Blog Archives - Reading the Signs

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Bringing One’s Work Home

25/9/2016

Today’s blog is proof positive that knowledge, even assumed, is merely connecting the dots of information.

Dot 1 was inspired by curiosity. On one of my regular trips to Dunmanway, I spotted this unusual tiled band on a detached house on the Relief Road.

The house was situated where one might expect a lodge but appeared to be a bit more grand than most lodges.

Dot 2 was provided by the internet some weeks later when I went looking at mRNA and RECO and some more abbreviations/words on the tiles. I was quickly overloaded with matters well beyond my scientific knowledge.

I then knew that the tiled band related to DNA but was really no nearer why it was on someone’s house.

Dots 3 and 4 fell instep almost together.

I read of the West Cork Education Centre project, ’What is Life’, which was in conjunction with Prof John Atkins of U.C.C.

Atkins is a name on a few buildings in Dunmanway. A question of a local confirmed that the lands upon which this ‘lodge’ sits are of the Atkins family.

I now suppose that Prof Atkins, or a relation, is responsible for the writing of the wall – the detail on the façade of the building.

I think I have solved my own question.

I do like the tiles.

Significance of 234?

24/9/2016

I spotted this plaque recently on the gable wall of the former Infant School at Higher O’Connell Street in Kinsale.

The screw fixings do give the indication that it is probably not original to the building. Google streetview confirms that it was in place in 2011.

I am lost as to its meaning.

I have not seen anything like it before, or since.

Any ideas.

Discriminating Against Irish Speakers

23/9/2016

It may not be as important or as news-worthy as Cormac Ó Bruic’s departure from The Flying Enterprise or Na Piarsaigh football team bein g instructed to speak English.

No doubt it is human error and an oversight but arguably it is discrimination nonetheless.

English speakers can park in the Loading Bay on Woods Street on Saturdays and Sundays – they being outside the prohibited periods on Monday to Friday.

Those communicating through Irish are prohibited on Saturday – Dé Sathrain.

Keeping Open a Beady Eye

21/9/2016

The frog was keeping an eye on me. I almost missed him completely.

The Henley family headstone is in St. Finbarr’s Cemetery. I liked the shape and detail and was taking some photographs. Only then did I spot the frog.

I think that this is a great detail. Not only will I now remember the Henley family, but I will remember with a smile.

Respect too to Wallis Monumental Sculptors in Midleton.

An Appropriate Carving

16/9/2016

Take a while to appreciate the carving on a headstone at St. John’s Cemetery, Glantane (near Mallow).

My trail in search of the work of Seamus Murphy continues – a very successful week was had.

This morning, I had a very enjoyable hour at Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool where there was an exhibition on the work of SM as part of Culture Night.

Saturday afternoon was spent in St Finbarr’s Cemetery. A meeting in Dunmanway of Tuesday allowed me to take time out and travel on to Drimoleague, Castlehaven, Myross and Clonakilty to admire and record.

The carving above was taken on my last trip to the Dingle Peninsula this summer when yet another detour was taken.

I spotted the headstone immediately as I entered the cemetery. The shape, stone, thickness and colour of engraving make the work of SM distinctive, and helpful to spot.

I was immediately taken with the carving. I was appreciating it so much that it was a small while before I read (and translated) the inscription.

Then, I was even more impressed with the carving and its appropriateness to remember and commemorate a young life – a life of only eight years.

Feargal Ó Tuama - ag smaoineamh ort.

A Nod to the Blacksmith

15/9/2016

Early in my blogging life, I pondered why the deceased’s qualifications might be carved on a headstone. It was the first time that I had read such detail and it did cause me to wonder why.

The time that has passed since then has allowed me to ponder why; to consider my opinion on my own degree; and, to observe many other qualifications engraved commemorating a life passed.

It is nearly thirty years since I received a piece of paper with Latin writing conferring me and acknowledging me as the holder of a degree. It has spent nearly all of the intervening period at the bottom of a drawer of a filing cabinet.

