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William Kingston Survived The War

28/8/2016

It may be a bit akin to asking a child to name their favourite uncle. Every headstone in a graveyard records a life lived and a life passed – they all represent a passing and an end of life.

I have visited many cemeteries and have seen a large number of the CWGC headstones to commemorate those who died in the World Wars or of causes attributable to the wars upto 31 August 1921 and 31 December 1947.

The Old Church Cemetery (Clonmel) in Cobh has a large number of CWGC headstones, probably a factor of being closest to the naval base used by boats from many different countries. When in Dunmanway, I only spotted one at St. Mary’s Fanlobbus Church Cemetery but it hit home harder to this viewer than any in Cobh.

I had similar feelings when standing in the lobby of the Church of St. James in Killorglin.

World War I ended on 11th November, 1918 – eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

William Kingston could say that he survived the war but he could only say that for 12 days – dying on 23rd November, 1918.

To survive the war and all its horrors, only to die less than two weeks later – such a shame.

I have made a note to self to visit City Library to read possible reports in Cork Examiner as to death of that Royal Munster Fusilier, William Kingston

Spectamur Agendo.

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It's Its

26/8/2016

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set on it's own grounds

A few friends have counselled that I need to curb my tendency to point out errors of spelling and grammar – not that such counsel may come back to bite me, that has happened and I survived intact, more a fear of resulting in a punch to the nose.

I have been in The Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown very many times – convenient half-way for Cork/Limerick meetings (I spotted Munster Rugby there a few times) and decent food on the road home.

I have passed through the entrance lobby often. I cannot recall this sign previously. Last week was my first time reading it – also first time noticing its existence so maybe new.

I just had to return to reception to point out the sign. There ensued a discussion as to ‘it’ and the use of apostrophe – only when shortening of ‘it is’ or 'it has' and not denoting possession.

Thankfully I left without adjustment to my facial configuration.

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‘Today I know how to salute beauty’

24/8/2016

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‘I have made a magic study of the good thing that eludes nobody.’ – Arthur Rimbaud

'O seasons, o castles!
What soul is flawless?

I have made the magic study
of happiness, which no one eludes.

Salute to it, each time
the Gallic cock sings.

Ah! I will have no more desires:
it has taken over my life.

This charm has taken soul and body
and broken up my efforts.

O seasons, o castles!

The hour of its flight, alas!
It will be the hour of death.

O seasons, o castles!
That is gone.

Today I know how to salute beauty'

Arthur Rimbaud

Cemeteries can be uplifting.

Sometimes it may be a nicely curved stone; an unusual inclusion on the memorial; or, sometimes just the shape. There are so many blog posts here prompted by what has been seen on headstones and in graveyards that I had to create a separate category.

Sometimes it can be the inscription.

Songs by Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and Harry Lauder were all first encountered in a cemetery. Words and poems have been similarly found.

St. Eltin’s Cemetery in Kinsale recently continued with my education.

I did not understand the meaning of the inscription at the time. Nearly two weeks later, I still don’t, but I continue to love the term ‘magic study of the good things that elude nobody’.

The web has assisted my learning.

Arthur Rimbaud wrote A Season in Hell in 1873 when only 18 years old after the sentencing of poet Paul Verlaine, who had left his pregnant wife to have a 2 year relationship with Rimbaud, often tempestuous and lacking wealth. Paul Verlaine was sentenced to 2 years for shooting Arthur Rimbaud.

My uncle had worked in Aden over 50 years ago, selling insurance to British soldiers, I think. It was a name that entered my brain long ago and has there remained with a sense of intrigue.

Arthur Rimbaud after recovering at home in Charleville (the French variety, not Cork) travelled and settled in Aden dealing in coffee and guns – a story that has added to the intrigue.

I now know a small bit more about Arthur Rimbaud and A Season In Hell. I suspect it will be some time, if ever, before I have an understanding of the writing.

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Carnegie Library

22/8/2016

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Cork still manages to throw up a surprise or two…

I had mentally filed away that the Carnegie Library in Cork was on Anglesea Street and was a victim of The Burning of Cork in December 1920. It was built only 15 years previously.

On my travels, I have spotted Carnegie Libraries in Millstreet and Skerries. There are many others but those two both are nice buildings, particularly Skerries – much more so that the Cork City Fire Station building that now occupies what I understand to be where the part of the Carnegie Library stood – from the photograph, it appears to be on part of the new Civic Offices and the Fire Station (see December).

