Category: Graffiti - Reading the Signs

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Door Step Artists

27/5/2025

Old Cork Road, Midleton

College Street, Castlegregory

Many years of looking down for messages – sometimes it pays off.

Last month, walking along the Old Cork Road in Midleton, I spotted an engraving in the stone threshold at a front door and it was a prompt to write the blog post to an engraved manhole cover at College Street in Castlegregory.

In 2017, I spotted the work of P. Bowler who managed to mark his name into the manhole cover outside his (assumed) front door. T. Cahill’s engraving was into limestone. Neither are what would be considered a soft surface.

These engravings are similar to the Marian Year manhole cover on John Redmond Street but I expect that the council team had an opportunity to carry out the work remotely, possibly in the council workshop. P Bowler and T Cahill, I expect, had to do their carving on their hands and knees – significantly more impressive.

I wonder how many people regularly walk up College Street in Castlegregory or Old Cork Road in Midleton and have never seen the handiwork of Cahill and Bowler…….

Mahomet – Momento Mori

26/5/2025

I have generally only seen Momento Mori carved on headstones – or on photographs of headstones.

I had never seen one written in market on a Utility Box – until two months ago when waiting for a bus outside C.U.H. that is.

Of the near 1,000 roadside memorials that I have recorded around the country, I think only one has been in marker. There were a few painted.

As to the questions:

Who was Mahomet?
Who is Simon?
When was the message done?

I have no answers………

#A_Sticker_A_Day

1/1/2024

It appears that the sticker has replaced marker graffiti.

Marker graffiti was definitely much more prevalent when I was younger – a time when a smile would be brought by the message that Bill Posters Is Innocent.

The sticker as a message form is a more recent phenomenon. It is so prevalent now that a pole or utility box without a sticker is a rarity.

Most people probably ignore these stickers – me, I photograph many.

Sharing them on twitter is a good a plan as any for 2024.

#LostCatsOfThePast

Micheál Martin's Head

19/2/2016

There I was heading over town for lunch earlier. Looking up, an unusual looking Micheál Martin was smiling down on me.

For a few years now, my eyes have been open to many forms of Street-Art – painting; stencil art; mosaic; poetry and even full installations. This is a definite first for me.

I have also seen some election poster graffiti – in person and online. Again another first.

This mind is unsure as to the intent of the artist - a suggestion to Micheál Martin as to a possible hair colour; deference to his magnetism; a reference to loose screws,;or maybe something else entirely….

Ballyhooley Road, Cork

Half Moon Street, Cork

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.

Graffiti Marketing

31/3/2015

I was in Dublin earlier today.

I spotted this on Camden Row – off Camden Street – when out and about for a short search and photo mission.

Recruit Ireland do not appear to have an office in this area so this could well be marketing by graffiti – there is quite a bit of wall art in the general area.

I have seen wall art on a company’s own premises advertising their products. I think that this is the first time that I have seen ‘Graffiti Marketing’.

I now know a bit about Clean Graffiti; Reverse Graffiti; Street Art Advertising; and, Corporate Graffiti – I knew nothing before this.

Rabbit Hole Promotions appear to have done quite a number of installations.

Another Dome for Catalunya

13/2/2014

Carey's Lane, Cork

Are you puzzled as to why Catalunya needs another dome? And why they want it for free?

Or maybe you are puzzled as graffiti such as this in Cork may have few readers who have any influence in Spain?

Alternatively, you might consider it as litter and so more likely to use any limited influence against Independence for Catalunya.

Images of Elsewhere - Page 3

16/10/2013

Timoleague, Co. Cork

Aughacashla, Co. Kerry

For those of you who might enjoy what you read here, you might also wish to catch up on:

Bock The Robber writing about the Musuem of Old Irish Ways

Póló blogging about the art on Liberty Hall

Come Here to Me!’s photos of Dublin street art, and

Ciara Meehan’s observations on election posters
with link to some National Library images

Stradbally, Co.Kerry

Up Cork

28/9/2013

Spotted this on a junction onto the Cork – Mallow Road and thought it appropriate for a blog entry on the day that is in it.

Reading signs differently

16/6/2013

Richmond Hill, Cork

I passed this poster recently. It had been applied to plywood boarding on Richmond Hill.

I noted that someone did not take too kindly to the sentiment of the original poster and had added his/her own commentary.

What caused me to stop was the use of the word ‘BELIEVE’. Should it not be ‘BELIEF’?

Also there is the issue of the missing apostrophe.

Wall Art John Redmond St

31/3/2013

If a building is no longer used and it is necessary to board up the windows and doors to minimise vandalism, I think it a good idea to get your revenge in first.

Set the standard before the graffiti scrawlers get there.

Graffiti or Art

9/3/2013

92 South Mall

I never saw the point of graffiti when growing up. Now, as with many things, my attitude comprises varying shades of grey rather than black and white.

Scrawls, names and ‘A loving B’ are pure vandalism. I have had to clean off enough of these to put me off them for life. Names or tags with a range of colours may have some brief interest period but still remain well into the dark grey of vandalism.

I remember reading about graffiti near Paddington station in London which read ‘Far Away is Close at Hand in Images of Elsewhere’ and thinking that this was acceptable. It was still defacing someone else’s property but to brighten my dark opinion, it was a form of street ‘Thought for the Day’ for the passengers.

I recently saw the street art on plywood which was blocking up a disused building on South Mall. Human’s tendency to amend rules came into play. In my mind this was acceptable as it appeared art rather than scrawls and also it was on temporary surface.

No doubt my opinion on graffiti will shift nearer black or white the longer I continue with this blog. In the meantime, until the South Mall property is redeveloped, I will enjoy the image of Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan.

Wall Art - Kinlay House

7/3/2013

Bob and Joan Walk, Cork

Spotted this wall art last weekend.

The six year old who was with me really liked it.