Category: Help - Reading the Signs

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What do these mean?

15/2/2017

I now recognise many of the things that might be engraved on walls – benchmarks / crow’s feet ; B.O. – Board of Ordnance; and, W.D. – War Department.

These two are on the same wall on Railway Street and are completely new to me.

One is the letter ‘P’ with an upward-pointing arrow.

The other appears to be a ‘W’ or maybe an upside-down benchmark, if the stone was salvaged and re-used from elsewhere.

These are definitely on the ‘To Find Out More’ list – all suggestions welcome

Is that not beautiful?

31/1/2017

Birds, Nuns and Witches

30/1/2017

I took this photograph in May 2015 when I had a few hours to explore and try to expand my collection of IHS Tiles – a ongoing endeavour.

May 2015 was reasonably early in my relearning Irish education.

I had a recollection that ‘bean rialta’ was the Irish translation for nun that I had known and used. When I saw the word ‘ealtanach’, it went on the mental ‘To Find Out More’ list but remained in the backwater of that list until this morning.

There were a few tweets about streetnames in Cork – their misnaming and such stories.

Then I spotted a tweet with an older streetsign for Nun’s Island and the same translation – ealtanach. ‘Ealtanach’ swiftly departed the depths of that To Do List and is now done – as much as I can, for now.

An amount of time searching the internet did result in quite a number of dead ends.

Teanglann.ie and pota-focal.ie both drew blanks in translations for ealtanach, ealtan and ealtanaigh.

Thinking it may be a surname, I went to sloinne.ie – another blank.

The online directory of Irish placenames is logainm.ie. Before it provided a clue, it gave some humorous distraction.

There are two Nuns’ Islands listed as being in Ireland. The other is in Lough Ree, north of Athlone. The Irish name for this island is Oileán na gCailleach Dubh. ‘Cailleach’ was in my Irish vocabulary, from another streetsign at Cahercalla in Ennis – the Fort of the Hag.

My translation of the Lough Ree Nuns’ Island would be Island of the Black Witches. Logainm plots a course from ‘the black hags island’ to ‘Island of the black nuns’.

Teanglann.ie does have an option for nun as ‘cailleach dhubh’ or ‘cailleach Mhuire’ .

Returning from that detour, I spotted that logainm.ie translates as Altanach and their notes for the Galway Nuns’ Island refer to altagnagh and altagneach. These provided some hits on the google lottery.

Coincidently, ‘Dubliners’ is my current reading material, resident in my inside pocket. Journey Westward by Frank Shovlin advises that it was the island of the flocking birds – to me, a lovelier name than Nuns’ Island.

Sean Spellissy’s book ‘The History of Galway’ has become a candidate for my shelf. It agrees with the ‘flocks’ of birds’ reference.

Tearma.ie does have ‘ealtaigh’ as the Irish translation for flock of birds.

This is close to but differs from streetsign ‘Ealtanach’ and logainm.ie’s ‘Altanach’.

The argument that the correct source is ‘flock of birds’ may well pass the test of ‘on the balance of probabilities’ but, I think not the test of ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’.

It remains on the ‘To Find Out More’ list.

‘Though called Nuns’ Island after becoming home to the Poor Clare order in Galway, the original Gaelic name for this strip of land surrounded by the Corrib waters was Oileán Altanach, as indicated in Hardiman’s history of Galway and in today’s bilingual street signs. Oileán Altanach in translation ahs nothing to do with convent life but rather means ‘the island of flocking birds’.’

Journey Westward: Joyce, Dubliners and the Literary Revival

‘.. this area was still known as the Island of Altona, an anglicised variant on Oilean Ealtanach, the island of the flocks of birds. ... The southern part of Altenagh, in the Nuns Island, was mentioned in 1802; by 1807 the new town Goal was being ..’

Sean Spellissy – The History of Galway

UPDATE 2017.01.30 -

The world of twitter has helped clarify, educate and improve my Irish.

Aonghus Ó hAlmhain advised that ‘ealtanach’ is listed on teanglann.ie as a variant of ‘ealtach’ translated as abounding in flocks (of birds); that the logainm notes also say ‘sin an áit ina mbeadh ealtaí éan’ – I translate as ‘That is the places in which there are flocks of birds’; and that eDIL dictionary confirms ‘caille, the base of ‘cailleach’ derives from veiled woman.

An Engraving Riddle – Why?

29/1/2017

On the way back from the mechanic, I spotted a fingerpost for Liscleary Cemetery. I looked at the clock and awarded myself some chill-out time, some cemetery time.

I spotted a little riddle – I do not have an answer, yet.

I have often seen the family name on the reverse side of headstones. I always assumed it was to assist those, approaching from that side, to locate the grave.

I have never seen the family name written on the reverse in a similar style to this with standard letters (O, U, H, L, A, and I); upside-down letters (C, G and B) and mirrored-letters (S and N). I have seen a play on N’s but never so many as this.

