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MIXED MESSAGES.

Using signs, advertisements and messages as the inspiration for observation and comment - enlightened and otherwise

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Interesting Gable Art

31/7/2015

2 Comments

 
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Have you seen these tile mosaics?

I spotted them on the gable of a building earlier this week.

On what type of building would you expect to see them placed?



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2 Comments

What is a Gneeve?

30/7/2015

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Seemingly it is one twelfth of a Ploughland – should that be of assistance.

There I was, back in June, minding my own business when the latest update came through from the
West Cork History blog. The title was about Gneeve, a new word to me.

Reading the blog, it appeared to be a form of classification of land based upon what the land could bear in terms of output.

This got me thinking of Gneeveguilla and prompted my first visit to
Gníomh go Leith (Gneeve and a half).

When on holidays, I was reading The Tailor – translation of recordings with Tim Buckley of Tailor & Antsy fame and on the first page he mentions ‘Gneeve’.

I might as well share the knowledge.


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“That was an old-time way of reckoning. Anyone buying land would inquire how many collops it would carry. That was the first thing: how many collops would the land feed?

A three-year old cow is also a collop. Three collops then would mean the same as a horse: they would eat the same amount. And two calves from the previous year – that is yearlings – they too would be reckoned to be a collop. And I think six goats would be regarded as a collop.

That mode of reckoning is no longer used. It would be better if it were, for then people would be able to determine what the land was capable of carrying”

Stories From the Tailor – Edited and Translated by Aindrias ó Muimhneacháin
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“My grandfather was born in Coolavohir, Ballyvourney. His name was John Buckley. There were at the time, two John Buckleys in Coolavohir, married to two sisters surnamed Lehane, daughters of Peter Larry.

Peter Larry had two gneeves of land. That land, I think was in Moornaghbeg, Direenawling and Derrynasaggart).”

Stories From the Tailor – Edited and Translated by Aindrias ó Muimhneacháin

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“How do you define the word ‘gneeve?’ – It is the twelfth part of a ploughland; and those ploughlands and gneeves vary in size. One gneeve in my parish is a slarge as twelve others. I know gneeves in my parish that do not exceed from four to five acres in extent; and I know of another gneeve which has thirty acres on it : it is let according to its value”

Law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland: minutes of evidence: part II

“Ploughland

1. land that is ploughed for growing crops

2.(history) a measure of land in parts of England after the Norman conquest, based on the area which could be ploughed in a year by eight oxen”

Collins Dictionary

2 Comments

Canon James Goodman

29/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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Another statue to a traditional musician spotted on my travels recently – this one in Skibbereen.

James Goodman was
Canon at Abbeystrewery in Skibbereen; born in Dingle; collector of a huge number of traditional tunes; and professor of Irish at Trinity College Dublin.

Once more learning from the signs.


0 Comments

Eve and The Apple

28/7/2015

1 Comment

 
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An unusual wall art installation from my recent trip to Dingle that I thought that I’d share.




I am open to being educated/corrected as to meaning…..


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1 Comment

A Word or Two.....?

27/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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I always understood that ‘greengrocer’ was one word, not two.

It appears that Paidí Ó Sé’s shop in Ventry and this old shop on Shandon Street, Cork had a different opinion  preferring ‘green grocer’ – or maybe they were environmentally friendly before it became popular……


“greengrocer noun a person or shop that sells fruit and vegetables. greengrocery noun the produce sold by a greengrocer.

grocer noun 1 someone whose job is selling food and general household goods. 2 a grocer's shop.”

Chambers Dictionary


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O’Donovan Rossa

26/7/2015

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Skibbereen, Co. Cork
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On Monday, I attended the performance of Rossa at Skibbereen Town Hall, in the very pleasant company of the scribes from Roaringwater Journal.

I was only taught history in school upto the (then) Inter Cert. The play however, brought home how much we were NOT taught as to Irish history and in particular Irish Republican history.

