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.
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Not for the first time, a trip to the cemetery has led to learning and connecting of historical dots of information.
The cemetery in question is at St Bartholomew’s Church in Kinneigh, Co Cork – the location of the only round tower with an hexagonal base, as well as headstone commemorating O’Mahony Mór.
Last Wednesday, the daily update from Stair na hÉireann advised that on 27 April, 1911 the ‘first ever Irish musical comedy, The Irish Girl, written by Percy French and Dr. W. Houston Collisson, is staged at the Queen’s Theatre, Dublin’. It reminded me of this plaque in Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick that I had only seen days previously. I hadn’t heard of either ‘The Irish Girl’or ‘have yez been to Dromcolliher’ previously – still learning from the signs
I really liked this street art that I spotted in Newcastle West.
It was probably difficult enough to see before but the metal leg of the ALDI sign make it even harder now. The fact that many walk past completely unaware of its existence probably added to the appreciation in the viewer. I suspect that many do not know that Jones Road site was purchased by a Limerick man who then sold to GAA ‘for the same consideration’. Yesterday, I spotted a tweet from Jean with a copy of the notification of the death, 100 years ago on 18th April, 1916, of Frank Brazil Dineen and it reminded me of this plaque on the side wall of a building in Ballylanders. Joining those two dots of knowledge was justification for today’s blog.
There are benefits to being the designated driver – not many, but some.
With the rest of the house still in a slumber fuelled by drinking into the early hours, I was up and out in the Limerick countryside early on a bright sharp Saturday morning. The rural location and time of day conspired to restrict the number of other road users that I came across to just one. We had passed the sign to St. Brigit’s Well on a few occasions when travelling to friends, but we had never stopped and paid a visit. That box was ticked firmly that Saturday, just me and nature. The Well is a bit of a walk from the road – up and over the field; down a wooded passageway beyond the electric fence; across another field; then another glade opens up to reveal the Well site. The site is enclosed by a stone wall with a solitary gate. The well itself has a concrete surround with the statue above. There is an old donation box in the wall which appears to be rusted shut. There were a small few memorial cards adjacent to the statue – nowhere near the amount left with St Bridget in Co Clare. There are two Rag Trees, one adjacent to the well; the other on the final wooded pathway before the Well site. Driving away, I spotted that there was a Lenten Walk later that day, including a visit to the well. As we were making our way home that morning, we spotted some on the walk and it brought some thoughts to the fore. The walk organisers had arranged for Stations of the Cross along the route for the participants. There were quite a few walkers that morning – more than one might observe leaving a city church after a Saturday morning mass. With Pilgrim Walks and Pattern Days, I do think that any increase in catholic religious observance may involve old traditions – but this agnostic may not be the best judge of such matters. Even with my religious persuasion, a very pleasant twenty minutes were enjoyed that morning. Limerick city, I believe, dealt with the decay of the Celtic Corpse better than Cork in that they used a number of derelict sites as opportunities for art. I was on the Dock Road a few weeks back and noted that a large site is as yet undeveloped. I remain firm in the belief that if the local authorities had exercised compulsory purchase on derelict sites and then sell on at auction, it would have had the effect of setting a new base price and allow developers to purchase at a viable base price. Instead, we had banks and receivers holding on to property waiting for an upturn in prices while keeping a visual blackspot intact. I did stop to view the artwork and did like a few of them.
But sometimes streetart is not enough to cover up inaction and the mind wanders back to the extent of dereliction in Cork and the inertia of Cork City Council in dealing with the disrespect shown to the city. That bright early Saturday morning, I did not leave the site uplifted and happy. 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. Sometimes more than others, the reading and photographing of plaques and memorials prompt some time-out for consideration.
We were in Limerick on Friday night for a party. As designated driver, I had the benefit of an early rising and trip around the area while others slept on. I had spotted this plaque on the bridge at Ferrybridge, Clarina on the way home from the party. I returned the following morning. Reading the plaque, shortly before 9.00 on a bright clear Saturday morning, I realised that today was the anniversary of their deaths. It brought a ‘what if’ series of thoughts to mind. Lusanna chromchinn translates as daffodils but iterally as ‘flowers of the stooped head’ – an appropriate reaction I thought on my way back. I was in Limerick today for a funeral.
After the mass, I walked towards the centre and spotted this. It was new to me. Limerick’s right to be considered the leader in street art, or Urban Exhibitionism, has a stronger argument.
There are very many towns in Ireland with a Church St– Listowel’s is a bit unusual.
Logainm has various translations including Sráid na hEaglaise; Sráid an Teampaill; and Sráid na Cille. We were in Listowel on Thursday after Kathleen’s funeral and I noted that the translation was Sráid an Ághasaigh – which appears to literally translate as Ashe St. I do not know why this anomaly in translation exists but would like to think that it is similar to Coburg Street in Cork – another on the To Find Out list. I was in Corca Dhuibhne a few weeks back and stopped to take a photograph of the Ashe Memorial. Only a few days ago, I blogged about Andy O’Sullivan who died on hunger strike and Thomas Ashe is said to be the first who died on hunger strike while campaigning for Irish freedom. All conspire to prompt today’s ramble. From checking my photos of streetsigns, maybe Dingle might be in a similar situation to Listowel where Ashmount Terrace translates from Irish as Ashe Terrace. |
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