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Headstone Standard Alphabet

31/12/2014

I was in Lisdoonvarna earlier today and came across what must rank as one of the most unusual content of a plaque that I have ever come across.

The next time we head to Clare, I’ll have to have a pint and ask the reason as to why…..

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Galway Volunteers

30/12/2014

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This Volunteer station is in the entrance foyer at Galway University Hospital.

A number of thoughts came to mind:

Why are there two chairs for one volunteer?

The location of the sign could not be in very many more prominent locations – as one enters the main hospital block.

I hope that the hospital is more concerned with their medical treatment than their spelling, but should they not be accurate in both?

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Staker Wallis

29/12/2014

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“PATRICK ‘STAKER’ WALLIS

A stark memorial stands in the square commemorates Patrick ‘Stalker’ Wallis who was executed in Kilfinane shortly after the 1798 Rebellion. Wallis was a member of the United Irishmen, whose rebellion was one of the bloodiest in Irish history. He was captured by Captain Charles Silver Oliver, who had him repeatedly flogged and tortured. After considerable brutality over several days, Wallis was hanged and his severed head displayed on a spike over Kilfinane Market House.”

Kilfinane Historical Board

My knowledge of Irish history is really poor.

I did not continue with history to Leaving Certificate but my knowledge as to the 1798 Rebellion; the Whiteboys; and the retributions was effectively Nil until I started to read some signs.

Patrick Wallis is another to prove that I am still learning.

The Lament for Staker Wallis

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Hung, Drawn, Quartered and Burnt

28/12/2014

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Since starting this blog, I have read a small number of plaques regarding Martyrs.

Recently, outside Durrow in Co. Laois, I came across another plaque to Martyrs who were, upto then, totally unknown to me.

At least I now know a little about John O’Molloy, Cornelius o’Doherty and Geoffrey O’Farrell – and also that there are quite a number of Irish Martyrs.

“Franciscan Memorial

In memory of the three Franciscan Friars

John O’Molloy, Cornelius O’Doherty, Geoffrey O’Farrell

Martyred 15th December 1588

They had been inspired preachers of the Word of God to their people in the Catholic tradition and had ministered throughout Leinster. According to records, they were captured and first beaten with sticks and scourged with whips. They were then offered rich rewards to abandon their beliefs which all three rejected. As a result they were hanged, drawn and quartered and their remains burnt in Oldtown, Abbeyleix.”

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An Fánaí

27/12/2014

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Last Sunday, we went to John Spillane’s concert at the Everyman Palace. It was the seventeenth year of the concert on the Sunday before Christmas but the first one that we attended.

We will be back for more.

Ger Wolfe, Conal Creedon and U.C.C. Choir were the special guests. Our eight year old was singing along – especially to The Ferry Arms; The Sirius; and others from the current album.

Conal Creedon’s introduction did provoke thought. He said he had difficulty in introducing someone who was so well known to all in Cork, recording the events of now and the past. He suggested that in years to come, we will be questioned as to ‘Oh! You went to a John Spillane gig. What was it like?’

Made me wonder as to what events I have been to or people who I have met who will be the object of awe or remembrance in the future…….

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Sundown Pint

26/12/2014

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No written sign today – just a record of a lovely sunset at Inch beach, before we adjourned to an Poc ar Buile in Ballinrostig.

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Peter Golden

25/12/2014

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I spotted this plaque on a house in Masseytown in Macroom when taking a quick bypass of the traffic in the town.

Upto then, Peter Golden was unknown to me.

I now know a bit more now of a man who was friends with both Terence McSwiney (his second cousin) and Éamon deValera; who read Ulysses in which Macroom is mentioned; who was a heavily involved in fundraising for the Republican movement; and who is the only non-combatant and U.S. citizen buried in the Republic Plot in St. Finbarr’s Cemetery.

I need to reserve a book from the library to learn even more….

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The thunder and the singing of birds.....

24/12/2014

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For the day that is in it, further proof that Galway leaves everywhere else in its wake when it comes to public poetry.

“The thunder and the singing of the birds

Are but His voice – and carved by His power

Rocks are His written words”

J. M. Plunkett ‘I see His Blood Upon the Rose’

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Market Avenue - Wall Art

23/12/2014

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I am not sure that I would classify this thoroughfare as an Avenue.

Regardless, the Wall Art which I spotted recently is a welcome addition.

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After The Hobbit, do some building…

22/12/2014

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No Such Thing As Bad Publicity – Chapter 21

I spotted this van yesterday. There are probably more alternatives that did not come to mind but the three that did were:

Have Warner Brothers moved on from The Hobbit to building contracting in Cork?

Is the logo not subject to copyright?

Whoever WB Building & carpentry are, the logo has achieved the desired effect of promoting discussion.

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"... and the next he's gone."

21/12/2014

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Somethings, we take for granted. They have always been there. They always will.

Sometimes this extends to people. Particularly people we don’t know but know to see. People we recognise from the coffee shop or the bus.

I remember some Saturday afternoons/evenings in my schooldays just standing listening to a busker in Princess Street – I even went to buy a replacement string. I was reminded of that last Saturday when reading this on the noticeboard in Shandon Street.

People will not always be there…..

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Marry Soos

20/12/2014

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With thanks to Micko

The bag was received from Phoenix House – a Chinese restaurant at St. Luke’s Cross.

I spotted the ‘Soos’ but the ‘Marry’ had to be pointed out to me.

Presumably, the restaurant spotted neither.

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Lovely

19/12/2014

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PM's pint

This is a first – a photograph that I could almost taste.

This arrived this evening – about three hours after the last of quite a few telephone calls with PM during the day; a day that went from bad to worse for both of us. A day when the hope of finishing up for the Christmas break on Friday disappeared around 11 and Tuesday is now looking like a work day.

The photo arrived with a single word – ‘Lovely’.

I couldn’t put it better…….

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Contemplating A Joint

18/12/2014

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The NHS, Mayo Clinic, VHI and many other websites have sections relating to ‘joint pain’.

Google believes that if one if trying to find information on ‘joints pain’, one actually means ‘joint pain’.

In Cork, maybe sufferers are afflicted with pain in multiple joints. Or maybe not….

As for 'Intelligent Innovation', is not all innovation intelligent?

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Sailor’s Warning

17/12/2014

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This photograph was taken yesterday morning when our eight year old commented on the red sky and the ‘Sailor’s Warning’.

Driving back late that afternoon from Co. Kildare in horrible rain, I smiled at how correct the prediction was – it was the only thing at which I smiled.

Our eight year old uses ‘sailor’ for both delight and warning. Wiki advises that ‘sailor’ can be replaced with ‘shepherd’ is some uses of the saying.

In my mixed-up youth, the shepherd received the delight and the sailor the warning – I don’t know why but that was the expression in our house.

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MIXED MESSAGES.

Headstone Standard Alphabet

Galway Volunteers

Staker Wallis

Hung, Drawn, Quartered and Burnt

An Fánaí

Sundown Pint

Peter Golden

The thunder and the singing of birds.....

Market Avenue - Wall Art

After The Hobbit, do some building…

No Such Thing As Bad Publicity – Chapter 21

"... and the next he's gone."

Marry Soos

Lovely

Contemplating A Joint

Sailor’s Warning

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