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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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Legless in Dingle

30/9/2014

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When at the Dingle Aquarium, we did not spot any starfish regenerating their legs but I thnk we spotted an extra ‘o’ floating around the place.

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Friends on the Road

29/9/2014

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‘Bóthar chumann na gCairde’ translates as ‘Society of Friends Road’, as does ‘bóṫar Ċuman na gcarad’.

When I saw the signs I did wonder for a while as to whether the author wanted to confirm that he did know another name for the Quakers or if there just did not happen to be a ‘Q’ in the Celtic font.

At the bottom of the road, I thought it ought to have been ‘Bóthar chumann creidimh na gCairde’ – ‘Religious Society of Friends Road’, but maybe the sign wasn't long enough.

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Pattern Day on Culture Night

28/9/2014

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Friday Nineteenth was Culture Night.

The weather and life dictated that I couldn’t even get to the two events that I had hoped but I was very lucky to hear the lecture by Shane Lehane at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa on ‘The Pattern Day in Irish Folk Tradition’

Much was learnt including many wells and patterns previously unknown to me – St Killian in Tousist, outside Kenmare; Muckross; Ballygarvan; Galbally, two wells at Lough Ine; and, St Brigid’s Well in Carrigaline. The well at Castlemartyr has a Sheela-na-Gig.



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Religious Blessings

27/9/2014

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Patrick O’Hely, O.F.M., Bishop of Mayo and
Fr. Conn O’Rourke, O.F.M. martyred here 13-8-1579
and
Fr. Maurice MacEnraghty, from Kilmallock
Martyred in Clonmel 20-4-1585.
All three beatified 27-9-1992.
Monument in Their Memory unveiled
here on 14th June 1998 by
Bishop Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh O.F.M
.
“Is beannaithe na mairbh a fhaigheann bás sa Tiarna”
Blessed are those who die in the Lord

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With recent blogs rattling around upstairs, I was sorting out and putting my photographs from the past few months into folders. I came across these photographs from last June in Kilmallock.

 The martyrs were beatified 16 years ago today which is probably reason enough for a blog entry and also for a trail of the internet to learn some more.

Beatification is the third of four steps on the road to sainthood. Wiki is unsure if Pope John Paul II beatified 1,327 or 1,340 people but says that he beatified more people than from 1590 upto his appointment. 17 Irish people were beatified on that one day in 1998.


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From the little I have read – all of it today – the three commemorated in Kilmallock were killed for refusing to give up their religious beliefs – which appears to tick the box for martyrdom. Similar to Thursday, I have having difficulty with church involvement in wars with regard to a few of the others.


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Waiting for Godot

26/9/2014

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I was in Foxrock for my first time a few weeks back.

I did like the little park at the village crossroads – I was rushing for the 19.00 Heuston to Cork so did not linger to appreciate the chill out sensation encouraged by the park.

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Thomas Ashe

25/9/2014

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Thoughts rarely take a straight track.

Today, Ireland in History Day by Day reminded that Thomas Ashe died on this day 97 years ago.

On my travels photographing grottos and the like, Thomas Ashe has appeared twice – the grotto in Lispole has a plaque in his memory and the Calvary at The Mall in Dingle lists a number of men who are remembered. There are very few that I have photographed that do actually combine republican commemoration and religion.

I still find it uncomfortable – the mixing of religion and armed struggle. Christy Moore sung that ‘the men of cloth failed again’.

This then forces consideration as to whether there is any good time for a church to get involved in a war – surely, with members probably on both sides, they will be going against some of their members and so will be wrong in someone’s eyes.
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Dingle Library
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Lispole
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The Mall, Dingle
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Kiskeam
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Kicking Up One's Heels

24/9/2014

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Irish Water are, justifiably in my opinion, getting a lot of criticism regarding their forms and agreements but there is one thing that they do better than the other utility companies – Irish Water’s meter cabinets are in the ground.

Meter boxes used to be indoors until about thirty or so years ago when external electric and gas boxes were introduced – to allow the meters to be read when the residents are not at home.

The technology exists for automated meters with inbuilt SIM cards which can be called by the Utility Company to collect the reading but our government or our local authority have not compelled such technology to be used.

Our government and local authority still consider it acceptable to have  plastic covered meter boxes on the face of buildings, plastic covers which are regularly damaged by vandalism, plastic covers which often come off their hinges, plastic covers which never blend in with the remainder of the property no matter how painted.

