Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Visionary

30/6/2014

“visionary adj 1 showing or marked by great foresight or imagination. 2 possible only in the imagination; impracticable; fanciful. 3 capable of seeing supernatural images or apparitions. noun (visionaries) a visionary person. visionariness noun.”

Chambers Dictionary

Similar to Thurles, when I photographed this plaque, I was getting ready to write about the (mis)use of the word ‘visionary’.

I would have thought it correct for the plaque to have read ‘visionary businessman’ and not ‘visionary’. My mind had been programmed that the noun visionary was restricted to the third alternative for the adjective – a person capable of seeing supernatural images.

Not for the first time, and not for the last, I proved myself wrong and confirmed that there is much left to learn.

In addition, the sign did compel me to find out more about the man who established the first duty free shop in the world, Dr. Brendan O’Regan. I had assumed that Duty Free shops were always at airports – not just since 1950.

Forty Five Years Ago

29/6/2014

IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
SUZANNE CONNOLLY
FRANCIS CONOLE
SEAMUS GAYNOR
BREDA KEANE
FRANCIS McINERNEY
ANNE O’DEA
AND
MARY O’DEA
GERALDINE QUINLAN
AND
MICHAEL WALL

R. I. P.

WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
SUNDAY 29TH JUNE 1969
IN
THE NEW QUAY BOAT DISASTER

OUR LADY OF FATIMA
INTERCEDE FOR THEM

At the end of our walk at Easter around Abbey Hill, we found ourselves at the church in New Quay. This plaque was the first that I ever heard of the Boat Disaster.

I have learnt a bit more since then and have watched RTE coverage at the time.

So simple and easy to happen. So near. So horrific.

Sometimes it is easy to say ‘Health & Safety gone mad’ but sometimes we are reminded of its benefits and wonder ‘what if’….

1985

28/6/2014

1985

For some time now, the past years have merged into each other. Often, I would be pressed to recall when an event happened. Some may say that this is a factor of advancing age. I prefer to consider it a symptom of memory overload.

It wasn’t always so. During my school years, I would link an event to the F.A. Cup winner that year which then became an aide to recalling the date of the event. My recollection of dates of certain events in the seventies is much better than events in this millennium – thanks to the cup winners.

1985 is a post-school year. I needed the internet to tell me that Manchester United beat Everton 1 – 0 in the F.A. Cup final. But some items from then are locked in the memory.

It may be as a consequence of my college year or the then girlfriend but these items are not just recorded in the memory but they have the date attached. These include seeing the Bradford Stadium Fire on TV in a bar in Clogherhead when we should have been studying; watching Barry McGuigan win the World Title; and, the moving statue in Ballinspittle.

Feast Day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I will not be attending the rosary.

When travelling through Ballinspittle recently, I stopped to take photographs for my collection of Grottos in Co. Cork and did think back to the huge crowds standing on the embankment opposite the statue; the loudspeakers installed for the recitation of the rosary; and the distance from the grotto that one had to park.

Since stooping that evening, I have listened to the RTE documentaries on the Ballinspittle Moving Statue. It brought back the huge numbers at the grotto – a bit different from my recent visit when I was the only one there.

No Such Thing As Bad Publicity - Ch. 10

27/6/2014

I suppose that if you are looking to have work done on your bike, you are probably more concerned with their ability as a mechanic rather than their spelling.

I sometimes wonder if anyone might deliberately include a misspelling in a sign to make it more memorable or to have the likes of me comment on it

Or maybe it is to trap anyone who might call in to comment and allow the owner to ‘go spare’ or accuse the pedant, like me, of being a ‘spare’

Limerick Wall Art

26/6/2014

A while back, I commented on the street art in Limerick and promised a few more images.

Well today is as good a day as any…

May Their Music Live Forever

25/6/2014

As promised, some more Irish Music practioners who were completely unknown to me until the plaque in Gort prompted some web research.

Joe Cooley , a box player from Peterswell and founding member of the Tulla Céilí Band – curious that the photographs are with a cigarette while indoors, a record of a time past.

Kieran Collins was a tin whistle player from Slieve Aughty.

Maybe it is the recent commencement of my fiftieth year but it hit home here that both died before reaching 50 – Reminder to Self to Get Busy Living

Michael Scanlan

24/6/2014

Before stating this blog and website, I would have known very little of the War of Independence and Civil War – not that I know a lot now, but I do know more now than then.

Today, I uploaded details of monuments and plaques to those involved in the War of Independence and Civil War that I recently came across on my travels in Co. Limerick. One name that appeared in three separate locations was a name that was totally new to me – Michael Scanlan.

Searching the web did reveal details of the speech at the unveiling of the Kilmallock plaque – something new learnt today.

Social Media

23/6/2014

I spotted this poster over the weekend and stopped.

I had always understood that one of the attractions to many of Social Media was communicating WITHOUT meeting and talking; so it was more of an anti-social media.

Obviously, and not for the first time, I was wrong.

Hazel Mountain Chocolate

22/6/2014

A novel type of blog entry for me – one venue but very many thoughts provoked by even more items of curiosity.

