Category: Kerry - Reading the Signs

Search the site

Dive Bombing

20/7/2016

There may be a difference between the strategies of city based and coastal based seagulls.

Last week, I was enjoying a dirty black pint with my chips and sandwich at Murphy’s Bar at Brandon Pier - there is something extra tasty about a summer lunchtime pint.

Sitting there, us city dwellers saw for the first time dive-bombing seagulls.

They are possibly common and seen by nearly all but me. As new to me, I thought it warranted an upload even though it is not a sign (or is it) and especially even though I have yet to find out how to manipulate video to turn 90°.

Another Extention

19/7/2016

I suspect that there is only one ‘word’ who has provided a source for four separate blogs – that ‘word’ being ‘extention’.

This van was spotted in Tralee – so that makes two Kerry builders and two from Cork leading the campaign for an alternative spelling of ‘extension’ to be included in the dictionaries.

I promise that any future blogs on extension will include more than one ‘extention’ – so may take a while.

Surfer Humour

8/7/2016

Thanks to Tadhg who took this photograph on his holidays – at Sandy Bay in The Maharees.

The modification to the message is very well done.

General Tom Barry - a Kerryman

5/7/2016

I have spotted many plaques to General Tom Barry – where he lived, where he fought, and where he is buried.

One common denominator is that they are all in County Cork.

Last weekend, the daily updates from Stair na hÉireann listed the anniversary of the death of Tom Barry (2nd July,1980 ) and also his birth (1st July, 1897). What I hadn’t realised was that the birth was in Co. Kerry.

The 1901 census confirms that Thomas B. Barry, then 3 years old, was resident at house 35 in Langford in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. His mother is listed as head of house. His father is not mentioned on that form so I assumed that he may be at the R.I.C. barracks, where he then worked – retiring a few while later and returning with family to West Cork.

But the only other Thomas listed for Killorglin that night was not his father –so maybe he did manage to opt out for a while. Or maybe I need to search further.

Reverting to Google streetview, it appears that, unlike so many places in Co Kerry,

Killorglin has not erected a plaque to record the residency of the young Tom Barry.I hope to visit in the coming weeks and visit to confirm.

That is not to say that Kerry is short of republican memorial plaques

For the avoidance of doubt - DRINK

26/6/2016

I smiled when I spotted this in Tralee a while back.

I got to thinking that the pub was happy to advertise its food (bia) and music (ceol) but definitely wanted a bit of emphasis on its prime activity, drink (ól).

I thought the capitalising of such a short word was a much understated marketing strategy – but it worked on this reader.

All this assumes that it was a marketing strategy and not a typesetting oversight……

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…..

The Fada Has Landed

11/5/2016

2016.04.24

Maybe there is someone, west of Dingle, actually reading my meandering thoughts and scribbles.

Maybe Dingle Distillery spotted the issue themselves.

Maybe Obi-Wan Kenobi dropped the rogue off when he was passing.

However it arrived, the rogue fada has landed at Milltown bridge.

Permission has changed to a hundred.

2015.10.26

May The Art Be With You

4/5/2016

Having spotted quite a references today recognising it as Star Wars Day, ‘May the 4th be with you’, I thought it a good day to mention the advertising campaign of the ItMustBeDingle Art Gallery.

It brought a definite smile to this face when I came across them a while back with the site of the new film being set up in the background.

Enjoy.

Thomas M. Ashe - More Church & State

2/5/2016

The longer I am at this blog, the more I realise that I will never have a complete collection of the eclectic things that keep me distracted.
The last month of centenary commemorations means that the percentage of plaque that I have photographed has decreased substantially – there being that many new plaques unveiled.

A while back, I was aware of two stained glass windows in Catholic churches commemorating Republican fighters who died prior to 1924.

Last weekend, driving back from my Conversational Irish break, I stopped to enter the church at Lispoole and found another.

