Category: Dublin - Reading the Signs

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Still Unsure

12/6/2016

In Ballydehob, I thought there was religious veneration.

This, we spotted on the Naas Road and, while not definite, think that it is very probably a public display of religious admiration.

The recent tweet from Irish Garrison Towns as to the smiling Jesus at the Calvary at Ringaskiddy brought me back to Inchicore.

It may bring a smile to you – or maybe not…..

Naas Road, Dublin

Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork

Appreciating Demolition Dave

11/6/2016

I have long liked the idea of incorporating salvage material into new work.

Building materials from times past regularly were strong enough to last many lifetimes and had individual details that we do not get with current standardisation. I have managed to source one of the hoopers than I sought but I passed on the spiral stairs. The telephone box as a feature in the garden remains a dream.

A few weeks back, with the train departure a while away, I walked to Hueston and was very happy to spot this commemorative piece to Dave Conway.

Trying to find out about it did involve a few internet dead ends before I learned that Dave Conway was Demolition Manager involved in the LUAS project and the Railway Procurement Agency commissioned James Gannon to create a sculpted piece at Smithfield.

Does it not scream out to be caressed? Or is that just my sense of admiration?

Boxes, boxes

7/6/2016

The ReimagineCork crew were out a short while back adding to the range of messages on utility boxes.

There are five locations where one can learn of some Cork words. A few years back, I posted an Evening Echo calendar to the UK with a similar message for each month.

For those wishing to improve their Cork vocabulary, there is a book.

I decided to put a slideshow together of the many utility boxes that I have spotted. Enjoy.

The Rising Overthrows the Joker

1/6/2016

The joke is over.

Last year, I did a blog post about the street art on hoardings near Portobello in Dublin. At the time, I complimented the artist at work.

A few months later, I was back in the same area what I had appreciated had been overpainted with new work.

Two weeks ago in Dublin, I was again reminded that street art is a bit like an opportunity – catch in when it passes, it may not pass again.

I do like street art installations. I do like matters relating to Irish history.

Maybe it is a factor of Rising Commemoration overload or a liking for Jokerman but I preferred what was over what is…

Pearses’ Station – not Pearse Station

28/5/2016

Once again, the Irish language conveys a more accurate message.

A while back, having attended the commemoration of Thomas Kent at Cork railway station, I learned that 15 train stations were renamed in 1966 to honour the 16 men executed after the 1916 Rising.

15 stations for 16 men – not sixteen stations.

I was wondering as to Willie Pearse in that he is likely to be lost when people think of Pearse Station - and then think of his brother.

Standing on the platform, waiting for the 08:39 to Donabate, I had a bit of a eureka moment, as Gaeilge.

The photograph is slightly blurred as it was taken as engine approached and cut off the view but it clearly calls the station, Stáisiún na bPiarsach. This differs from Páirc an Phiarsaigh (Pearse Stadium in Galway) and Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire and got me thinking as to whether the possessive case was plural.

My Irish is improving but Tuiseal Ginneadach of weak plurals is still well beyond me. I may know of a difference but do not know why or when to use.

POF was consulted and was able to confirm that the sign in Irish does indeed recognise both brothers – STATION OF THE PEARSES.

I suspect that Irish Rail will not be rebranding as Pearses’ Station – but I do think it would be the right thing to do in the year that is in it.

Muriel MacDonagh, d. 9 July 1917

2/5/2016

Yesterday, I learned that I had photographed a memorial to the wife of Thomas MacDonagh – and had not known of it.

A tweet from Changed Utterly told that Muriel MacDonagh had drowned while swimming in 1917 and she is one of the names recorded on the memorial pole in Skerries.

I had photographed the memorial and each of the individual plaques – part of a gathering of maritime related plaques and memorials. I had not read each of the individual plaques and attempted any connection of the dots of knowledge. That task may need to be carried out sooner rather than later.

Words of, and on, Thomas Kent

30/4/2016

Kent Railway Station, Cork

Bridge over Blackwater, Fermoy

This morning, I attended the commemoration ceremony at the railway station – remembering Thomas Kent, from Bawnard, Castlelyons.

M.C. for the event was Andrew Roche of Irish Rail who imparted quite a bit of information on the history of station, and, the railway system. I had not realised that there were six stations in Cork – the first being at Kilbarry.

Kevin Barry

29/4/2016

On recent visits to Dublin, I came across two completely different memorials to Kevin Barry.

As I was walking down Fleet Street, I had passed the Morgan Hotel and had completely missed the plaque commemorating the home of Kevin Barry until I was distracted by Parliament Row.

A month later on Marlborough, I stopped to appreciate the stencil art.

Recording the Surrender

2/4/2016

City Quay, Dublin

100 years ago today, the Easter Rising ended with the surrender of the Irish rebels.

I have seen the photograph of the surrender in many newspapers and on internet pages. The photograph captures Padraig Pearse surrendering to General Lowe.

