Reading the Signs
  • Blog
  • Cork
    • Cork City >
      • Derelict Cork
      • Cork City Plaques >
        • Arts & Artists
        • Buildings with Dates >
          • Individual Buildings or Houses >
            • 1847 Blarney St School
            • 1854 Greenmount School
            • 1856 Kyrl's St
            • 1856 Ladyswell Brewery
            • 1860 Cornmarket Arch
            • 1860 Richmond Cottage
            • 1860 Roman St
            • 1864 Butter Market House
            • 1865 Waterworks Chimney
            • 1870 Maryville
            • 1870 St. Paul's Avenue
            • 1871 North Presentation
            • 1874 Courthouse Chambers
            • 1878 Distillery Chimney
            • 1881 Neptune House
            • 1883 Reardens
            • 1888 Waterworks
            • 1889 St. Luke's N.S.
            • 1890 Kennedy Quay
            • 1892 Cork Baptist Church
            • 1894 Jamesville
            • 1895 Courthouse
            • 1896 Dun Desmond
            • 1897 Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
            • 1900 Lough Hall
            • 1902 Fitzgerald's Park
            • 1913 St. Joseph's N.S.
            • 1914 64 St. Patrick's St
            • 1925 1 Libertas Villas
            • 1926 Capwell P.O.
            • 1928 Castlegreine
            • 1928 College Stream House
            • 1958 Churchfield B.N.S.
            • 1968 Scouthut
            • 1971 Library
            • 1994 McHugh House
          • Developments & Multiple Buildings >
            • 1719 Skiddy's Almhouses
            • 1761 Tuckey St
            • 1766 Millerd Street
            • 1767 James St
            • 1782 Farrens St
            • 1785 Grenville Place
            • 1832 Montenotte Road
            • 1833 Rotunda Buildings
            • 1833 York Terrace
            • 1836 Millfield Cottages
            • 1836 Rockspring Terrace
            • 1837 St. Luke's Place
            • 1853 Eglinton Place
            • 1865 Langford Terrace
            • 1878 College View Terrace
            • 1880 Bellevue Terrace
            • 1880 Bloomfield Terrace
            • 1882 Friar St
            • 1882 St James's Place
            • 1883 Monarea Terrace
            • 1883 Walsh's Square
            • 1886 Madden's Buildings
            • 1889 Marina Villas
            • 1894 Wynneville
            • 1895 St. John's Terrace
            • 1896 Balmoral Terrace
            • 1897 Ophelia Terrace
            • 1898 Centenary Crescent
            • 1898 Tramore Villas
            • 1900 Corporation Buildings
            • 1903 O'Connor Ville
            • 1905 St. Vincent's Terrace
            • 1907 Millview Cottages
            • 1907 Rock View Terrace
            • 1908 Arthur Villas
            • 1915 Morton Villas
            • 1932 Ardfoyle Terrace
            • 1932 Elmgrove
            • 1934 St Joseph's
            • 1940 St Vincent's View
            • 1982 Ardfert
            • 1983 St. John's Square
            • 1994 Red Abbey Court
            • 1999 Adelaide Court
            • 2004 Alexandra Court
        • Cork City Commemorative Plaques
        • Fenian Plaques >
          • Plaques
      • Cork City Timeline
      • Eucharistic Tiles - Cork
      • Cork Wheelguards
      • Grottos in Cork City
      • War of Independence - People >
        • Terence MacSwiney
    • Co. Cork >
      • Grottos in Co Cork
      • Clonakilty Jungle City >
        • Barrister Bill
        • Children's Green Dream
        • Cloich na Coillte Tiger
        • Crocakilty
        • Dufair
        • Horny Bill
        • Make Us Safe (Lucy)
        • Old Mill Car Park
        • 8/9 Pearse St
        • 26/27 Pearse St
        • Precious Tears
        • Taidghín Tiger
        • Tara
        • Wolfe Tone Street Roundabout
  • Not Cork
    • Clare - Ennis YHS Tiles
    • Clare - Co. Clare YHS Tiles
    • Clare - Ennis Grottos
    • Clare - Grottos
    • Kerry - Civil War Memorials
    • Kerry - Grottos
    • Limerick - Civil War Memorials
    • Co. Limerick - YHS Tiles
    • Limerick - YHS Tiles
  • Not Munster
    • Dublin YHS Tiles
    • Co. Galway YHS Tiles
    • Galway City YHS Tiles
    • Co. Mayo YHS Tiles
    • Athlone YHS Tiles
  • Groupings
    • Famine Memorials
    • Irish Words
    • Old Ads
    • Post Boxes
    • Roadside Memorials
    • Ghostsigns
    • ESB Logo, etc
    • Street Art
    • People
  • Contact
Search the site

MIXED MESSAGES.