Over Easter, we walked around Abbey Hill and stopped for refreshments at Hazel Mountain Chocolate. A bungalow converted into a coffee shop with a chocolate making facility built to the rear.

A lovely setting looking at Abbey Hill to sit outside and appreciate the surroundings.

I did query the spelling of ‘Coffee’ in ‘Coffehouse’ but suspect that the message got lost in translation.

Beware of the Elves

21/6/2014

We drove through Milltown Malbay over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

I do like the wall art - one of the more unusual installations that I have seen on my travels.

Dangers of Rebranding - Ch. 6

20/6/2014

If I am totally correct about it, it is not a rebranding but a change of sponsor. Regardless, it is definitely an example of dangers of re-using signs.

They got away with the white blanking out at the top of the sign.

One would excuse the lack of date, as there is only one June Bank Holiday Monday.

However, the attempted blanking out of BGE is an utter failure.

Thoughts that flew around my head included:

If I were Bord Gais Eireann, would I be happy with this obvious highlighting of withdrawn sponsorship?

If I were a potential sponsor, would I be happy at this treatment of a previous sponsor at end of agreement?

If I were a sponsor this year, would I be happy with a company not paying any money getting more publicity than me who is giving money?

As I am none of the above, the thoughts went unanswered…..

Jack Mulkere

19/6/2014

Another off-Motorway journey, another musician whose name is new to me.

This plaque to Jack Mulkere is at Crusheen which has returned to village status from traffic nightmare with the opening of the Motorway from Ennis to Gort.

Once again, the web is my educator. An informative article on page 7 of Comhaltas magazine.

Good to see one of those who gave so much receiving credit, even if after death.

“In the twentieth century an important connection to the distinctive musical traditions of south and east Galway was maintained by the fiddler and teacher Jack Mulkere from Gort in Galway who married and settled outside Crusheen. Jack performed in the early Aughrim Slopes Céilí Band in 1927 and taught traditional music to generations of influential musicians between Athenry and Ennis between the 1920s and 1970s. Mulkere’s students included Frank Custy, Tony MacMahon, Paddy Fahy and Kieran Hanrahan and he was the first teacher of traditional music employed to do so by a state agency. He ran classes for Clare Vocational and Educational Committee.”

Clare County Library

Jack Mulkere

1898 – 1982

MUSICIAN TEACHER NATIONALIST
PIONEER OF
IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC EDUCATION

‘DO DHEARCAS’, AR SÍ, INA RÍ-BHRUGH
CEOLMHAR, POIRT AR SHRUITIBH DÁ SEINM
GO CEOLMHAR, STARTHA DÁ LÉAMH
AG LUCHT LÉINN IS EOLAIS

AOGÁN Ó RATHAILLE

'I SAW’, SHE SAID, IN THAT PLACE OF MUSIC
HARP TUNES PLAYING MELODIOUSLY
HISTORIES READ BY THE LEARNED AND THE WISE

Prince of Pipers

18/6/2014

Last year, I put up a few blog posts about plaques to musicians and those involved in the arts that I had seen on my trips to Kerry.

War memorials, particularly War of Independence, are regularly observed on my travels but musicians were not that often spotted – until recently. In the last two months, I must have seen five or six different plaques or statues – generally to Irish Music musicians – while out and about.

Black is Beautiful

17/6/2014

Last week, I had a very enjoyable few pints in the Welcome Inn on Parnell Place.

I did avail of the opportunity to photograph some of their pictures and old advertisements.

I do not recall ever having seen this one before. It did remind me of the photograph that I had taken at The Lough. Sharing these is as good a reason as any for a blog.

I don’t recall seeing the swans for some time but it is twenty one years later

Child of Prague

16/6/2014

Old Blackrock Railway Line Station House

On Saturday, we were at M & S’s wedding. The reception was in Longueville House and was celebrated well into the early hours of the morning.

On Friday night the bride was spotted returning into her family home, having placed the statue of the Child of Prague outdoors for the night. When this was mentioned it led to a discussion as to the tradition of the statue and hope for good weather. A number of variations were in the heads of various guests – is it better if the head is already broken off; does the statue just face outdoors or does it need to be outdoors.

It got me thinking as to how one generally just has bits of information on many topics. The internet has once again come to the rescue and increased that little bit of knowledge with regard to when the devotion began, when it came to Ireland and the different Irish variations pre-wedding; how the custom even got to James Bond; savage beheadings; and, that the original statue travelled from Spain to Bohemia in the sixteenth century.

I did take a photograph of the statue and prayer when in Limerick last month – but there is no mention of weather in the prayer. Another twist on the Irish fascination with the weather……

The weather on Saturday was great - just in case you are wondering of the success rate....

Limerick Dominican Church

PRAYER TO THE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE

O MIRACULOUS INFANT JESUS! Prostrate before Thy sacred image, we beseech Thee to cast a merciful look on our troubled hearts. Let Thy tender heart so inclined to pity, be softened at our prayers, and grant us that grace for which we ardently implore Thee. Take from us all afflictions and despair, all trials and misfortunes with which we are laden. For Thy sacred infancy sake, hear our prayers and send us consolation and aid, that we may praise Thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen.