Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Mea Culpa

30/4/2015

I need to make an apology.

Over Easter, we visited friends in Co. Clare. This notice was on the door of one of the bedrooms and led to a bit of discussion as to the ‘s’ after the apology.

As I mentioned before, I am in the camp that believed there should be no ‘s’ after the apostrophe. However, the Oxford Dictionaries are in the other camp.

Forever learning…..

A Little Art

29/4/2015

I have long been impressed with the quantity and quality of public sculptures in Ennis – I will sometime get around to uploading them on a separate section.

Yesterday’s update from MeticulousMick was about ‘The Passage’ art installation in Wroclaw.

It reminded me of an installation near the library in Ennis.

When I saw it first, I thought it may have been a representation of Famine times with people shrinking back into the ground but seemingly ‘with a number incomplete sculpture pieces, which signify incompleteness through all stages of life.’

I thought I’d share…

A Lot of History in One Place

28/4/2015

I am not sure I will ever make it as a top grade connector of historical dots of information.

I spotted this plaque at the altar end of the disused church at Aghingh Cemetery where I learnt of Adrian Carton de Wiart and also Bishop MacEgan. I took the photograph to share with TMG who resides near Blarney. I thought it slightly odd that reference to ‘dutiful son and affectionate brother’ took precedence over ‘faithful husband and loving father’.

A few months back, I had watched Réabhlóid – Death of a Pacifist on TG4 about the killing of Francis Sheehy Skeffington in 1916 but did not register the name of the officer who had ordered his execution.

Captain J. C. Bowen Colthurst was the son of Robert Walter Travers Bowen Colthurst but it was TMG reminded me of this. A younger brother, Robert MacGregor Bowen Colthurst died in WW1 on 15 March, 1915.

An interesting coincidence that both Francis Skeffington and Robert Walter Travers Bowen each added the name of his wife to their name.

This weekend, Stair na hÉireann reminded that Francis Sheehy Skeffington was executed on 26th April, 1916 on the orders of Captain J. C. Bowen Colthurst.

Three separate pieces of history in one small graveyard…..

ALSO IN MEMORY OF

GEORGINA BOWEN COLTHURST

WIDOW OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED NOV 21 1921
AGED 65 YEARS

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

ROBERT WALTER TRAVERS BOWEN COLTHURST

BORN 16TH MARCH 1840
FELL ASLEEP 16TH NOVEMBER 1896

AT OAK GROVE CO. CORK

WHOM THE LORD LOVETH, HE CHASTENETH AND SCOURGETH EVERY SON WHOM
HE REVEICETH
IF YE ENDURE CHASTENING GOD DEALETH WITH YOU AS WITH SONS FOR WHAT
SON IS HE WHOM THE FATHER CHASTEBETH NOT (HEBREWS X11 6:7)

A DUTIFUL SON AND AFFECTIONATE BROTHER
A FAITHFUL HUSBAND AND LOVING FATHER
IN EVERY RELATION OF LIFE RESPECTED HONOURED AND ESTEEMED
LIVING AND DYING IN GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL MEN
TRULY IRISH IN HIS GENEROUS CHARACTER AND GENIAL NATURE
DEVOTED TO THE GOOD OF HIS COUNTRY
AND COUNTRYMEN
LOVING HANDS BORE HIM TO HIS LAST RESTING PLACE
THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS SIMPLE INTEGRITY TO HIS UNDAUNTED COURAGE
HIS CHEERFUL ENDURANCE AND SUBMISSION DURING YEARS OF BODILY SUFFERING
WILL REMAIN A BEAUTIFUL AND ENCOURAGING EXAMPLE

The Irish Sailors & Soldiers Land Trust

27/4/2015

Upto yesterday, I had never known of the Irish Sailors & Soldiers Land Trust.

I stopped to photograph this plaque on a pair of dwellings at Gurteenroe, Macroom – on the Killarney side of the town.

The good old internet has provided a lot of information including its establishment in 1922, its winding up in 1999, and a good thread on Boards.ie

Reading Boards.ie, it made reference to Abbeyfields in Killester – I only called to a friend’s house there a few weeks back – more connecting the dots – although I did not see any plaque.

I suspect that I will be checking out John Bull’s Other Homes in the City Library.