I am not sure, at this remove, that I respected the education received or the challenge set to make the grade. I suspect that this is an influencing factor in me rarely appending my qualifications to my name. They are only rolled out when really expected by the recipient of the piece of paper with my signature.

I have never thought of the letters as one of the four words that might best describe me.

Now is definitely too late. We have eyes in the front of our heads to allow us to look forward only – not any other direction. I wonder what might have happened with a different study choice and C.A.O. selection.

Seeing so many headstones with qualifications proudly displayed, I am jealous of those who were challenged by their education and who rose to the challenge; jealous of those who are so proud of their achievement that they far from hide it; and jealous of those who enjoy their work.

I have seen very many such headstones and now nod in admiration.

There are two careers in particular which demand a longer nod. The challenge of a sculptor to prepare a memorial to another sculptor – possibly his master – must be huge. On my Seamus Murphy trail, I have noted that he made the headstone to his sculptor father-in-law. ’No pressure there, then’ as the saying goes.

My admiration for the craft of the Blacksmith has been the subject of more than one or two blogs. The recording of ‘Blacksmith’ on a headstone always prompts a serious nod of appreciation and respect.

On Tuesday, in Abbeystrowry Cemetery, the headstone prompted a smile at the appropriateness of the perimeter treatment of the plot – the craft and skill did not die with James Hourihan.

I like.

Abbeystrowry Cemetery, Skibbereen

Joseph Higgins headstone, Curraghkippane by SM

A Free Spirit

14/9/2016

I still have not found four words that I am happy might describe me.

I regularly think of the Turf Cutter and The Swashbuckler.

Yesterday, at Castlehaven New Cemetery, I read and my mind quickly ran off to a song that has been prominent on my brain for many months now – Bee’s Wing by Richard Thompson, or Christy Moore.

I left humming.

I drove on with admiration for the rough slate headstone; jealous of the life lived by Denise Madeline Malone; and, wondering if there is time to convert to being a ‘Free Spirit’.

“She was a rare thing fine as a bee’s wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child, she was runnin’ wild (she said)
So long as theres no price on love I’ll stay
You wouldn’t want me any other way.”
Richard Thompson

Variations on a Con

13/9/2016

Abbeystrowry, Skibbereen

Castlehaven, Skibbereen

Con, Connie, Cornelia and Neilus – I have met at least one person with each these names on my journeys about this planet.

I do not think that I have ever met a ‘Cornelious’ but some of those who I addressed as ‘Cornelius’ may have been silently offended at my assumption as to the spelling of their name.

When I spotted this headstone at Abbeystrowry Cemetery earlier, my first thought was that it was an unusual spelling – one that I had not seen previously. My crossword brain then kicked in thinking that words ending in ‘ious’ are generally adjectives – devious, previous, conscious…

Reading down the headstone, it appears that ‘Cornelious’ was a popular name in a branch of the McCarthy clan.

There are many names that demand clarification as to spelling when first introduced to the nameholder – Ahern/Aherne; Mahony/ O’Mahony/ O’Mahoney (generally leads to a soup discussion); and, Isobel/Isabel/Isabelle.

Cornelius/ Cornelious has now been added to that list.

Quarter Mile Marker

8/9/2016

I very much like the idea of bringing metal or even street furniture into the garden as a feature.

I still hope for a phone box – and a letter box. I was jealous of JV’s Cannon Bath.

I do have a hopper, a yellow fire hydrant ‘H’ sign and recently got the top of an old bus stop when CIE were installing the new design bus stops. I think that they improve the garden – not everyone agrees but they definitely provide a discussion topic.

The most recent acquisition is a church pew – an adequately sized location is the current hurdle.

When in Kerry during the summer, my envy increased a few levels when I spotted what I assume to be a railway line marker.