Our planners and political leaders consider these acceptable despite the alternative.

The treatment of the meter cabinets at Douglas St is an improvement on the original but ground level chambers or automated readers internally would surely be even better.

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Poetry while one performs

23/9/2014

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Graffiti  would be reasonably commonplace in a gents’ toilet.

I think that this is the first time that I have encountered poetry.

A pleasant distraction.

"Hail glorious East Ferry, the pride of East Cork
Where we love to ramble when we finish work
To stroll in your shade at the close of the day
To unwind and untangle, cast our worries away

We start on the jetty, we stare at the boats,
With summer sun setting we don't need our  coats
Great Island is silent, the woods look so grand, And the Hand of our Maker is here on the land.

So hail glorious East Ferry, the pride of East Cork,
May you always, provide us with spark,
And if were away from your lovely shore
May we always come back for more and for more"

Daniel Clifford, 1990


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An Irish Hero

22/9/2014

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Another blog entry prompted by my reading of Ireland in History Day by Day and the request by John Redmond for Irishmen to join the British Army and fight in World War 1.

This in turn reminded of the framed image of Sgt. Michael O’Leary spotted in The Cork Arms on MacCurtain St on Thursday night.

Then I remember being told of Sgt. O’Leary from Inchigeela who had been awarded a Victoria Cross and he being one of only two named faces used in recruitment posters for the British Army in WW1, the other being Lord Kitchener – who I learnt from Neil Richardson at the Ennis Bookclub Festival was also from Ireland –  Horatio Herbert Kitchener being from Ballylongford, Co. Kerry.

“20 September 1914: John Redmond, the Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party encouraged members of the Irish Volunteers to join the British army on this day. He did this in a speech at Woodenbridge.”

Ireland in History Day by Day

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Manchester Martyrs

21/9/2014

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Ladysbridge, Co. Cork

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Aroi

20/9/2014

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When in Limerick last May and again last weekend, we did stop for food in Aroi on O’Connell St.. On the Sunday of the May bank holiday, the waiting list was too long for us to wait, especially with a seven year old but the following day we were very happy customers.

It was part of the ‘deal’ concluded by our now eight year old that we would go to the same restaurant as I wanted to go to Limerick for the International Brigade Memorial. Again, all left contented.

This afternoon, the latest news from 40 Shades of Life arrived in inbox and Evin was enthusing about Aroi having opened on Carey’s Lane so that decided dinner for the day.

Between the three of us was had chicken wings, spicy calamari, fish of the day, fresh lotus salad, fish noodles and jasmine rice. The flavours were so clean and fresh. One of us thought the spice and dressing in the salad too spicy where another thought perfect – that was the only minor food criticism.

As it was their first day officially open, the chef was out talking to the customers and said that spiciness can be raised or reduced to suit requirements.

We will be back. I think that we have a new favourite restaurant in Cork.

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Carey's Lane, Cork
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Éamon de Valera , Bruree

19/9/2014

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The things one learns on travelling the by-roads…..

I never knew that Éamon de Valera lived in Bruree, Co.Limerick.

His old house did not meet a similar fate to that of Michael Collins.


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It's Polish

18/9/2014

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Of late, I have noted a number of vans with the operator’s/driver’s name on the side – regularly it is stated as a self-employed franchisee.

Today in Patrick St., I spotted another with an interesting addition or qualification.

Maybe the brackets were added to distinguish from the West Cork branch of the Okroj family.

Or maybe to explain the missing apostrophe.

Or maybe not…..

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Packie Duignan & Ciarán Emmett

17/9/2014

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June was the first, and to date only, time that I have been in Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim – and it was only a ‘passing through’ trip but I did stop for these plaques to Packie Duignan and Ciarán Emmett

I thought it nice and fitting that two who played together are recognised so close together.

Similar to Gort, it appears that recognition is in terms of a Traditional Music Weekend
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Eliza Lynch

16/9/2014

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Another name that was new to me.

Driving to Limerick last Sunday, we spotted this sign outside Charleville. Since then the web has educated as to the film, Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay, staring Maria Doyle Kennedy.


She was born in Charleville; left Ireland for Paris during the Famine; dug the grave of her lover and son with her bare hands; she was called The Queen of Paraguay; she was the world largest female landowner; and, that her body was exhumed from Paris and brought to Asuncion.

I don’t think we will get to the commemorative celebrations this weekend but one never knows – plans can change.
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