Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Coins - but why????

31/7/2014

I had heard of the old tradition of placing coins into the bark of trees or as offerings at holy wells.

I remember, when I was young, visiting Gougane Barra and being amazed at the coins hammered into the tree and then last year seeing a sign requesting that coins not be placed in the tree.

Until recently, I had never seen coins hammered into a rock.

These were taken on a walk into Derrymore Glen, near Camp on the Dingle Peninsula when the rock was used as a table for a food and drink break.

The web does indicate the practice of hammering stones into a mass rock in Armagh as a type of offering.

Maybe that is what I saw in Derrymore. Or maybe it is something completely different.

Made by Maids

30/7/2014

With thanks to Joan for the submission

It appears that in Wisconsin that the sweets are made at home by the maids.

Or is this another example of American English………

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

29/7/2014

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Limerick Changing

28/7/2014

I like.

Many thanks to IB for submitting the photograph from Athlunkard Street and advising of another new Wall Art installation recently completed on William Street.

I suspect that a visit to Limerick will not be too far away.

Denis Horgan - Olympic Silver Medalist

27/7/2014

Another village that I visited for the first time recently – Lyre.

Another sportsman commemorated – this time one that was new to me – Denis Horgan.

The statistic in the Examiner article, I found amazing. What a success rate in three Olympics.

“ In the next 84 years Irish competitors would win only four medals in track and field events.

Pat O’Callaghan won two gold medals, Bob Tisdall and Ronnie Delany won one each, and John Tracy won a silver medal. By contrast, Irish-born competitors won the equivalent of 16 gold, 10 silver and two bronze medals between 1904 and 1912.”

Irish Examiner

Raison d'être

26/7/2014

When Doc forwarded these photographs to me last week, I could not wait to get to a French – English dictionary to see if Rum had a different meaning in French a so possibly creating an ice cream for philosophers.

Alas, Rum translates as Rum so another possible blog withered down to this.

Dr. Pat O'Callaghan

25/7/2014

On my travels recently, I have noticed that there are quite a number of plaques and monuments to sportspeople – some I have heard of but many more that I have not.

There have been a few blogs previously on some such plaques but you are hereby warned that you will likely see a good few more in the coming weeks.

My first ever visit to Banteer was only recently and there I spotted this statue to Dr. Pat O’Callaghan.

I had known the regular table quiz question that he won the first Olympic Gold Medal for Ireland but the statue has prompted some web research which has taught me that he was offered the role of tarzan and that a child died as a result of being hit by a flying hammer; that Adolf Hitler arranged for his technique to be videoed; and that two hammers are on display in the Bantry Bay Hotel.

Memory Tree

24/7/2014

I was on a week’s holiday last week so was unable to attend the funeral of the father of a friend.

Taking a lesson from what I had seen on my travels, I called earlier this week with a nice Acer for planting as a Memory Tree.

The reaction of the recipient and the fact that it was planted in prime position within hours was proof that it was the best means of expressing condolence that I have ever done.

Try it sometime.

God Bless The Child

23/7/2014

I may be biased but I would prefer to accept that I might possibly relate to the subject matter to a little bit more than others.

I grew up not too far from Frank O’Connor’s house so could easily picture many of the locations and sights. The long hill and then the lot of steps down to St Patrick’s Church which are now closed off; the wall overlooking the quarry; the view over to the hills on the far side of the city; and the morning sun spreading up the river from the harbour were all seen so many times when I was growing up.

It was only last year that I read An Only Child so that did help to bring to mind the memories of St Luke's and Ballyhooley Road so last night they may have been fresher than a few years ago.

Last night was not just a trip down my own memory lane. My early school years were decades ago but decades after Frank O’Connor. Very many things have changed but nearly all could relate to the struggles of the schoolyard; the inquisitiveness of youth; the first confession; and family relationships.

The play did inspire much laughter. The intertwining of the three stories on the one set with the three actors was compelling, keeping each going to the very end.

It lasted 1¾ hours. It was worth every cent.

It runs until Saturday. I do recommend.

Bright City

22/7/2014

I did not see the five swans but I did appreciate the poetry.

I repeat my admiration of public poetry.

Anything to promote time out of the manic and always available society is good.

Galway definitely wins.

“BRIGHT CITY

I follow the light down the canal path,
across the road and on to the Claddagh.
In a blast of morning light which has turned
canal, river and estuary to mercury,
even the cars on the Long Walk are transfigured.

Five swans beat their way in across the bay,
heavy, sounding their own clarion,
as though carrying the world's beauty
in on their strong white backs this Saturday morning.”

Moya Cannon

Late Developer....

21/7/2014

I spotted this plaque recently in Bruff.

Two immediate thoughts were: yet another idle building with street art to try and contribute to the streetscape; and, I thought that Sean O’Riada was from Coolea.

While checking the internet later, I did find out that he was born in Cork and moved to Limerick at a young age.

In 1952, he graduated and got a job as Assistant Music Director in RTE – there must not have been too many school concerts back then if his first public performance was at the age of 21.

“It was in this house that Seán Ó Riada played in front of the public for the first time in the year 1952”

Maireád

20/7/2014

A while back, I commented that I liked the use of a tree to commemorate someone.

Last Monday week in Mayo, driving towards Hollymount, I saw this lovely specimen of a tree, so large and such a colour.

I do not know who Maireád was but I am jealous of her tree.

Lord Edward

19/7/2014

Maybe he was schizophrenic.

Maybe he needed a number of different passports – possibly to re-enter U.S.A.

Or maybe, it is just another example of the consistency of Irish translation…..

Sráid an Tiġearna Éamuinn – Sligo
Sráid an Tiarna Eamoinn – Sligo
Sráid Eamoinn – Sligo
Sráid an Tiarna Éamonn - Kilmallock

Dublin could have yet another variation.

The Munster Dairy Co.

18/7/2014

As someone who has spent nearly all his life no further than fifteen minutes’ walk from Patrick St., I never thought of where the first co-operative creamery might have been established, or when.

That was until I came across this plaque in Hospital, Co. Limerick recently.

328 years ago

17/7/2014

A few more roadside commemorative plaques were recorded on my recent trip to the west, this one outside Milltown, Co. Galway.

Hugh Maguire still remains as the earliest death that I have seen recorded but Edmund Hopkins is now in second place – one place back from where he was when he died.

“Milltown Community Council has given their help and encouragement to the Restoration of the Jockey's Monument. The monument is known thus as local folklore has it that Edmund Hopkins who was leading the hunt fell off his horse and was killed while jumping the ditch at this point. The monument dates back to 1686 and is the only known monument to have a direct link to the phrase "To Hell or to Connacht" as it commemorates the Hopkins family who were evicted from Leinster under Cromwell.”

Tuam Herald