Category: Kerry - Reading the Signs

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Mischief Managed

19/8/2026

Killiney Graveyard, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry

“I Do Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good”

Learning From Headstones

A chill out afternoon. Me-time in the graveyard. Annual visit to Killiney churchyard.

First time noticing ‘Mischief Managed’.

Atlantic Headstones were working elsewhere in the cemetery and kindly scratched my curiosity itch. The message seemingly came for Harry Potter – subsequently confirmed by our younger generation who provided the link.

The quote on the headstone is from The Hobbit - “May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.”

Another headstone that prompted a stop, a pause and a smile.

The Spike Milligan Effect

17/8/2026

“I told you I was terrible”

Milltown Cemetery, outside Dingle

I have seen similar message in another cemetery.

Not original, but still brought a smile.

Smile was greater thinking that the message in An Gaeltacht and in Cork are both in English whereas the message in East Sussex is ‘as Gaeilge’ - Dúirt mé leat go mé breoite

August Fools’ Day

16/8/2026

A statue of a dog was spotted when heading for lunch at Murphy’s on the pier in Brandon a few weeks back. This dog had not been spotted on visits on previous years.

Supposing this to be a memorial to a recently deceased canine – not unreasonably I suggest – a stop was made on the return journey.

Not for the first time, I fell for it. I expect I was not the first fool and will not be the last.

A Nod to Percy Metcalfe

25/1/2026

Beware of The Bull

Rock Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry

This piece of street furniture is beautiful. It brought a big smile to my face: I had to stop and photograph.

I suspect that many walk up and down Rock Street and do not see it – it may be in their vision but the detail may not register on the conscience.

In late 2024, I saw online a plaque in Yorkshire to Robert Percy Pulliene. It was made by Percy Metcalfe, a sculptor and medallist whose work was known to all Irish people for decades even if the absolutely vast majority may never have heard of Percy Metcalfe - like me, upto then.

I have been inactive on Twitter for many months. I am in the process of transferring to a Word document all of my bookmarks, those posts that I saved for checking back on. Last month, I again saw the post with Percy Metcalfe’s work. A few weeks later, in Tralee, the bull was observed – sufficient stars aligning to justify a blog post.

The leg positions of the Tralee Bull differ from the shilling-bull, so it is not a replica. To my eyes, it is a definite nod – not the first and hopefully not the last.

Legitimate & Catholic Descendants

3/10/2025

This blogpost has only been over eight years in the making.

In the Summer of 2017, I visited the four cemeteries in an around Ballymacelligott in Co. Kerry. The most difficult one for me to find was Ó Bhreanáin / O’Brennan Burial Ground. It was there that I spotted this tomb structure.

The Status of Children Act of 1987 abolished child illegitimacy. The Legitimacy Act, 1931 had provided that one might become a legitimated person if one’s parents had been entitled to marry at time of the birth and subsequently did so – a retrospective erasure of a societal stain.

I was surprised when I read the restrictions imposed for future residents of this cemetery plot – I have not seen anything similar in the many graveyard strolls in the intervening years.

Today, third of October, is Day 3 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is ‘Tomb’ – an encouragement to get this blog post eventually written.

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

27/9/2025

In Tralee, a while back, I was reminded of the song – ‘You say tomato, I say tomato’

I am not the target audience for acrylic nails – or for arcilic nails either.

I wonder if the target audience actually care as to how it is spelled…..

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…….

Please Return What You Stole

18/3/2024

Last August, I was on a road not-before travelled, the best type of road to feed the O.C.D. of sign-spotting, memorial-spotting, and finding things new. I turned off the N70 Ring of Kerry. I had passed Dooks Golf Club and was on my way towards Cromane when I spotted this sign.

My initial thoughts were as to the odds of the person returning the troughs having read the sign; and, whether spending money on the printing of the corriboard sign was a good investment.

These photos remained foldered away on my drive for thoughts and rambles that may turn into a blog at some stage.

On Saturday, I was chatting with Colm whose fishing routine has been interrupted in recent years by the theft overnight of outboard engines – such engines seemingly departing the country. This has had the consequence of less boatmen in the market to cater for the needs of fishermen.

Then later that day, I spotted the tweet from @CorkCoast with the hand written sign requesting return of stolen garden roller. These were enough relocate those photos from last August into the blogged folder.

The spelling issue was not necessary to justify inclusion in this blog – but it definitely helped….

As I drove off, another thought was whether ‘Cattle Nut Troughs’ or ‘Cattle Nuts Trough’ was the more appropriate.

Google did not think either appropriate: Cattle Feed Trough being their preferred description.

The Craft Of The Mason

8/8/2023

It has been a while since I blogged on the subject of the spelling of those involved in the construction trade, but there have been quite a few in the past.

Masonary was definitely a new variety for me when I spotted over the weekend.

As ever, one does not retain the services of a craftsman based upon their spelling or proof-reading…..

The Thin (Tidal) Line Between Waste and Industrial Archaeology

5/8/2023

With apologies to Ballyheigue which I called Blennerville

It was a very low spring tide that revealed the remnants of scallop or mussel farming in the past. No longer functional, they are submerged and hidden for the majority of the time.

They were fully in view yesterday and did get me wondering as to when they may be reclassified from waste to Industrial Archaeology – if ever.