Using signs, advertisements and messages as the inspiration for observation and comment - enlightened and otherwise

BLOG

Thomas Heavy - is alias more important?

6/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

I would have expected the real name to take more prominence, or equal at a minimum, than the alias on a headstone.


I cannot recall seeing an alias mentioned on a headstone prior to this weekend in Ennistymon. I possibly have, but the priority of the names in Co. Clare did cause me to stop and consider.


The
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website includes both names, Heavy and Barlow, in its listing for Ennistymon Cemetery. So does Clare County Library.


The headstone and the internet provide some information that leads to even further questions in my head.


One hundred years ago, 5 months after the Rising, why did
Thomas Heavy, well into his thirties, change his name to join the Army?


Mr. Thomas Heavy has gone onto my ‘To Find Out More’ list and I suspect some
Clare purchases are in order on next visit.

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Be Honest and Fear Not

5/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

SMARTEST GOODS. GREATEST SELECTION. KEENEST PRICES.

Picture

Ennistymon obviously does not believe in the Carlsberg qualification theory.



There is no doubt and not a sign of ‘probably’. To ‘Smartest’, ‘Greatest’ and ‘Keenest’ one might be able to add ‘not lacking in self-confidence’.


That said, it was the mosaic on the threshold that first attracted my attention.


I do very much like the message and font.

0 Comments

Pan-Am - Ireland Mid-West

12/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture

Today, I was reading of a
gathering of former Pan-Am staff in Limerick – possibly the final gathering of staff of the airline that ceased trading in 1991.

There was mention of
visit tomorrow to the Foynes Museum, long associated with the Pan-Am Yankee Clipper.

My mind however went to Drumcliff Cemetery in Ennis. On one of my very first visits to the cemetery, I was advised of a grave for victims of a plane crash which to this day is maintained by Fire and Airport Police staff at Shannon Airport.


Pan-Am Flight 1-10,  was a round the world flight that crashed on its trip from London as it approached Shannon. There was only one survivor.

I thought that that was reason enough to share the pictures.


Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Bog Road to the Central Bank

3/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Another Temple Bar streetsign that did puzzle me at the time and it has taken a little while to try to reason why. I have learnt more since last week but am unsure if I have fully grasped why the translation is ‘Mhóna’.

Last Thursday, my immediate thoughts were that ‘Móna’ translated as ‘of the bog/peat’ and that Anglesea Street in Cork did not change when translated. Last night, I read that Mourneabbey translated as
Mainistir na Móna (Monastery of the bogland) – but it was ‘Móna’, not 'Mhóna'.

Logainm has many listings for Anglesea –
Road, Avenue, and Place among others -  and it lists all in the English form. Anglesea is not translated.

Last week,
Vox put me onto Sráidainmneacha Bhaile Átha Cliath which advised that Anglesey, the ‘correct’ spelling of Anglesea translates as ‘Inis Món’, confirmed by tearma.ie.

So it appears that there is no bog in Temple Bar, just that Inis (the island) has been dropped from the translation of Anglesey/Anglesea, Inis Món.
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

What is a 'Victualler'?

10/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I spotted this ghostsign in Lahinch over the holidays. It got me thinking as to the word ‘Victualler’.

I remember it on some of the older butchers when growing up. When I checking for this blog entry, I learnt and realised.

I learnt that a ‘victualler’ was not only a butcher’s shop – as had been my experience. It extended to any shop selling food or drink.

I realised that, excluding those in the English Market, O’Flynn’s is the only butchers in the city centre. Olden’s of Liberty Street and Prince’s Street are now part of heritage only.
“victualler or (US) victualer noun, formal 1 a shopkeeper selling food and drink. 2 (in full licensed victualler) Brit a publican licensed to sell food and alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises. 3 a ship carrying supplies for another ship.”
Chambers Dictionary

“victualler 
noun
  1. a supplier of victuals, as to an army; sutler
  1. (British) a licensed purveyor of spirits; innkeeper
  1. a supply ship, esp one carrying foodstuffs”
Collins Dictionary

Picture
Lahinch, Co Clare
Picture
Bresnan's, English Market
0 Comments

Love Lane, Ennis

8/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
O.K. – It is just a concrete bollard.