Maybe it is a family joke.

Maybe someone in the family is a type-setter or engraver and wanted some fun.

I cannot believe that it was accidental – especially with both N’s and S’s treated similarly.

If the intent was to cause the reader to pause longer at the grave and think of the residents, it succeeded.

Update 2017.01.30

Sharon Slater commented ‘Ones that low on the back were often the names of stonemasons (up here anyway)’

GraveyardDetective told of similar incidence in Harrogate, where he was told by vicar and warden that the stone mason disliked the person named on headstone.

Poor Frank Raw commented that it was ‘Inexperienced youth setting out (backwards) letters for pressing into concrete.’

Update 2017.02.02

I corrected an error in title - An v A

A Limerick Head

21/1/2017

I think it is great when I spot something unusual on a building – something that the many who pass by regularly do not appear to notice.

Is there a link?

20/1/2017

Last October, I spotted this on the wall on Washington Street, near St FinnBarre’s Bridge. I had a vague recollection of seeing a message in a similar style somewhere previous – but had not photographed, unfortunately.

Taking the photograph, I was hoping that I would again pass the one that I had previously seen; that I could then take a photograph; and then compare the two.

At the start of November, a family break to Paris saw us walking back from Basilica Sacré-Coeur towards Montmatre. I spotted this.

To my eyes, there are definite similarities with the eye and the four teeth/triangles – but any more than that had me beaten. I do not know.

The Paris message appears to translate as ‘To Victory Always’ which does not relate to ‘Rocking The World’.

This is still a riddle waiting to be solved.

Are the eyes and teeth a coincidence?

Is there a link between the messages?

UPDATE 2017.02.15

I found the photograph of the original marking. It is at St Patrick’s Quay.

It is of similar style to the other two I have seen – but I am still completely lost as to the meaning.

UPDATE 2017.02.16

Thanks to Miscellanea Curiosa on twitter who has advised that they are the work of Oré – a street artist from France.

His website reveals that there are a few more in Cork that I have yet to spot.

It is great that the riddle has been solved.

This Grave to be Closed Forever

18/1/2017

I do like visiting cemeteries. I do like mosaics.

It is not often that the two combine but they did so in Castlebar a few months back.

I had an early morning stroll around the cemetery. I stopped to ponder at the ceramic mosaic.

It appeared to be a triple grave but if anyone else was to be buried on the left section, it would mean destroying the mosaic.

Briefly I wondered as to whether that section was full; whether a decision was made that no more would be buried on that side; or even none buried at all on that side. Then I walked on and it was mentally filed away as a potential blog, sometime.

Over the Christmas break, I spotted a tweet from GraveyardDetective where he had spotted a headstone in Anfield Cemetery upon which was engraved the message that the grave was not to be reopened after the couple were buried.

It did add a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Why?

Liam Burke (near Castletownroche)

I have seen similar messages only relating to Irish Republican Memorials but to effect that gate/wall remains until Ireland is fully free. I have never seen such a message in a cemetery.

Donal Shinnick (near Mitchelstown)

Back to Anfield - Why? Why was it necessary to have engraved? Was it obeyed?

I have no answers so your imagination is probably as good as mine, if not better – let it loose on that for a while.

A final reminder to self – better upload those mosaics that I have spotted around Cork. Until then, a taster.

Irish American Oil Co Ltd.

16/1/2017

My curiosity levels were raised in Westport over the Christmas holidays.

I spotted this chamber cover in the footpath, or alternatively the sidewalk, when we spent a very pleasant couple of days in Co. Mayo.

I had never heard of the Irish American Oil Company Limited until it stared back up at me from the path. The Companies Registration Office advises that it was founded in 1951 and dissolved in 1990 – having filed last accounts in 1980.

My best guess is that it is a chamber to allow an oil delivery truck to connect to a pipe that goes under the building or laneway to an underground tank of some sort.

I have seen covers for gas chambers. I have seen coalplate covers over coal bunkers. I have seen standard manhole covers in petrol stations over feed pipes to the tanks.

This is the first cover of this type that I can recall seeing – assuming my best guess is correct. It is definitely the first time I read of the Irish American Oil Co. Ltd..

Will be keeping the eyes open for more – both oil covers and references to Irish American Oil Co. Ltd.

The Grove of the Brothers - Lost in Cloud

15/10/2016

PASSION PLAY – READ BY CÓNAL CREEDON

When I first read of ‘The Red City’ being the nickname for Gurranabraher, it stuck in the grey matter as a little nugget – relatives who had grown up in Mount Nebo had never shared that gem with me.

When I find a nugget, sooner or sometimes much later, other little bits of knowledge cling on as they float by, increasing the extent of information – those dots of knowledge forever connected, in my strange head anyways.

Red City makes an appearance in Cónal Creedon’s Passion Play – ‘This Could be Heaven’ is great to read, brilliant to hear, an experience to see arising from the dark, and well worth few moments yielding to your imagination.

