 Galway was not a place that I have regularly visited. I probably have been there less than ten times in total. It is only in the last two visits in the last month that I have really taken time to take in the centre of the city. Last Saturday, there was a definite buzz, despite the weather conditions. I very much appreciated the public poetry. In my smoking days, a window cill was a great perch to relax, enjoy the moment and watch the world go by – if only I had been able to restrict my smoking to the cigarettes that I actually enjoyed!!!  | “MEN WITH TIRED HAIR |
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Last weekend, driving through Ballylanders in Co. Limerick, I faced another representation of the death of local enterprises.
I must have done a load of blogs on similar closures due to the economy; and, the failure to support local over Shopping Centre and internet. In this instance the request to Shop Local must not have been heeded. 
 On Saturday, I saw this in Tuam.
On Sunday, when walking in Kerry, there was talk of there being a generation who are totally oblivious to the test card and with it, the joys of rabbits’ ears; just a bit to the left; higher; too far; go back. For some, it was a regular part of life. As good a reason as any for a blog 
 I wonder if John Wayne had purchased a suit, would a plaque have been erected. Or would it have been an even bigger plaque as the amount of the transaction would have been greater?
Would purchasing underwear have warranted a plaque? Why is there no plaque to the many other customers who have purchased tweed caps, suits or underwear? Oh!, the thoughts one can have on a drizzly Saturday morning in Tuam……….
 Ten and more years ago, I would have thought that the long held position of the Catholic Chuch was such that it was the norm for children to take the Holy Sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion and Confirmation – or probably more accurate to say that their parents decided that this was what should be done.
With the anti-Catholic Church sentiment and the rise of non-denominational schools, my impression is that a reduced proportion of children are taking the Sacrament of Confirmation. I would not see taking Confirmation as conforming to the norm. It appears that Leisureplex has a different opinion – or maybe their marketing guru had a typo…. 
 Recently, I was in the St. Francis Training Centre on Father Mathew St.. As I was leaving, I noted this picture and plaque. The name did appear somewhat familiar.
Searching the site did confirm the reason why the name struck a chord. The plaques did their job in bringing the name to mind.  On Kyle Street earlier this week, I noted an interactive street art installation.
Unlike the similar piece at Ewe Experience, there does appear to be Bibi Baskin-type wishes. Wanting to know why; kissing in the rain; and, fulfilling dreams would be among the ones that I appreciate most – but beauty is in eye of beholder.   Earlier this week, I spotted this plaque on the Bank of Ireland building on Paul Street – it is most definitely recently positioned or re-positioned.
Last year, I photographed all of the plaques I saw around Cork and uploaded them to this site. I have kept my eye open for any more since then. Father Prout plaque is now in two pieces on a window cill inside St. Anne’s Shandon. Daniel Maclise plaque is not listed in the Cork City Council Guide to Plaques – which does suggest that the plaque has been in storage for some time. I do not know where the Daniel Maclise plaque may have been previously; when or why it was removed; but am fairly certain that it has only been erected in the Paul Street location for the past few weeks. Maybe it was removed to facilitate the extension to Bank of Ireland many years ago and only rediscovered in a drawer recently.
 Last week, I spotted another contribution to the streetscape from Vincentzara on Oliver Plunkett Street.
Maybe I will have to check it out to see if his nose gets any longer. It is possibly the first development with the property since Occupy Cork vacated.
 I spotted this sign recently at the Blood Bank at St Finbarr’s Hospital. It didn’t look right to me and my mind was in overdrive about how to structure the blog entry. That was until I went about checking the dictionaries. Despatch is an alternative spelling. I don’t think I have ever used it, until now. Something new learnt.
 An inquisitive mind, reading signs and the internet are a perfect combination.
Without all three, this sign that I spotted in Adare recently might have been ignored or proved too time-consuming to research. Whereas now, I have seen pictures of Curraghchase; am hoping to go for a walk there; I know a little of Aubrey de Vere, of whom I had not known previously; and, I know that Róisín Dubh is not just a pub in Galway. |
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