A plain concrete bollard, just like many others that have been used in many towns and cities in Ireland.


This one did bring a smile to my face. I think it might be the first bollard to do that.

0 Comments

I wasn’t expecting that….

7/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

Street Art – Kilmihil Style


I was in Kilmihil on the morning of New Year’s Day. There were not too many souls up and about at ten. It definitely gave the impression of a small country town.

This street art was definitely a surprise.


Picture
0 Comments

'Alias' & R.I.P.  A.

5/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I spotted this headstone last Friday in the graveyard in Kilmihil, Co. Clare and my journey back to Ennis included contemplation on two things on the plaque.

I can remember only ever seeing R.I.P. on a headstone – this is the first which registered on my brain with an additional letter. I trust it stands for Rest in Peace. Amen. – but to see it carved in stone was new for me.

The second was the use of the word ‘Alias’ which I had filed away (incorrectly as I now know) as an assumed and additional name to one’s given name. ‘Née’ was what I would have expected where the name changed upon marriage.

Chambers Dictionary confirmed that it can also relate to a previous name and that it derives from a Latin word meaning ‘at another time’. Collins Dictionary agrees.

I suspect my flawed understanding was probably influenced by my childhood television viewing which included ‘Alias Smith & Jones’.

Picture
0 Comments

Cá bhfuil 'Soghmais'?

4/1/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Ballard Road, Milltown Malbay
Logainm.ie has Ballard in Co. Clare translated as An Baile Ard, the High Town.

Logainm does not have any suggestion for ‘Soghmas’ or ‘Soghmais’. Neither does Foclóir.ie.

Dúchas.ie is a website/database of translation of surnames and it does not have any name beginning with ‘Sog’ or ‘tSog’.

Yet the sign on Ballard Road in Milltown Malbay reads Bóthar an tSoghmais.

This
is another puzzle which may require a return visit to Milltown Malbay and enquiring of the local publicans – all in the spirit of research…..

2 Comments

What is the 'S' doing in Milltown Malbay?

3/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ballard Road
Picture
Main Street
Picture
Main Street
Today I was reading the Concrete Stew blogpost about Milltown Malbay – particularly about its shopfronts and streetscape.

It reminded me of an unusual ‘plaque’ that I spotted on two buildings at the top of the town (church end) – each has an ‘S’ in a circle on the  façade of the building – one on Main St., the other on Ballard Road.

I do not know the meaning, significance or history of these.

It could well prompt a return journey to ask of some publicans…..


Picture
Ballard Road
0 Comments

Who is more of a Donkey?

2/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
In Ennistymon on Thursday, I spotted this sign on a few fields around the Falls Hotel.

My first thoughts were happy – smiling at the thought of possible danger of a donkey; delighted to have captured a new sign. Donkeys are well up there in the list of animals loved by our nine-year old.

With the benefit of a few days, the happiness has receded and has been replaced with disappointment verging on despair as to the litigious and over-protective society we have become.

I was speaking with E.T. recently and he was relating the benefits of the Darwin Awards – that if someone was so lacking in basic common sense, then whatever the result was appropriate.

We spotted the donkeys in a different field – at least 7 of them. They were grazing away- content and happy with their lot. They posed no danger to us or other users of the road/path.

If I had decided to enter the field, approach one of the donkeys and extend my hand towards its head, would it be my fault if the donkey decided to have a bite my fingers?  Would this be the inherent danger posed by donkeys of which humans must be warned?

Or would I be the ass? Should I have a sign around my head warning fellow-humans of my self-danger?

0 Comments

Make The Days Count

1/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

Yesterday we went for a walk along the Prom in Lahinch – typical Irish bracing walk where ‘bracing’ translates as ‘windy with some showers thrown in for good measure’.

I spotted this graffiti at the start of the Promenade near the town.

I cannot recall too many incidents of graffiti with a ‘thought for the day’-type message.

At the start of the New Year, I thought I’d share.



0 Comments

Remembering The Famine

2/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture


The famine came up twice today.


