I would be far from competent in art appreciation but even I can spot the chopped off fingers in both paintings so assume the same artist.

As for looking for guidance as to interpretation of the image, unfortunately you are on the wrong webpage.

A few weeks ago, I was listening to the Documentary On One on RTE about the Dingle Sturgeon and there was mention of the publican,
Mikey Long who was responsible for very many exhibits at the Natural History Museum. If anything unusual was caught and landed at Dingle, Mikey Long would pack it off to the Museum after rewarding  the fisherman with a pint.

I then remembered the photograph taken in July.

 For me, this is an example of an ideal plaque – recording details of someone whose renown would not have had a wide reach but who did improve the public good by his actions.

There are a number of different views one could take on work being carried out by someone.

One could say that it the work that he is being paid to do and is that not reward enough – no further recognition is required.

But one says thank you to a shop teller – most of the time.

I found this plaque refreshing that enough local people thought highly enough of Fran Cleary’s work that they wished to record a ‘thank you’.

The enhancement of self-worth in just hearing these two words may them so valuable.

Get Thee to Tralee Next Saturday.(Correction - Next Friday29th November)

We went to Ennis last Saturday for the night and discovered that there was a gig on in Glór. We got tickets for the three of us (including our seven year old). The auditorium was less than half-full but the gig was brilliant. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There was a definite sense of something new and original coming from the stage. 

I have attended Leonard Cohen live on two occasions in the past two years. On both occasions, he re-used, in whole or part, an intro to at least one song that I would have heard from his live album. It must be difficult to be original for every song every night.

On Saturday, one sensed that each introduction was said for the first time – the others on stage were hearing of it for the first time, as were the audience. There was a palpable buzz of a fresh relationship with the coming together of three independent artists (one a band) – not just wondering what the other might say and when but a definite mutual liking and enjoyment.
 
The music was respectful to the original tune – to many varying degrees – but never to the extent that you thought it was a case of simply changing the words and keeping the tune. The final song of the night ‘Ní hin an tslí chun slán a rá’ (That’s no way to say goodbye) was repeated – so we got two different treatments; both hopping.

The three artists (Liam O’Maonlaí, The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra and Hilary Bow) combined to provide 5 vocalists – each brought their own to a particular song.

This wasn’t just an aural experience. There was a visual back-drop with a picture slideshow of Leonard Cohen and images appropriate to the lyrics. These images included the words being sung at the time. For me, non-fluent in Irish, these were needed. A definite enhancement.

The only improvements for me could have been the inclusion of ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ and possibly a larger audience or smaller venue – minor issues.

I like Leonard Cohen. I have started conversational Irish classes so do have an interest. You can take whatever possible bias from these as you wish.

I am hoping to get to Tralee on Saturday ( Correction - Friday 29th) for the final gig so again you can take whatever inference you wish.

While travelling to Macroom some weeks ago, I spotted a plaque on the wall of the Ovens Bar and stopped to investigate.

This could be argued to be another case of ‘paper never refusing ink’ or even ‘stone never refusing engraving’.

 So many unanswered questions:
 -         Why are  the winners not recorded?
 -         What makes this game so noteworthy, and so much more important that all others, to  warrant recording in stone?
 -         Why is this activity of the bishop more deserving of recognition that his other activities?

I spotted some street art recently that differed from the norm.

This is the first version of street art or graffiti that I can recall that is actually a game. I have passed by a few times since but have yet to see anyone availing of the art and throwing or kicking at the target.

When in Clon a few weeks ago, I spotted some writing on the wall of the hall of a pub and stopped to photograph.

I was not in the market for a drink that day but the message has definitely put O’Sullivan’s at the top of the list for a quiet pint the next time I head west. So appropriate in terms on content and location – just enough to raise one’s curiosity.

When in Clonakilty recently, I spotted this plaque on the floor as one enters De Barras bar on Pearse Street.

I know that there are more susceptible to wear and erosion but I am beginning to like the idea of plaques at thresholds – more subtle but still prominent.

The ten years from 2003 have flown as I would have thought his passing was more recent.

It was another tug on the conscience of Get Busy Living. If I am to live as long, I have less than ten years to complete whatever is on the Bucket List – better start compiling that list.

On my way home, I stopped in Ballinascarthy recently to photograph the Wall Art. It was colourful and definitely drew my attention when heading west earlier in the day.

It was only then that I spotted the words that are being prepared to accompany the art. The incomplete saying does make one wonder if the author became so miserable as to not complete the works; or, whether having noticed his spelling the artist gave up in despair; or, maybe the rain came and painting was postponed.

An interesting concept though; one which some may think has existed for the past six years; a bit 1984-ish – a Department of Misery.

Last Saturday morning, I got a very enlightening and enjoyable guided tour of part of the City Centre which was conducted by Tom Spalding. His walk as part of the heritage Day was overbooked and so an additional walk in conjunction with Liam Russell’s was organised for Saturday.

 It dealt substantially with street signage but other nuggets of information were also found.

Towards the end we arrived at Tuckey Street and Tom stopped to talk about this sign that I had photographed some months ago.

He understands that the sign was originally on the building on the corner of Grand Parade and Tuckey St which, I understand burnt down, and now forms part of Bishop Lucey Park. This is consistent with the current siting of
the sign – both in terms of height on building (at shopfront height is rather low) and also in respect of position within the street (signs were generally at the beginning and end of streets and not in the middle).

He pointed out details, some of which I had not observed, which indicates that the sign-writer may not have been very experienced:
 -         For each of the three lines of text, there are three lightly scored lines, similar to what I recall from primary school to get our proportions for letters correct
-         The first row appears reasonably well set out but an ability to appropriately set out the second row was beyond the writer,
-         The gap between ‘E’ and ‘T’ in ‘STREET’,
-         The fancy tail to the ‘U’, and
-         The odd ‘6’.

Reading this back, it does make it look like an uninteresting walk and talk. That is so far from the truth.

I was christened into the Catholic faith at three days of age. My mother was still in hospital and would not be allowed back into a Catholic Church until she had been ‘churched’. My parents possibly spotted my tendency to agnosticism which took over sixteen years later. That has been my faith ever since.

 Maybe it was my particular perspective but I did smile when passing Clon Business Solution premises on Pearse Street in Clonakilty last month, before Halloween.

 Yet another reaffirmation of the saying that this is not a trial run and that we only live once. Another reminder to get busy living or get busy dying.

I have been photographing plaques and signs for this blog since February. For even longer, I would have read plaques as I passed them.

This is the only one that I have seen so far to commemorate a faction fight.

As to why it was considered appropriate to commemorate a faction fight, I do no know…..

Neither do I know but I do wonder whether Julia O’Callaghan was  an innocent bystander or whether she considered herself as good a fighter as the males…….