Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Intelligence……..or………Bull………………….or Both

31/5/2025

This van was the first time I saw marketing or branding for Artificial Insemination, the Bull.

The photograph was taken outside Blacklion in Co. Cavan fourteen years ago.

I have thought about the photograph frequently – very often in recent years, but have never got around to moving from my Sundry Folder to the Already Blogged folder.

The efforts of M.E.P. Ciaran Mullooly this week relying on fiction created by Artificial Intelligence does suggest that he may have been better leaving A.I. to The Bull.

Remembering Those Who Left

30/5/2025

I have often seen headstones paid for or erected by family members who emigrated to other countries.

But this plaque in Ballacolla Church in Co. Laois is not of a type that I have seen very often – erected to Great Gandparents 146 years after they lefy for America

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

He Wishes For The Cloths of Heaven – W.B. Yeats

Can you let things go????

29/5/2025

Life Advice – Barista-style

A while back I met KH in town. He was finishing his coffee but was retaining the disposable coffee cup to share the message that had been written by the barista.

Me – not really the way that I am wired……..

An Unexpected Titanic Encounter

28/5/2025

Last June, I took some me-time to stroll around the graveyard of St Michael’s All Angels in Abbeyleix.

I definitely did not have any expectation to see any reference to The Titanic but it was provided in a cenotaph to William Henry Gillespie. He was lost with Titanic on 15th April, 1912.

The first and fourth sons of Richard and Eliza Gillespie were both named William Henry. The first was born in 1871 but died as an infant. The fourth was born in October 1880 and given the name of his deceased sibling – something that I have encountered a few times.

The connection to The Titanic does mean that there is some information online regarding William who travelled from Southampton, second class, intending to go to Canada.

From Laois Local Studies website, this “is the story of William Gillespie, senior sales clerk with the Abbeyleix Carpet Factory, who perished on the Titanic. It was written, filmed and and edited by Margaret Kane-Rowe and funded by Creative Ireland, Decade of Commemorations and Creative Laois.”

Door Step Artists

27/5/2025

Old Cork Road, Midleton

College Street, Castlegregory

Many years of looking down for messages – sometimes it pays off.

Last month, walking along the Old Cork Road in Midleton, I spotted an engraving in the stone threshold at a front door and it was a prompt to write the blog post to an engraved manhole cover at College Street in Castlegregory.

In 2017, I spotted the work of P. Bowler who managed to mark his name into the manhole cover outside his (assumed) front door. T. Cahill’s engraving was into limestone. Neither are what would be considered a soft surface.

These engravings are similar to the Marian Year manhole cover on John Redmond Street but I expect that the council team had an opportunity to carry out the work remotely, possibly in the council workshop. P Bowler and T Cahill, I expect, had to do their carving on their hands and knees – significantly more impressive.

I wonder how many people regularly walk up College Street in Castlegregory or Old Cork Road in Midleton and have never seen the handiwork of Cahill and Bowler…….

Mahomet – Momento Mori

26/5/2025

I have generally only seen Momento Mori carved on headstones – or on photographs of headstones.

I had never seen one written in market on a Utility Box – until two months ago when waiting for a bus outside C.U.H. that is.

Of the near 1,000 roadside memorials that I have recorded around the country, I think only one has been in marker. There were a few painted.

As to the questions:

Who was Mahomet?
Who is Simon?
When was the message done?

I have no answers………

A Second 32nd Bridge

25/5/2025

Clean Shiny New Bridge

As You Are Now, So Once Was I

When the Mary Elmes Bridge was put in place in 2019, it was the 32nd bridge over the two channels of the River Lee.

This new bridge from Proby’s Quay to the Beamish site is also the 32nd bridge over the two channels of the River Lee.

I sincerely hope that Cork City Council have a better plan for maintenance of this bridge that the similar curved Mardyke Bridge.

The Old Bridge to the Bon Secours has been removed after the Mary Elmes was put in place.

A list of the 31 bridges in place before the Mary Elmes Bridge - clockwise

The Old Bridge To Bon Secours - now removed

The Old Bridge To Bon Secours - now removed

I have not included the bridges over the Mill Race at the Distillery - it is arguable that this race is another cahnnel of the Lee and should be counted......

Erected By A Friendly Hand

24/5/2025

North Kilmurry, Berrings, Co Cork

This headstone appears to have been a gift, from a non-family member.

In contrast to a recent blog, the gift-giver preferred anonymity and did not put themselves above others.

Better – methinks.

Names - Not Often Seen Now

23/5/2025

Walking through St Finbarr’s Cemetery recently, there were so many names that appear to have disappeared from use – or at least have disappeared from what I encounter

Alacoque - Albeus – Alipius - Aloyse – Ansbert - Anselm - Aquin - Aquinas – Aure – Baptist - Benigna - Benilda -Berchmans - Berthe – Boniface – Canute - Carthage – Cecilius - Celsus - Chrysostum – Climachus - Colombiere – Comgall - Consiglio – de Ricci – de Sales - Dositheus - Eloi – Emilian – Eulogius - Euphamia - Euphrasia - Evangelist – Felicitas - Flavian – Gonzaga – Gonzales - - Hildabert – Justa - Justinian - Ladislaus – Laurentia - Liguori – Loyola - Ludivine - Mary Visitation – Mechtilde – Modwena - Octave - Perpetua – Prisca - Regis – Ricci - Roch – Rufina - Sarto – Scholastice - Sulpice – Theophile - Virgilius – Walburga – Wenceslaus – Zita

Some Contributed – Others Did Not

22/5/2025

It doesn’t happen often ….. but this headstone brought to mind WhatsApp Groups.

