyed the variety of details on display with regard to chimneys, vent grilles, doors, knockers, railings and even foot scrapers.

Recently, I have been photographing foot scrapers around Cork. There are very many more yet to be photographed but the detail of workmanship and the vast variety of design has prompted today’s blog.

With paved thoroughfares, the need for foot scrapers has probably been eliminated but the need for lovely detailing, great craftsmanship and variety of building features should still exist.

No Such Thing as Bad Publicity - Chapter 6

17/4/2014

Breaking The Mould....

'...THE FIRST COMPANY OF IT'S TYPE..'

This sign would probably not get any (very limited) publicity through this site without the spelling anomaly. The misplaced apostrophe would probably have brought a smile but not a blog entry.

I suppose an argument could be raised that they are targeting both European mould and North American mold……

No Such Thing as Bad Publicity - Chapter 5

16/4/2014

Dingle, Co. Kerry

I remember, many years ago, being at a lecture about introducing a quality system to an organisation. A question was asked of the lecturer as to whether the award of ISO9000 would result in a reduced insurance premium. The reply has stayed with me to now – ‘No. Your insurers expect you to be of that standard but if you lose the quality mark, your premium will most likely rise.’

There are quite a number of different hospitality guide plaques that one might see on restaurants and accommodation.

Am I alone in thinking that if the most recent plaque is some years old, then the food or accommodation is no longer as good as it once was?

Sixth Class Order of The Rising Sun

16/4/2014

When in Carrigaline recently, I spotted the sculpture first and then the plaque to John & Cornelius Collins – definitely new names to me.

I am not sure if it is all one art installation but to me it definitely looks like it is. I like.

ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE JOHN AND CORNELIUS COLLINS.

WHILE IN THE BRITISH NAVY FROM 1865 TO 1879 THEY SRVED AS INSTRUCTORS TO THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY BETWEEN 1873 AND 1879. HAVING LEFT THE BRITISH NAVY THEY WERE INVITED BY THE JAPANESE NAVAL AUTHORITIES TO RETURN TO JAPAN AS INSTRUCTORS BETWEEN 1879 & 1888.

BOTH WERE CONFERRED WITH THE SIXTH CLASS ORDER OF THE RISING SUN ON AUGUST, 8th 1888 BY THE EMPEROR MEIJI.