The grotto outside the church is dedicated to Thomas Ashe who died by force-feeding while on hunger strike in 1917. The centre window behind the altar is dedicated to Thomas M. Ashe.

Sir Roger

27/4/2016

Plaques, Statues, Railway Stations, Bridges, G.A.A. Clubs – I have seen many of them commemorating those who died in 1916.

Last Sunday, on way home, I detoured to Ardfert and Banna to photograph memorials to Sir Roger Casement.

Before Star Wars

24/4/2016

2014.03.21

Two years ago, I headed down to Ballyferrier for a weekend of conversational Irish.

Four of us arrived down early and went for a walk. There was no definite plan but we ended up walking up to an old look out fort just up the hill from Ceann Sibéal golf course.

The views were so impressive. The sharp drop to the water heightened the visual sensation.

I am just back from my third annual conversation weekend and smiled when I spotted that Star Wars also appreciated the view from that hilltop.

A new metal road has been installed. Two cranes operating at 7.30 on a Saturday morning. Security guard was on duty to prevent the curious from venturing beyond the closed off barriers.

I suspect it will be another few years before anyone may be able to walk to that hilltop again.

2014.03.21

2014.03.21

2014.03.21

2016.04.23

Some View in Kerry

23/4/2016

On days like this, there cannot be too many better places to be than the Dingle peninsula.

Peig to the left of me. StarWars to the right. And here I am stuck with this view.

Camino reminder

22/4/2016

Any plans I had for doing my own Camino have not developed in the recent years. They remain a notion with a probable route.

As mentioned before, every so often I will spot a book or something that will remind me of the unfulfilled wish.

When in Boolteens on the Dingle peninsula, I was surprised by a Fire Hydrant cover, complete with scallop shell. Those conscience prickers again catching me when I least expect.

A bit of Kerry long ago – in Cork

29/3/2016

A while back, I was travelling the roads around Kilmichael and Inchigeela. Taking a road new to me, I ended up in Johnstown.

There is not much more than the Cill Eanna Bar in Johnstown. I did not even spot a postbox – and I was looking.

The Cill Eanna Bar did cause me to stop and exit the car – the Murphy’s Stout advert to be more precise.

The words on the advertisement sign did read like an extract from a poem and went on the mental ‘To Find Out More’ list.

Earlier today, it was struck off that list when I learnt that it is from a folk song, ‘In Kerry Long Ago’. Listening to the song on YouTube, I suspected that I had heard it before but could not, with any certainty, remember where or when.

Why this particular song is on the wall of a pub in Co. Cork, I do not know. This query has now gone onto that ‘To Find Out More’ list. It may only be answered over a pint at the Cill Eanna – as if an excuse was needed.

God Be With You Kerry
O God be with you, Kerry,
When in childhood we were merry!
When we'd hear the fiddler tuning up
and resining the bow.
At the crossroads we'd be dancing,
And our colleens shyly glancing,
Just like their dads and mothers did
In Kerry long ago.

Now my heart is sad and weary,
Still in dreams I see my Mary,
With her golden tresses flying - on her
checks a rosy glow!
In her joy I hear her singing,
While Bill ? alpin's fiddle ringing
As he played The Stack at Barley,
Down in Kerry long ago.

We'd go down to Mary's dairy,
And our feet so light and airy.
At the churn we'd take our turn,
'till the butter would overflow.
Then to the kitchen we'd retire,
And pick out the biggest liar,

Just to tell us `fairy stories'
of Kerry long ago.
Then we'd stroll home in the moonlight,
And the colleens' waists we'd hug tight,
Just to save them from the fairies in the
Raheen' down below.
Then we'd say 'good-night' and kiss them;
We'd go home and pray; God bless them,
The sweethearts of our boyhood days
in Kerry long ago.
Irish Folk Songs.com

Side Question:

Why Cill Eanna, Church of Eanna/Enda, in Johnstown, Cill Sheanaigh? Another without an answer.

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.