This morning, heading down to Brian at the fish stall on the Coalquay Market for our surprise stash, we spotted that the Red City had yielded to the clouds.

Reason enough to prompt this ramble.

Reason enough to put out there.

Mick D was a census enumerator a few months back in the Red City. The official forms were ‘Gurranebraher’ whereas locals had ‘Gurranabraher’ – another riddle awaiting explanation.

…The main contractors for the project were Messrs Murray and Lane, Builders..Sand and gravel was supplied by John a. Wood Ltd. of Carrigrohane Road. Cooking and lighting facilities were provided by Cork Gas Company. Also involved were Swann’s of Knapp’s Square…..Hickey’s of Maylor Street not only supplied 2,500 tons of Portland Cement, but also 300,000 red roof-tiles. The colour of the tiles soon resulted in some local wag nicknaming the area ‘Red City’!!
The Gurranabraher Story – A History of the Place and its People – David McCarthaigh in association with Ógra Corcaigh (1997)

My city is a Royal town, dressed up in crimsons and gold. In the distance, through the mists of time and coal smoke I hear the cry of an Echo boy, the sound of men walking and whistling their way home from work to the Red City of Gurranabraher, the chimes of an ice-cream van across on Spangle Hill, the bells of some cathedral or other, the yelps of children from Roches Buildings playing ball along the road.
Cónal Creedon – Passion Play

“Can you imagine
the wall at the top of Bell’s Field
as the ramparts of the Alhambra?
Gurranabraher as the Albaicin?
Knocknaheenyas Sacre Monte?’
Gerry Murphy – Bell’s Field Reverie (from Muse)

Shortly after this the friars erected a small chapel high in the hills overlooking the city from the northwest in a place which became known as Cilleen na Gurranaigh – The Little Church of The Groves. The chapel itself was known as ‘Teampaill na mBrathair’, many years later, the whole area had become known as ‘Gurradh na mBrathair’ – The Grove of the Brothers, or Friars Grove. The time spent by the Franciscans in Gurranabraher is marked by the naming of a row of houses just below Barrett’s Buildings known as Friars Avenue.”
The Gurranabraher Story – A History of the Place and its People – David McCarthaigh in association with Ógra Corcaigh (1997)

Significance of 234?

24/9/2016

I spotted this plaque recently on the gable wall of the former Infant School at Higher O’Connell Street in Kinsale.

The screw fixings do give the indication that it is probably not original to the building. Google streetview confirms that it was in place in 2011.

I am lost as to its meaning.

I have not seen anything like it before, or since.

Any ideas.

A Cannon Bath?

30/6/2016

Upto last week I had never heard of a ‘cannon bath’.

I was very envious when JV showed me this in his garden. I have been on the lookout for disused cast iron water tanks that may be coming out of old buildings exactly for the use here – probably different plants but definite same use (beauty, eye, beholder and all that).

This cast iron tank is stamped BO (Board of Ordnance) 1836 and was found at Murphy Barracks in Ballincollig after it was sold and undergoing development.

E.M.B. - April 1816

19/6/2016

There is a bridge at Faha.

As there are at least 9 places called Faha in the country, there is likely to be more than one bridge in Faha. I can confidently say ‘at least’ as the three listed on Logainm in Co. Kerry exclude Faha on the R563 from Killarney to Milltown (or on to Dingle) -the one that has been in and out of my thoughts for over a year.

I stopped to photograph the postbox and noted this plaque on the bridge with three letters and a date – E.M.B. April 1816.

I admit failure. Since April, 2015 I have been unable to even find one suggestion for E.M.B..

I am hoping that the expression ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ may extend to riddles and puzzles…..

Isn't she lovely?

16/6/2016

Jostles planted the seed. The cherub made sure that it grew.

Mary Kearns has written on the Jostle Stones in Ennis. Two years ago, I met Mary and learned the name. I knew what they were but had not had reason to put a name on them before.

Since then, I have been photographing the Jostle Stones around Cork that I have seen on my travels – for future uploading.

Then last January, this lovely casting came into view and I was beset with yet another collecting bug – cast iron protectors, or wheelguards.

To date, I have found and uploaded 10 locations. They can be viewed HERE.

Tom Spalding wrote in 2009 that there were 29 so there are still quite a few to be found. A summer of cycling and walking beckons.

“Wheelguards
The ‘wheelguard’ is a close cousin of the bollard, but intended to protect vulnerable masonry on a corner, especially by an arch, by deflecting coach wheels. They are quite rare; 29 cast iron, 22 limestone and a single red sandstone example were recorded in the survey. Unfortunately, the types of building that feature these objects, former industrial buildings, warehouses, stabling yards and so on, are particularly likely to be re-developed and/or demolished, with the result that the wheelguards get lost in the process.”
Cork City: A Field Guide to its Street Furniture – Tom Spalding

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

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.