The Inchicore Works from 1899 for the Great Southern & Western Railway – absolutely lovely and guaranteed to start a discussion.

An absolute beauty – in the eyes of this beholder.

Goodhand

7/9/2016

The annual Irish Times list of most common children’s names tends not to change much – but below the top twenty, I suspect that there are a few names plummeting or even disappearing.

I do not think I know of someone called Gobnait, Concepta, or Attracta (shortened to Tracta) who is under the age of fifty.

I have a recollection of there being very many by the names of Mary, Finbarr, Noreen and Margaret when growing up – but I do not think that I have heard anyone in school with or playing with our ten year old by any of those names. Even extending the search to friends of neighbours, nephews and nieces does not hit a match with those names.

Even Patrick and Michael are 16th and 8th on the Irish Times list. They are definitely not as often encountered as they were when I was younger. Out of 120 pupils in my year, we could probably have had a full team made up of just Mike, Micheal, Padraig and all derivatives of Michael and Patrick – all children of the mid-sixties.

Recently visiting St . Mary’s Cemetery at Fanlobbus in Dunmanway, I spotted this headstone to Goodhand Clarke. My first thought was that it was a name more likely to be heard on The Little House on the Prairie or in a film about the Amish community – not one in West Cork.

I do like the name – both the sound and the message.

I am not sure our society is creating very many Goodhand’s.

Irish National Foresters

6/9/2016

More than once, I have commented that I have learnt from various plaques and signs that I have spotted – today’s blog is another lesson learnt.

I assumed that the Irish National Foresters was a trade association for those working in woodlands and forestry. It made me immediately think of Monty Python and their lumberjack song.

Today, a tweet of a ghostsign in Edinburgh for the Ancient Order of Foresters reminded me of the visit to Tullamore last month and this sign over Fergie’s Bar on Market Place. It prompted some education from the web.

The Ancient Order of Foresters was founded in 1834. The Irish National Foresters broke away in 1877 and became the largest friendly society in Ireland, supporting Irish nationalism and ‘government for Ireland by the Irish people in accordance with Irish ideas and Irish aspirations’. A procession in Dublin in 1923 was attended by 25,000.

There are some branches remaining, particularly in Ulster but also in Navan where those in the Irish National Foresters Brass Band are still blowing.

It is a bad day when one does not learn something new.

Cinema Fire - 48 dead

5/9/2016

Last April was the first time hearing of the Dromcollogher Cinema Disaster.

Maybe it is a sign of my own vintage – taking fifty years to hear of such a human tragedy.

I still remember waking up on a February morning to do some study for my Inter Cert, turning on the radio and hearing of the Stardust Disaster.

As one who would have been with my grandfather to many different sports grounds, watching the F.A. Cup semi-final at Hillsborough unfold on the television is well engraved on my own grey surface – on our recent visit to Liverpool, I was happy that my nine-year old accompanied me while we went to stand and remember at the memorial at Anfield – just a week after the inquest jury findings.

In May 1985, four of us should have been studying for our second year exams – results subsequently proved that 75% of us needed extra study time. Study lost out to a trip to the beach at Clogherhead. I still remember heading through the pub door with the Bradford City fire disaster on the television – I thought of how many timber stands I had stood to watch matches and get out of the rain.

As blogged previously, I first learned of the collapse of the Carmody Hotel from a sign. Last April, taking a road not previously travelled and involving a decent detour on the trip to Baile an Fheirteártaigh / An Buailtín, I stopped in Dromcollogher and was photographing a plaque at the old co-operative when spotted by JOD.

I explained my interest in signs and plaques and was then educated for the first time as to the Cinema Fire – and the memorials at the Library and the church. A tweet this morning from Irish History Links reminded me of the event.

The Dromcollogher Cinema Fire claimed 48 lives – the same number of fatalities as the Stardust in 1981.

The fire at the Dromcollogher Cinema happened 90 years ago – 5th September, 1926.