Both Millstreet and Skerries have plaques to record the Carnegie Library but I have not seen any record on Anglesea Street or elsewhere in Cork.

Earlier this month, I was taking a scove. Down Tuckey Street, I looked to my left and spotted engraving on top of the pillars that I had not observed before. Maybe it was the light because I had photographed on the access road previously (You’re in Cork Now Like) – or maybe the new glasses are an improvement.

I think these pillars hold the gates to the rear of the City Library – which would make sense.

As they had remained unseen by these eyes for so long, they have now gone on to my ‘Hidden Gems’ list.

Anglesea Street Fire Station

Cónal Creedon's Documentary

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Who is TG?

20/8/2016

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Clara, Co. Offaly

More than once or twice, I have mentioned that I am on a bit of a Seamus Murphy trail – looking for and admiring his work at very many locations.

When in Tullamore recently, I had to travel the extra twelve miles to Clara to appreciate and photograph the headstone erected to remember William Cochrane Mercier.

I am getting better at recognising his headstones – the thickness, the stone, the profile. The lettering, the edge detailing and the distinctive red engraving are generally confirmation only. The sculptor’s name is regularly observed for my own particular game – R.H.A., A.R.H.A. or no letting; Murphy, O Murcaḋa, or O Murchú. Each of these alternatives are engraved on different works.

Since I learned that most engraving is now computerised, I have been keeping an eye open for what appears to my eye to be hand-engraving. I have spotted a few by Ken Thompson in graveyards. I do like the images of @PoorFrankRaw.

In the graveyard of St. Brigid’s Church in Clara, I spotted a headstone which appeared to be hand engraved and detailed. It had what appeared to be the initials of the craftsman – TG.

TG has now gone onto my ‘To Find Out More’ list.

Clara, Co. Offaly

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Awfully Offaly

18/8/2016

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I wonder if I have spent too much time looking at signs. I did not spot anything wrong with this when photographing, admittedly from the other side of the road – that happened only when reviewing the photographs from my trip to Tullamore recently.

I like the script for the streetnames as gaeilge but there appeared to be a fada missing - Uíbh Fhailí.

I did check with logainm.ie who confirmed that they have no record of an Offally St but do have for Offaly St. – which does translate as Sráid Uíbh Fhailí.

I cannot be the first person to have spotted this particular spelling.

I wonder if there is a story to its name or maybe the signmaker may have wished to be a BIFFO…

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Remembering The Seanchaí

11/8/2016

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2015

I have been to Gneeveguilla only once. Entering the village as the light was fading on a lazy Sunday evening, I never expected that it would inspire a streak of inquisitiveness that has led to very many dots of historical information that are now connected in my web of a brain. Neither did I expect that a year later, the visit would prompt a visit to the theatre for a very enjoyable performance.

Leaving my family behind on the Dingle Peninsula to enjoy a warm summer week, I returned to Cork to continue the struggle for the legal tender. I diverted to Gneeveguilla, a detour promted by a previous blog when I learned of a ‘Gneeve’.

The detour was profitable in feeding my hunt for grottos and postboxes before I arrived at the village where I was brought back to many evenings watching television in my youth. I grew up within 15 minute walk of Patrick St yet the stories of The Seanchaí were always watched and enjoyed.

A month later, visiting friends, I spotted The Apprentice on their bookshelf and it went on to my ‘To Find & Buy’ list – within months it was taken off that list, as were two other Éamon Kelly books.

2016

Within the last couple of months, the three books have been read and appreciated. There were not enough flysheets to accommodate the very many notes that I scrawled to remind me as to possible future (or past) connections to add to the web of knowledge. I prefer the flysheets to notes in the margin – time spent finding the page with the margin note has taught me that lesson.

There was quite a number of nuggets about people and places that I had blogged previously – Jerome Connor’s statue that he spotted in Washington; acting in the plays of T.C. Murray and adapted from Seumus O’Kelly; and, the tradition of telling the bees of family news to which Mikel Murfi first introduced me.

My interest in matters relating to Seamus Murphy was also stirred in that I learned that there was a one-man play adapted from his book Stone Mad and that Seamus Murphy believed that the lettering on Nelson’s Column was the best example in Ireland – I sense Donal Fallon’s book moving onto that list.

Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry

Cork Arts Theatre

To Find Out More List

The three books have provided little bits of knowledge about so many things that I need to find out more (ever connecting).

