Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Anita Salon International

31/8/2015

I suspect that this counts as a ghostsign.

It is on the fanlight over the door to a doctor’s surgery but the fanlight has been covered over externally, so one can only read the message in negative.

Interesting that 5 digits were sufficient for all Cork numbers – a huge increase from three digits.

Dramatic Art

24/8/2015

I spotted these characters on the way home.

A welcome addition to the streetscape.

Well done CADA.

Cork Trivia

23/8/2015

Years ago, even decades ago, there was mention in a Dick Francis book of the word ‘Trivia’ coming from Roman times when notices and news used to be posted where three roads met. Tri Via, being Three Roads. Wikipedia contends that the meeting of three roads was a gathering spot for the spreading of news.

The fact that this is the only thing I can remember from the Dick Francis possibly indicates my tendency towards trivia – if you had not already gathered from previous posts.

Last week, I was well impressed with this poster in the Atrium in the Civic Offices of Cork City Council. Many I knew but Humphrey O’Connell and the rubber shoe sole; the Brennan Torpedo; and, women not being permitted to swim at the outdoor baths, were among those newly learnt.

A Star Danced And Under That I Was Born

22/8/2015

Prompted by Seamus Murphy.

There are quite a number of blog entries here concerning Seamus Murphy – plaques, headstones, and even dog water troughs. There are many other photographs of his work taken that could yet appear hereabouts.

Earlier in the summer, we were in Gougane Barra, and spotted the headstone to Tadhg Ó ’Buachalla, and his wife Ainstí which was carved by Seamus Murphy.

This led to the buying of Stories of The Tailor which was read during my holidays and The Tailor and Antsy which was packed away for this weekend.

The more one learns, the more one realises how much one does not know.

God Has No Country

21/8/2015

I added to my bookshelf this week.

There have been a number of dots joined in one year because eighteen months ago I would not have known who Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty was. That was my thought when I read of a talk in Dingle that had happened prior to our holidays.

Shortly after, his name cropped up when I was trying to find information on Delia Murphy. Then I spotted the statue in Killarney and had an item on the To Do list for the blog.

This summer the murals in Tralee and Killarney were spotted and have prompted today’s blog – now to get around to reading the book…..

Catch the Burning Sparks the Fly

20/8/2015

What is it about Forges, Blacksmith and bending metal?

More than once have I rabbited on here and there about the attraction of the forge.

Then a few more things come along together to warrant another rabbiting.

In Bantry recently, I spotted another plaque to a former forge, and to Denis Sexton.

Then Robert’s blog was about Umha Aois at Skibbereen Arts Festival where metal pieces were made using metal furnaces – something that would have kept me enthralled.

This week, looking through the listings for Heritage Week, I spotted that there will be a working forge at Coppeen on Sunday. I would love to be there but suspect that other plans have been made.

And the children coming home from school
Look in at the open door,
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing floor

Craft - with draft

19/8/2015

Last month we ended up in The Sextant.

I was so impressed with the stained glass installation that I thought that I shout it from the internet rooftops.

Is that not so much better than a branded mirror or a drink advertisement?

The Unthanks - in Limerick

18/8/2015

I still remember hearing The Unthanks for the first time. I was in Ennis watching Other Voices on the TV.

I thought that the name ‘The Unthanks’ was unusual.

Later doing some web searching, I was further surprised that the surname of two of the singers was Unthank – Rachel and Becky.

If I had seen this plaque on St. John’s church in Limerick earlier, the sense of surprise would have been lost.

Fastnet Rock - 1933

17/8/2015

Another snapshot from POK’s collection.

I suspect that Fastnet Lighthouse is probably very close to the top of the list of things that have changed least since this photograph was taken in 1933.

I feel an OCD tendency coming on regarding islands and lighthouses……

Cork Ghostsigns

16/8/2015

Wikipedia defines a ‘ghostsign’ as an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time. The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner.

Last week I saw some tweets about ghostsigns in Cork and elsewhere so it prompted me to create a tab for ghostgigns on the blog and go back through all old blog posts to add the tag where appropriate – here.

I have extended my tag definition to include old signs of plaster and other material on buildings which no longer have the use or ownership advertised.

This prompted me to upload some ghostsigns from Cork that I have not shown previously.

A glimpse of the past

15/8/2015

Today I saw a lot of the past - We were looking through boxes (upon boxes) of photographs by SOK’s grandfather which appeared to start in 1920 – an absolute treasure trove.

These photographs were taken in October 1955 at St Gobnait’s Well and Pilgrim site in Baile Mhuirne.

My photographs below were taken earlier this year.

There has been some improvements works to cater for the pilgrim and religious tourist – as well as the plain curious, like me.

Church & State

15/8/2015

It is so easy to line oneself up for a fall….

Earlier in the week, over coffee, we were chatting about someone heading to Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry for the weekend and I piped up to say that the church in Glenbeigh is the only place where I have seen a stained glass window dedicated to an I.R.A. member who died in the Civil War or War of Independence – having spotted the commemorative window to Frank O’Grady last year.

CC quickly educated me that there is a similar window much closer to home.

Later, a visit to the North Cathedal confirmed that Con and Jerh Delany are commemorated in the large window behind the altar.