The production, a collaboration of a number of amateur drama groups, was very enjoyable, used mixed media well, but more than anything else for this viewer, it was so educational.

I would have had a sense of connecting O’Donovan Rossa to America; I would have thought that the Bobby Sands hunger strike was the first campaign for political status; I did not know that Pearse’s oration was at his grave. I do now but also have so much more to learn.


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Asking For Sex – Kerry-style

25/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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Ventry, Co. Kerry
Gnéas

I did taste it last year when on holidays on Dingle peninsula – a nice ale. A friend went so far as to ‘borrow’ a glass which he has yet to return.

It was only last week that I spotted the advertising campaign and smiled.


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Peig – Revisionism

24/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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Is Breá Liom Peig – I love Peig - Green Lane Gallery, Dingle
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Kerry Arts Trail - Castlegregory
It appears that there is a campaign to promote Peig.

I am biased as
having enjoyed the book (in English) but nearly everyone of my vintage does not have a positive memory of reading Péig in school.

The crafts people obviously think there is a market among Peig admirers.


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Chief O'Neill

23/7/2015

2 Comments

 
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As promised, another traditional musician who was unknown to me until I spotted a sign on the Drimoleague to Bantry road to this monument.

From the information at Tralibane and on the web, I now know just a bit more about the flute player,
Francis O’Neill. He left West Cork in 1865 and rose to Chief of Police in Chicago, where he recruited many other traditional musicians. He was forever collecting tunes.

We will note
11th to 13th September in diary for a possible visit.

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2 Comments

Pádraig Ó Caoiṁ - Last of Sliabh Luachra Master Fiddle Players

23/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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Willie Clancy’s statue reminded me of the very many statues to Irish musicians that I have taken – so many of whom I had not heard previously.

A while back, I did put photographs and details of some, but the many more I have seen since means that they will be cropping up in the near future.

I wonder if in the future, musicians will be remembered electronically rather than in sculpture like Padraig O’Keeffe in Scartaglen.

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Up Kerry

21/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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When in Dingle on Friday, the support for the Kerry footballers was evident – I thought that I’d share.

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0 Comments

Comings and Goings in Ballingeary

20/7/2015

1 Comment

 
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Ag Teacht - Coming
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Ag Imeacht - Going
You might smile.




I did when I spotted these on the wall of the pub in Ballingeary earlier



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1 Comment

'The Irish language is the greatest music of all"

19/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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‘Is í an Ghaeilge an ceol is ansa liom”
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A few weeks back, I went to Ó Bhéal, upstairs at The Long Valley. Seán Ó Roideacháin was the guest poet. His readings were in both Irish and English.

It brought home to me the lyrical nature and lovely sound of Gaeilge. Seán generally read each poem in Irish and then English translation. There was no doubt in my ears that the Irish version had a cadence about it – the flow and rhythm was so much smoother than the English.

Maybe I have a slight bias in having started conversational Irish classes a while back but my knowledge level was such that I could not fully understand the Irish so was probably more in tune with the sound.

It reminded me of the caption on the statue to Willie Clancy at Milltown Malbay that I thought that I’d share.




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Idaho Café - Deserving of Custom

18/7/2015

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As I have said before, I try to support city centre businesses with my purchases – a little contribution to help keep some from not closing and moving to the shopping centres or retail parks.

Just imagine if there only were shopping centres and retail parks – I hope that that offends you.

I recently spotted this blackboard on Idaho Café on Caroline Street –
another reason to support local owned enterprises.

0 Comments

Anthony Rafferty

17/7/2015

0 Comments

 
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A final blog, for now, from Kiltimagh.

The name of
Rafferty, the blind poet, did stir some memories upstairs among the grey matter. It did take this sculpture to prompt some web searching to learn of the man who wrote “Is Mise Raifteirí” on the back of a five pound note.

I now know a bit more – and have a desire to find further information, and listen to the DocOnOne 


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