I have enjoyed a pint in The Blue Bull in Sneem. It was Éamon Kelly who educated that The Blue Bull was a Synge Play.

I will need to return to Gneeveguilla to photograph the plaque to Mick Sullivan who was shot by Black & Tans while Éamon Kelly was in the adjacent school – the list of Civil War and War of Independence memorials ever growing.

There are many traditions that intrigued, sounded lovely or just demanded further exploring – families joined in butter; overnight fasting prior to receiving Holy Communion; family owning a church pew so those standing at back did not have funds to purchase and pay rent on pew; stopping the clock upon a death, as seen in Jean deFlorette; and the giving of a disease to another similar to leaving cloth on a rag tree at a Holy Well.

It also introduced words to me, many appear derived for Irish. These will keep me going for some time. The list is below but any education as to ‘gripe’; ‘hoult’; ‘fakah’;or, ‘roiseters’ would be welcome.

A Visit To The Theatre

This week I spotted that Jack Healy had a play based upon the stories of Éamon Kelly at The Cork Arts Theatre on Camden Quay.

Yesterday lunchtime was a magnificent hour spent listening, smiling, laughing and remembering.

More than halfway through the show, I was reminded as to one of my flysheet notes in The Journeyman. There had been quite a few different stories. Éamon Kelly in The Journeyman was writing of ‘In My Father’s Time’ – ‘We found that a number of stories told one after the other could sound episodic. There had to be a changing relationship between the pieces, and the links had to be carefully thought out to make seamless the fabric, which we hoped would be colourful and entertaining’.

My flysheet note was that the book, unlike The Apprentice which I found much more interesting, was failing to flow. Fair play to Jack Healy. With the benefit of reflection on my hour or so in the auditorium, the different aspects and stories flowed; and, the knitting of the stories was brilliant and of a manner that brought the occasion up to date.
I had heard or read of a few of the stories but the delivery, verbally and with actions, made them a new experience – I laughed even when I knew the punchline.

It is in the Cork Arts Theatre only until tomorrow night but is intended to travel later in the year.

I do recommend.

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Graveyard Neighbours

8/8/2016

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Thomas Wallace, 1st Cork Brigade, Old I.R.A.

Midleton, Co Cork

There was quite an amount of comments about the Remembrance Wall at Glasnevin Cemetery. I read of many objections to the listing together of those who fought on both sides – those who fought against each other.

There is a possibility that one that died in Easter 1916 is listed on the wall with the name of the person who killed him on the same wall. The killing may have been deliberate or unintentional as the wall also lists those who were not involved in the fighting, innocent bystanders.

At the time, a seed was planted to do a blog on the neighbouring headstones that I spotted in Rathcooney Cemetery and Midleton Cemetery, both in Co. Cork. When I spotted these I was reminded of Christy Moore’s Cabaret.

“When the elections are all over we’ll be pushing up clover

I tell ye everyone in the graveyard votes the same.”
Christy Moore

W. Froyne d 1915.06.24

Rathcooney, Co. Cork

M O'Callaghan d. 1918.10.28

W. Buckley d. 1922.09.26

That seed has taken some time to germinate. The growth spurt prompted by a tweet from Luke Portess as to similar bedfellows in Glasnevin.

I remembered a talk from Neil Richardson at Ennis Bookclub Festival being surprised at the very large percentage of Irishmen in the British Army at the time of World War One – as Ireland was a part of the British Empire, they were also fighting for or defending their country.

At the launch of ‘The Immortal Deed of Michael O’Leary’, Danny Morrison spoke of his grandfather joining the British Army in 1917 and that very many Irishmen joined on the understanding that victory would lead to freedom for Ireland (text here – well worth a read)

The seed has been a long time in bearing fruit but I am thinking that these neighbouring souls could actually have had the same hopes – just a different way of getting there. If one had not died in World War I, they might even have fought together some years later.

We will never know…..

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MIXED MESSAGES.

William Kingston Survived The War

It's Its

‘Today I know how to salute beauty’

‘I have made a magic study of the good thing that eludes nobody.’ – Arthur Rimbaud

Carnegie Library

Cork still manages to throw up a surprise or two…

Who is TG?

Awfully Offaly

Remembering The Seanchaí

2015

2016

To Find Out More List

A Visit To The Theatre

Graveyard Neighbours

Author

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