This week I was uploading photographs and details of plaques on public paths and roads commemorating people who have died for a section of the website.

I noted that today was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Jim Keenan.

Pausing for thought does make one think of the past twenty-five years. It does put the pressures of work and economy aside for a while. It does make one happy to be still here.

Do some people believe that using ‘will’ sounds stronger and more off-putting than using ‘may’? Maybe that is why it is used.

But the car in the photograph did not have a clamp affixed. The driver could have sat into his car and driven off – thus proving the sign incorrect.

Why not say ‘Your car is likely to be clamped’ or ‘Your car may be clamped’?

The use of the word ‘will’ has a connotation that the clamper is lurking behind the corner waiting for an errant parker. But he is not and so every driver knows that if he keeps an eye on his car, he will be back in the car and driven off before any clamp is affixed.

Excluding grottos and statues within church grounds, how many grottos are you aware of within Cork city?

So far, I am at  28

  

Just posting this as it is the first sign that I recall seeing that used Roman Numerals ……





…….that is until I remembered City Hall

For today, please excuse me while I give my imagination some free rein.

I have been photographing grottos in Cork for a page on the website.  I did spot mention of one on Cork City Council website where they outline councillor questions and the Manager’s response. Since I read the question to the City Manager, I have had a vision floating around what passes for my brain.

Picture the scene.

An office in City Hall – the old section with the timber glazed partitions and not the fancy new section. The next Council meeting is only a week away.

Two City Council officials- Mary and Anne - are dealing with the written questions submitted by the Councillors.

Mary: It is true what they say about same rubbish but different day.

Anne: Yeah but with us, it is same rubbish but different month. Imagine if the Council meetings were any more frequent. I don’t think I could deal with any more of these questions.

Mary: The thing is they probably know the answer anyway but want to be able to show some constituent that they have asked the question and it is not their fault.

Anne: Come here, have you seen this question from Sean Martin.

Mary: No, not yet. What does it say.

Anne: Well the knowledgeable Councillor wants to know ‘When will the Grotto and Muriel in Corporation Buildings be fully restored to its former splendour?’

Mary: Typical. Doesn’t he know that that budget is well used up.

Anne: No, Mary. He called it a Muriel.

Mary: Yeah, that’s right. It is behind Dennehy’s pub on the Coalquay and it is painted on the wall.

Anne: I know that Mary, but a painting on a wall is a mural – not a Muriel. Muriel is a girl’s name. Haven’t you seen Muriel’s Wedding?

Mary: But that is how we pronounce it in Cork. It is a Muriel.

Anne: Mary, I am sorry to be the person to break this to you but just because that is how it is done in Cork does not always make it right. But whatever about pronouncing the word, he has actually spelled it as M-U-R-I-E-L. We will have to change that when we type up the question.

Mary: But we cannot change any Councillor’s submission – it is totally against the rules. You know that. Sure, everyone will know it as a Muriel anyway.

Anne: Well he might want to call it a Muriel but the City Manager will not thank us if the response says Muriel.

Mary: So what are you going to say?

Anne: What about ‘The Feasibility of providing a replacement mural will be investigated and costed over the coming weeks and a further response will be issued at that stage.’. Maybe when he reads the response or even when he reads the minutes on the internet, he might realise for future reference that it is a mural.

Mary: I wouldn’t bet on it. Let’s move on to the next question…..




The sentences in italics are a true record from City Council website. The rest is just my imagination.

It is a bad day when we do not learn something new. Although based upon Sean Beecher’s book, unless Daunt Square has moved, the current sign may not be in correct position.

Eliminating some words leaves us with ‘….cars …do so at owners risk’ – the days of Knight Rider have not yet arrived, have they?

Should it not be ‘..drivers park cars in this car park at owner’s risk’ or even ‘cars are parked at owner’s risk’

As for the missing apostrophe, maybe it will reappear in the replacement sign.

When in Ennis last month, I read on one of their many Historic/Heritage Information Boards of the ceramic tiles on houses and buildings which were placed to celebrate the Eucharistic Congress of 1932.

Last week, I spotted some on houses in Cork on St. Brigid St. and St. Nessan St.. They were only on three houses and in a different location on each of the houses so it would appear that these were applied by the then owners or tenants.

When walking around Ennis, there appeared to be more tiles but maybe I just haven't been watching closely enough in Cork.

What gets my attention with the plaque is that there is an accurate record from over 200 years ago as to where John Griffith was hanged.

Or is there some ‘historic licence’ that allows scope for accuracy as to the exact location of commemorative plaques.

I would be one who would be proud of my memory. I would argue very strongly based upon that memory but memory will only recall what it has seen before.

Sometimes, you just have to acknowledge the power of the internet.

I would have known of the crest on Libertas Villas on Blackrock Road, near Blackrock Church, for some time but never knew of the origin. But the web does.

I would generally do the Rochestown Railway and Mahon Estuary walk in a clockwise direction.

Last weekend was done anti-clockwise and so the wall art at the steps down from Castle Road were visible for appreciation.

My compliments to Mahon Men’s Art Group – even if the apostrophe was mislaid…….