During the past year, I have learnt a bit of the other two in the photograph. The Irish Examiner last November had a feature on the Cork Film Festival and the memories of some of those associated with it. The Festival Chairman, Denis McSweeney recalled John Loder:

‘“I have a recollection from 1978. There was a lady called Hilary Tindall. She was very popular at the time because she was appearing in a TV series called The Brothers. She came with her father-in-law who was a tall, imposing, very mature man. His name was John Loder. That was a screen name. He had been a movie actor over five decades. While my wife was assigned to look after Hilary Tindall during her period at the festival, I hung around with her father-in-law.
“I casually asked him in conversation had he been to Ireland before. ‘Oh, yes, I have,’ he said. I said: ‘Was it on business or pleasure?’ He said, ‘Well, you could kind of say it was on business. I came here with my father. I met your Mr Pearse.’ I was thinking I didn’t know any Pearse who was involved in the festival but he was talking about Patrick Pearse.
“His father was General Lowe who was the man responsible for suppressing the Easter Rising in Dublin. John Lowe, his son, had been commissioned into the 15th Hussars in 1915. He went to Gallipoli. He came back from Gallipoli in December 1915 and joined up with his father in the Curragh. Then, of course, the rising happened. General Lowe and his men were sent into Dublin to suppress it. His 18-year-old son went with him. If you see the photographs of Patrick Pearse surrendering to two rather tall men, the big lanky one is John Loder, the film actor who I met.”’
Irish Examiner

The fourth person in the photograph is Elizabeth O’Farrell, a Cumann na mBan member who was very much involved in the surrender. There has been quite a number of articles about the photograph and how Elizabeth O’Farrell was removed from some images.

A park in Dublin commemorates Elizabeth O’Farrell. It is at the corner of City Quay and Lombard Street – Lombard Street where the I.R.B. was founded 26 years before Elizabeth O’Farrell was born.

More learning inspired by signs read along the way.

Lombard Street

Lombard St. - IRB founded

Surrender Photograph

Plaque designating location of Surrender

Elizabeth O'Farrell Park

Elizabeth O'Farrell from Sean O'Casey Bridge

A Cork Angel in Dublin

1/4/2016

Last week, I spotted this angel on the façade of Boots Chemist on Grafton Street.

It did intrigue as to how long it may have been there. I was not able to find any old photographs online.

There were quite a few Instagram sites with similar photographs but the gem of knowledge was provided by Rua Ruth who educated me that the angel is only resident since 1990, pre-dating Boots, having been made around 1900 and kept an eye on Youghal for many years.

The ‘To Do’ list has now got a note for old photographs of Youghal to try to find its original home.

Robert Emmet by Jerome Connor

25/3/2016

A few years ago this would just have been another statue on display in St. Stephen’s Green.

Having learnt from signs about the sculptor Jerome Connor from Annascaul, Co. Kerry and a small bit about Robert Emmet, I did appreciate the sculpture a small bit more.

It was made 100 years ago – obviously the Easter Rising was not the only thing that happened that year.

The few minutes in St Stephen’s Green yesterday looking and touching did allow the centenary overload to be forgotten for just a while.

Industry and Commerce – Looking Up

24/3/2016

For Christmas, I received a copy of Séamus Murphy, Sculptor – a lovely book with details of the work of Séamus Murphy. I realised that I had photographed many of the headstones and sculptures already. They had been the source of quite a few blog posts already.

The book is now being used as a route map to photograph the work on public display that I have not yet photographed – expect a dedicated Séamus Murphy section soon.

The book includes photographs of designs by Séamus Murphy from 1941 for a competition for the then proposed Dept. of Industry & Commerce building on Kildare Street. The designs were shortlisted.

In Dublin earlier, I walked along Kildare Street to appreciate the winning design by Gabriel Hayes.

I left wondering why modern buildings do not incorporate sculpture or other art. There are very few that I can remember in recent buildings.

I hope that there will be more – curtain walling glazing could do with something else for variety.

Some More Utility Boxes

21/3/2016

A couple more decorated Utility Boxes that I have spotted on my recent travels – from Limerick and Dublin.

I hope that there will be a time when they are obliged to be decorated.

I cannot recall more than one decorated utility box (Stay Sharp) that was damaged or subject to graffiti whereas nearly all decorated boxes have graffiti.

Dublin Canvas is seeking proposals for boxes in Dublin – hopefully other cities can follow.

Sparkling Shoes on a Wire

20/3/2016

We purchased this photograph in the George’s Street Arcade when in Dublin last month.

Leaving the Arcade, we spotted these bright glittery high heels over the wire on Castle Market. This co-incidence made us even happier with our purchase.

When a friend saw the photograph, we were educated as to the presence of shoes on a wire signifying a place where drugs are sold. This was confirmed by the internet – which also advised as to many other reasons. Once again, still learning.

TheJournal.ie educated as to these particular shoes – to encourage people to look up.

I still like the image and colours in the photograph.

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.