Reminded me of Jeff Wayne’s musical version of War of the Worlds – from way back when…..

Commemorative Stones

4/8/2023

It was only recently that I discovered the difference between a headstone and a gravestone – a headstone being at foot of grave and gravestone being at head of grave.

Walking Kilshannig Cemetery, I got to wondering as to what commemorative stones for those who have been cremated are called, or will be called.

Ten years ago, in Derrynane, was when I first realised that stone memorials were erected to those who have been cremated. Somewhat reminiscent of cillín burials, the memorials were just outside the cemetery with a lovely view over the bay.

A few years back, I noted, with a smile, the memorial to Josephine Deane built into the boundary wall of the cemetery. This week, a return visit brought me to a new stone inserted into the wall remembering Pat Crowley / Pádraig Ó Crualaoch.

I have mentally filed these as commemorative stones, until told otherwise……..

Another stone in wall - not of the type of the wall construction

Use It …………………………..Or…………………..Lose It

10/9/2022

A few weeks back, I learnt from Eoin’s tweet that his uncle’s butchers stall in The English Market was to close. I spotted the closed stall today and it confirmed once again that not all progress is good.

Stealing some me-time on our holidays, which started with lovely steaks from McCarthy’s of Kanturk, I did receive the task to get some chops for the dinner. I walked the main shopping streets in Tralee but could I see a butchers – not one. This is not surprising as in Cork, outside of the English market, there is only one butchers shop trading in the city centre.

Calling to the workplace of a friend, I received directions to a small butchers shop on the North Circular Road – Waddings. The only regret with the chops purchased was that I didn’t buy enough.

That morning, I got chatting with the two butchers on duty and explained that I did not want a prepacked meat. I wanted meat that was recently carved and open to view on all sides. I learned that, similar to Cork, the number of butchers shops had significantly reduced – trade lost to the supermarkets.

The Butcher's apostrophe

Waddings, Tralee

A few years back, walking on the slopes of Baurtegaum on the Dingle peninsula and meeting a sheep farmer, he told of times past when his family would have had animals ready for killing, a message was sent to the butcher who would collect the animal, cut and sell in their shop. Regulation has done away with many of the butcher/abattoirs but that morning I learned that Waddings believed that they were the only butchers shop in Tralee still buying full beef carcass and doing the butchery themselves – many others buying the joints and cutting them in the shop.

Local shops and newsagents have significantly reduced from when I was younger. I don’t think there is a tobacconist in Cork and only a couple of cobblers. Post Offices are closing. Recently, a chat with a few friends revealed that the many different insurance and life assurance brokers that we all used had all been taken over and subsumed into larger entities and contact is now with a call-centre-type set-up; personal contact and connection is gone.

Last year, an article in the Irish Times reported that ‘ It is one of Ireland’s great culinary treasures to have such a wealth of independent meat shops. And apparently it is a treasure that a new generation of shoppers is rediscovering.’ I do hope that the article spoke the truth. We do enjoy the fare from O’Mahony’s of the English Market but I do fear the future of mass produced sameness and blandness driven by the supermarkets, the mass producers and the regulators.

I do hope we take a turn on the road to the Brave New World………………

One of Cork's last Victuallers

P.S. Bresnan’s is likely to be the end of reference in Cork to Victualler???

Location, Location, Location……..

31/7/2022

Real estate matters - even in burial

I have spotted a couple of signs at cemeteries, recently, giving notice of upcoming Mass for the Dead. My recollection is that elsewhere these were held in October/November close to All Souls Day.

I have blogged before as to Cillíní throughout the country being recognised.

The Radio Kerry Saturday Supplement from last year visited the Cillín at Derrymore and it was said that there is an annual mass for those buried in the Cillín (05:20 minutes in) but this is the only reference that I have seen so far to such remembrances, the majority of Cillín are not recognised, let alone commemorated with a mass………. So far.

P.S.

The number of Cillíní on my To Visit list is increasing:

Annaghdown, Co. Galway

Clontallagh, Co. Donegal

Coomnakilla, Co. Kerry

Dumhnach na Leanbh, Co. Galway

Lackan, Co. Wicklow

Lislevane, Co. Cork

Lisselton, Co. Kerry

Loch Con Aontha, Co. Galway

Oileán na Marbh, Co. Donegal

Quilty, Co. Clare

Would be delighted to hear of any more Cillín - marked or unmarked - please do contact

Recognising The Craft

14/11/2021

At the start of our conversational Irish walk this morning, there was a brief discussion of the Irish word for Blacksmith (Gabha) and the name Smith (MacGabhann). On our way back, we passed Smithgrove Terrace.

This brought to might a recent tweet from Christy Cunniffe about a headstone at Gallen, Ferbane, Co. Offaly with carvings of blacksmith’s tools.

This reminded me of a similar carving at Kilgobbin, Camp, Co. Kerry. References to Blacksmiths and Forges have long received nods of appreciation and respect when spotted by my eyes.

These co-incidences are enough to remember Thimothy Riordan who ceased being a craftsman in 1825.

Written in Stone

13/11/2021

A while back, I mentioned the carved correction on the headstone in Crosshaven.

I have spotted some more corrections – so have put them together.