Another reminder to self that one is forever learning.

St James Catholic Church, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry

Cathedral of St Mary & St Anne, Cork

Monument at Dublin Hill, Cork

Bring Back the Smells

13/8/2015

Do we now live an aroma-less life? Is your nose and sense of smell challenged as much as before.

Maybe one first gets used to, and then becomes immune to smells after experiencing them so many times. Is the sensation of experiencing a smell for the very first time a joy of youth that is underappreciated?

I do think that this vacuum-packed age of ours, a time when we cannot pass a day without encountering so many controlling air-fresheners, is overly dumbing down and affecting our relationship with reality, and the use of our noses.

I cannot remember this building on Oliver Plunkett Street being other than a bookie’s shop, William Hill being the last that I recall. The web educates that Delicacies Ltd. did trade from Number 55 as butchers in 1940,and 1945 , and also were at Castle Street in 1945 – but were not listed as victuallers in 1930.

I did smile at this old ghostsign. Taking the photograph earlier this week, I did not see one other person taking any notice of it.

The name Delicacies Ltd. did intrigue me somewhat and did get me thinking as to what may have been on display. In turn, it aroused my sense memories which brought me back to the days of me ‘borrowing’ empty large ‘Bulmers’ bottles from the yard of the local hotel and bringing them to Henchy’s at St. Luke’s Cross to claim my 6p refund.

Henchy’s was then a shop on one side, bar with snug on the other. The smell came from the timber floors, the open tea boxes, the shelves full, and the many other open bags of so many things then unknown to me – a combination of many sources. I cannot remember the exact smell but the recollection is of it being strong. It was its own particular smell.

Thinking back, it was a pleasant smell but possibly a tad overbearing for my young and untrained nose.

There were very many challenges to that untrained nose, pleasing and otherwise.

Do you remember the Thompson’s bread van and the lovely smell that escaped when the breadman opened the door? If so, you might also remember the smell that sometimes greeted you at the door in the morning when the birds had managed to peck through the top of the milk bottle – or maybe the same bottle of non-homogenised milk only a few days old. Or maybe the smell from the fruit and vegetable van, which had no issue with selling partly blackened bananas and soft fruit which all combined to the smell set free when the door was opened.

The smell from Henchy’s was similar to Maddens on Bridge Street and a few others on Princes Street.

Trips to town with my each of my grandfathers generally involved a trip to one of the many tobacconists where the preferred mix of tobacco was blended there and then in the shop with the aroma from the containers providing a sweet and pleasant sensation.

Today, I discovered that the correct name is the Kiln River but growing up the river that discharged at Carroll’s Quay and Camden Quay junction was known as either the Smelly River or the Bloody River – a testament to the slaughterhouses that fed into it. This was definitely one of the more memorable unpleasant smells to hit that nose that did not stay untrained for long.

I remember holding my breath walking through the English Market, particularly the fish section. Such action has not been required for quite some time.

Among my recollections of the local shop are the smells of the cooked ham and the fresh vegetables. Refrigeration, air conditioning and packaging mean that these smells no longer greet me at a local shop.

Last weekend, we returned from our holidays with many bunches of carrots and onions just pulled from the sandy soil of the Maharees. It is not stretching matters to say that the journey home was filled with a perfume – days later I am longing for a real true and fresh smell and am reminded that not all progress is good.

If there is a campaign to reinstate smells, I will be signing up.

Delicacies Ltd., 55 Oliver Plunkett St

Oliver Plunkett Street

Possibly 70 year old timber

Follow Your Nose

John Henchy & Sons - providing smells since 1884

Rossa – A Chance to Learn More

12/8/2015

The play a few weeks back has definitely sparked a desire to learn more about Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa so I will try to get to Waterstones on Thursday for Shane Kenna’s book-signing.

The play is being staged again this Sunday 16th and Monday 17th in Skibbereen – definitely worth a visit.

The Man From God Knows Where

11/8/2015

This chain of dots started with early morning radio – pirate style.

The late -seventies and early-eighties were my teenage years and also the age of Pirate-Radio – my preference was Southcoast Radio, which broadcast from over Henchy’s Pub in St. Luke’s Cross. One of the DJ’s introduced me to a band called Five Hand Reel, which included Dick Gaughan.

The DJ must have had at least three of their albums – as I had and, upto yesterday, thought I still had on vinyl, but they are not where they should be. Hence, why the photograph is of a cd cover which will never be the same as an album sleeve.

One of the songs to which I was introduced was ‘The Man From God Knows Where’. [DOT 1]

A few years back, I looked for it on YouTube when creating a playlist but the Five Hand Reel version was not available so I added Phil Coulter and Tommy Makem. [DOT 2]

I did some web searching about Tom Russell and noted that he was a friend of Wolfe Tone and Robert Emmet; he was one of the founders of the United Irishmen;and, in 1803, he was hanged in Downpatrick. That information was floating around the deep recesses with much other trivia. [DOT 3]

On Sunday, I took a different and new route home from Mallow. It was through Dromahane which provided the fourth dot on this little distraction. The monument is as one enters the village from Mallow.

212 years ago – but his actions are still recorded.