Killester, Dublin

Macroom

Santa's Robin

27/4/2015

Just back from a weekend ag caint in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh.

On the way down, I stopped at St. Gobnait’s Well and Monument in Baile Mhuirne.

Before heading back, I stopped at the Blasket Centre.

I wondered if Santa’s robin was following me.

Another Grotto

25/4/2015

A few weeks back, I ventured down St. Rita’s Villas, off Shandon Street and came across this grotto. I met the man who built it with his father about 1980.

I have very very many photographs of Grottoes, Postboxes, Civil War Memorials, among others.

Every once in a while, I am reminded that it is unlikely that I will have a complete collection of any – there being places that just not will get to.

Bright Spark

24/4/2015

Maybe it is a reminder to self as to how to differentiate between Earth and Live wires.

Maybe there is some Spanish blood in El Ectrical.

Maybe it was deliberate to promote discussion, or even for inclusion here.

Or maybe the proof-reader didn’t do a perfect job.

Wanting The Best

23/4/2015

“I HAVE THE SIMPLEST OF TASTES; I WANT ONLY THE BEST”

OSCAR WILDE

Whether it ever was the best, I have my doubts.

It definitely did not give the impression of being in that category when I spotted it on Camden Street, Dublin recently.

Maybe the new owners will be its best owners yet…… maybe the building will get what it was looking for.

The romantic in me likes to think so.

Aussie Lane

22/4/2015

South Richmond Street, Dublin

My obsessive compulsive tendency regarding reading street signs helped spot this one.

I think it is the first time I have seen a streetsign made as a marketing tool.

I like.

Maybe not enough to travel to Dublin to attend the Aussie BBQ – but I do like.

Fr. Ted

21/4/2015

Every news website appears to have something to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the first Fr. Ted programme.

Why should I be any different.

A Barry Thing

20/4/2015

A neighbour arrived in the pub a while back wearing a fleece with this message.

I thought it was brilliant – captured a pure Irish saying.

It is much better than ‘That’s the Murphy’s for you..’ as it carries just an acceptable level of superiority and condescension.

Up Start

19/4/2015

What are your thoughts?

Crept

18/4/2015

Those of you who pass by here frequently are probably aware of my interest or intrigue with roadside commemorations – even on my limited travels, I must have photographed nearly three hundred.

When in Dublin recently, I noted a memorial combined with street art which I’d thought that I’d share.

John Ryan was only 20 when he died.

Fada

17/4/2015

I am definitely a proponent of the motto ‘Is fear Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste’ – my Irish being of the broken-style, but improving.

This week I learnt how to include a ‘síneadh fada’ in a text message – hold down the vowel and a number of options then appear at the bottom of screen. Upto this, my text messages ‘as Gaeilge’ have been ‘fada’-less. From now, all mistakes are mine.

It appears that the signwriter at The Market bar had similar issues with including a ‘fada’.

Céad Míle Fáilte

Caint agus Comhrá

Bishop MacEgan

16/4/2015

Carrigadrohid Castle

Another blog post prompted by the graveyard at Aghinagh.

I spotted this headstone a short distance inside the gate of the cemetery and was intrigued on a few fronts – is it the original headstone from 1650? Why the mixed numerals – so was it second or eleventh of May; who was baolac mac aodagáin?

I knew of Bishop McEgan College in the Castle Grounds in Macroom and always assumed it was the Bishop at the time or just prior to the opening of the school. I was wrong – so wrong.

It was only when I came home and also looked at the photograph taken at Carrigadrohid did I spot the connection.

Boetius MacEgan was made Bishop of Ross in 1648. Oliver Cromwell arrived in Ireland the following year. Bishop MacEgan rallied armies to fight against Cromwell but was captured at Macroom.

The following day, he was brought to Carrigadrohid Castle which was occupied by Irish forces. He was told that his life would be spared if he persuaded the Irish to surrender but he encouraged them to fight on and so he was hanged using the reins from his horse.

I have learnt some but still am unaware as to whether it is a replacement headstone and why only partially Roman Numerals.

Aghinagh Cemetery

In onóir
do ḃaolac mac aodagáin
easpaig rois
do maraíod ag sasanaiġ
i gcarraig an droiċid

11 – V – 1650

Carrigadrohid Castle