Category: Clare - Reading the Signs

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Thomas Heavy - is alias more important?

6/6/2016

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.

Be Honest and Fear Not

5/6/2016

SMARTEST GOODS. GREATEST SELECTION. KEENEST PRICES.

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.

Pan-Am - Ireland Mid-West

12/4/2016

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.

Bog Road to the Central Bank

3/3/2016

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.

What is a 'Victualler'?

10/1/2016

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

Lahinch, Co Clare

Bresnan's, English Market

Love Lane, Ennis

8/1/2016

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.

I wasn’t expecting that….

7/1/2016

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.

'Alias' & R.I.P. A.

5/1/2016

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’.

Cá bhfuil 'Soghmais'?

4/1/2016

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…..

What is the 'S' doing in Milltown Malbay?

3/1/2016

Ballard Road

Main Street

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…..

Ballard Road

Who is more of a Donkey?

2/1/2016

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?

Make The Days Count

1/1/2016

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.

Remembering The Famine

2/9/2015

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.

'The Irish language is the greatest music of all"

19/7/2015

‘Is í an Ghaeilge an ceol is ansa liom”

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.

Flights of Fancy

27/6/2015

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