Kate Brennan, a 19 year old School Mistress died in the North Infirmary on 17th January, 1887

There is nowt as queer as folk is definitely true. One aspect of the differences between people is self-publicity and self-promotion – especially at the expense of others: me better than you……

Me? I am definitely a photo-opportunity-avoider. If unavoidable, preference is for somewhere at the back. I am not one for self-credit. When acting in a voluntary role, any credit should go to the organisation. When acting personally or professionally, any credit is not sought to the extent of being denied or avoided.

One of my most recent absolute dislikes is the group chat facility on WhatsApp.

I cannot be alone in reading posts and thinking that a particular post is definitely more appropriate as a direct individual message and not a group chat. There are so many group messages that I read and immediately wonder if the primary function was the message, or alternatively to tell the entire group as to how appreciative/facilitatory/welcoming/helpful I am compared to others – look at me, I am so good.

If the message is addressed to one, why communicate to the group??? The day I can finally exit WhatsApp groups cannot come fast enough.

To me, ‘Erected by a few members of the R.I.C.’ reads as a rebuke to those who did not contribute to the headstone. Once again, it may just be the way I am (or have been) wired……

Died Trying To Save Another

19/5/2025

Tempus Fugit – and all that ……. It was eleven years ago when I wondered at a memorial commemorating someone who drowned trying to save another creature.

A headstone spotted at St Finnbarr’s Cemetery brought me on a similar trail wondering if ‘another’ had been saved – yes.

The boy who she entered the water to save did survive. His father, a Hong Kong businessman, did not survive. Grace died three days after being pulled out by a lifeguard.

Grace had worked as a manageress in Molloys Footwear. She had gone on holidays to Australia with Noel Molloy’s daughter, Collette and Caroline Purcell. A postcard home from the three girls arrived after news of her death.

Grace was posthumously awarded the Australian Bravery Award. In 1990, it was presented to her father, John, by the Australian Ambassador, Brian Burke.

'Grace (23) plunged, heedless of the danger, into powerful surf when a woman cried out to them that her son was drowning. Both Grace and Caroline tried to get others on the beach interested, but, incredibly, all ignored them.

"We didn’t even think of safety, all we were concerned with was the fact that someone was drowning,” she explained.

Grace, who had rented out a surfboard, swam with it to the 15-year old boy’s aid. “She told me to get some help, but nobody came, so I went in as well,” explained Caroline.

“All of a sudden, there was no ground beneath us and the strength of the waves was just incredible. They were pounding down on us one after another. I’d swallowed a lot of water and our arms and legs were gone. We fought and fought until we were exhausted,” Caroline told the Echo.
A lifeguard service at the beach had ended a short while before the incident, which occurred in the late afternoon.

The boy who had initially got into difficulties was brought to safety, Caroline was rescued and a beachguard brought Grace vack to shore.But she was unconscious and died two days later in hospital. The boy’s father also died in the doomed bid.’

The Evening Echo of 9th March, 1990

Guerilla Commemoration

18/5/2025

The Same – But Different

2017 Plaque

2024 Plaque - From BUCHANAN: Dublin Time Machine on Twitter

One from my Twitter Bookmarks

I have been going through the bookmarked posts in preparation of exit from the platform and this post from BUCHANAN: Dublin Time Machine brought to mind a similar plaque from December 2017.

December 2017 was when Home Sweet Home campaigners took over Apollo House on Poolbeg Street – before the High Court ruled that it was to be vacated in January.

The Vulture Republic plaque was fairly prominent on social media at the time.

The National Children’s Hospital commemoration plaque has not been as often observed by my eyes. I expect that it will be as short lived as the Vulture Republic – both classics.

Danger – Road to Dublin

17/5/2025

It did exist – it wasn’t a photoshop job.

I spotted this sign on Bluesky a few weeks back, The following Saturday, it prompted a minor detour to check if the sign actually exists.

It did.

To whoever was responsible for the concept and to whoever was responsible for its execution ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Fair Bowls To You.

Bozo’s Mantra for Life

16/5/2025

Living The Dream – One Nightmare at a Time

I am reminded that at an Conversational Irish class many years ago, Padraig told the story of overhearing two young American females. One commented to the other that ‘When they ask you how you are…. It is not a question. They are not looking for an answer.’

‘Living The Dream’ has been my stock response to the greeting ‘How’s it Going?’, ‘How are ye?’, or even ‘Conas atá tú?’. I do not always get the levels in tune with the sarcasm-sensors of the questioner.

I spotted Bozo’s take on this a few weeks back – I am deliberating getting some of these printed – business card size.

That’s just the way I’m wired I suppose