Over coffee, NK mentioned the
Irish Famine Pots website which reminded me of a previous blog about the Famine Bowl in Ballingeary.


Then I spotted a
tweet by C.C.I.F.V. about the excellent sculpture memorial between Lahinch and Ennistymon.


That has prompted me to group together my photographs of famine memorial locations and start to create a
separate section on the website which hopefully will be fully updated later in the week.

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

'The Irish language is the greatest music of all"

19/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
‘Is í an Ghaeilge an ceol is ansa liom”
Picture
A few weeks back, I went to Ó Bhéal, upstairs at The Long Valley. Seán Ó Roideacháin was the guest poet. His readings were in both Irish and English.

It brought home to me the lyrical nature and lovely sound of Gaeilge. Seán generally read each poem in Irish and then English translation. There was no doubt in my ears that the Irish version had a cadence about it – the flow and rhythm was so much smoother than the English.

Maybe I have a slight bias in having started conversational Irish classes a while back but my knowledge level was such that I could not fully understand the Irish so was probably more in tune with the sound.

It reminded me of the caption on the statue to Willie Clancy at Milltown Malbay that I thought that I’d share.




Read More
0 Comments

Flights of Fancy

27/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Not a sign that one sees often
Those birds have some high standards.

No garage or run-down shack is good enough. No.

Only the inner sanctum of Ballaghaderreen Golf Club will suffice for chosen residence – and without the necessity to cough up green fees.

Many thanks to SOK for the photo which set me down on two separate memory tracks.

Flight 1.

What is the connection between Ballaghderreen and Ballyvaughan?


Other than the obvious beginning with Ball?


Flight 2.

Can you read Cork?

ABCD Birds
DMRN Birds
DR Birds
OBJURI DR Birds



Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Author

    From Cork.

    Old enough to have more sense - theoretically at least.

    SUBSCRIBE

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture
    Unless otherwise specifically stated, all photographs and text are the property of www.readingthesigns.weebly.com - such work is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence


    Tweets by @SignsTheReading

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Picture
    WRITE A LETTER

    Categories

    All
    Accuracy
    Arts
    Books
    Branding
    Cavan
    Cemeteries
    Clare
    Commemorate
    Cork
    Dated
    Donegal
    Dublin
    Economy
    England
    Fermanagh
    Gaeilge
    Galway
    Ghostsigns
    Graffiti
    Grammar
    Help
    Heritage
    Holland
    Humour
    Kerry
    Kildare
    Laois
    Leitrim
    Limerick
    London
    Longford
    Marketing
    Mayo
    Me
    Northern Ireland
    Offaly
    Old Ads
    Old Shops
    Other Blogs
    Plaque
    Politics
    Public
    Punctuation
    Religion
    Riddle
    Roscommon
    Scotland
    Sculpture
    Sligo
    Spelling
    Sport
    Stickers
    Street Art
    Submission
    Tipperary
    Tweets
    Waterford
    Westmeath
    Wild Atlantic Way

    Blogs I Read & Links

    Thought & Comment

    Head Rambles

    For the Fainthearted

    Bock The Robber

    Póló


    Rogha Gabriel

    Patrick Comerford

    Sentence First

    Felicity Hayes-McCoy

    140 characters is usually enough

    Johnny Fallon

    Sunny Spells
    
    That’s How The Light Gets In

    See That

    Tea and a Peach


    Buildings & Things Past

    Built Dublin

    Come Here To Me

    Holy Well


    vox hiberionacum

    Pilgrimage in Medieval Ireland

    Liminal Entwinings

    53degrees

    Ciara Meehan

    The Irish Aesthete

    Líníocht


    Ireland in History Day By Day

    Archiseek

    Buildings of Ireland

    Irish War Memorials


    ReYndr

    Abandoned Ireland

    The Standing Stone

    Time Travel Ireland

    Stair na hÉireann

    Myles Dungan

    Archaeouplands

    Wide & Convenient Streets

    The Irish Story

    Enda O’Flaherty



    Cork

    Archive Magazine


    Our City, Our Town

    West Cork History

    Cork’s War of Independence

    Cork Historical Records


    Rebel Cork’s Fighting Story

    40 Shades of Life in Cork

    
    Roaringwater Journal





    Picture
    Picture
    Best Newcomer Blog
Proudly powered by Weebly