Category: - Reading the Signs

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History Repeats

10/2/2014

CASTLETOWNROCHE

In the early 1900s the village was a thriving self-sufficient community, there were up to a dozen grocery shops with a further ten adjoined pubs. During this time there was an amazing variety of trades in the village including butchers, bakers, blacksmiths, harness makers, nailers, carpenters, painters, basket makers, tailors and shoemakers. Prior to the advent of the motor car much of the entertainment came to town – visiting circus’, travelling show/cinemas, play companies and dance bands. The village also had its own Fife and Drum band, which was formed in 1909.

Castletownroche

This morning I was out and about around Old Blackrock Road, Victoria Avenue and Boreenmanna Road. I noted a few buildings that are now residences but in the past were shop units of some sort or other.

You will see many of their type in almost every village, town, suburb and city.

When I drove through Castletownroche a few weeks ago, it was a sleepy little town. It definitely did not give off the scent of a thriving commercial hub.

Does a similar fate await Cork city centre? Not just the cars as may have done for Castletownroche but parking; suburban shopping centres; human desire to have all things in one place; internet shopping.

If you like the convenience of a local shop, support it.

Shandon St

Ballinacurra, Co. Cork

Evergreen St

Cobh, Co. Cork

Not all progress is good

16/11/2013

I was in Mallow last month and spotted these two idle commercial outlets near the roundabout at Bridge St and Thomas Davis Street. I smiled at the description of ‘Fancy Warehouse’ – that term was not restricted to Liscannor.

Later that day I was listening to Olivia O’Leary on RTE Drivetime and her words left me hankering after shops and buildings of the past rather than what we are now being given.

I was chatting with a friend recently about Grandad’s blog about times past. He commented that the rose-tinted glasses have dimmed recollection of the state of cleanliness in public houses, especially the toilets.

He may well have an argument but I wish the likes of Murphy’s and Lane’s were still trading rather than the likes of Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre and Faulkner’s Lane where the outlets are the same as any major city.

Are we conceding any sense of individual identity to the multinational brand?

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

Fancy Goods

7/9/2013

It is interesting to contemplate that there obviously was a time when use of the words ‘Fancy Goods’ was considered likely to encourage customers to enter.

In this time of Unique Selling Points and Memory Hooks, I suspect that its effectiveness as a marketing tool may be limited.

But then again, as has been commented more than once, it is not that I will ever be anyway near a marketing expert.

Breaking News

4/9/2013

1932 - Source Irish Examiner

I met DL yesterday and he commented on the blog entry from a few days back asking if I had spotted the sign in the window – which I had missed.

I suspect that would have been some feat to have the articles typed and the paper printed within five minutes of the
end.

I suppose that a five minute wait in 1932 was relatively instant as RSS Feeds, tweets and the like now.

London & Newcastle Tea Company

31/8/2013

Crowds wait outside Cork Examiner office for result of Jack Doyle v. Peterson world heavyweight title fight which took place at White City, London. Doyle was disqualified in the second round. 15/07/1932 - Irish Examiner

Camp, Co. Kerry

The photograph above was in the Irish Examiner earlier this week in a feature on the birth of Jack Doyle. Seemingly, there are a number of events planned in Cobh this weekend.

Stunning to see that many people so interested in the result of a boxing fight. In this wireless age of immediate connectivity, it is a reminder as to the speed of news in a previous age.

I was particularly interested in the business names from 1932. The Efficient Engineering Company could claim to be seventy years ahead of the market. The Cork Examiner – both name and lettering – would be familiar.

I thought that the London & Newcastle Tea Co. was completely new to me but it appears that the name was shortened to L& N which was taken over by Musgraves in 1995 and transferred to Supervalu Brand. The Supervalu shops in Youghal and Ballincollig are still referred to as L & N by some.

Crowleys Music Centre

12/8/2013

‘Regrettably Crowleys Music Centre ceased trading on August 10th 2013.

We dedicated ourselves to our musical heritage and after 87 yrs of looking after musicians, we are at the end.

We loved it so much and it will be missed so much. Best Wishes to all of ye and thanks for your business throughout the years.

1926 – 2013’

Sheena Crowley

I was so disappointed to receive a text earlier today from KH with photographs of the signs on Crowleys Music Store on MacCurtain St.. I was never musical but the Music Store was always there. It had the association with Rory Gallagher.

It had a normal honest shop front. It just was part of life.

In the week leading upto Heritage Week, another small link in the chain of Cork Heritage has been lost.

UPDATE Further Blog Entry on 19 August 2013

120, Oliver Plunkett Street

9/8/2013

120 Oliver Plunkett St

I noted the proud plaster writing on the façade of the building
on Oliver Plunkett St.

I went to Tom Spalding’s book ‘Cork City: A Field guide to its Street
Furniture’ where he listed the main manufacturers of wrought and cast iron street furniture but no company listed at 120 Oliver Plunkett
St.

When I did some web searching, I almost missed it as Oliver Plunkett St was George’s Street in 1913. But I was able to find that R Pulvertaft &
Sons were the Brass Foundry who traded from the building.

Inchigeela Dairy, Coburg St

28/5/2013

'Yesterday don't matter when it's gone'

Ruby Tuesday - Jagger & Richards

20130526

Pana-Vision by Donal O’Caoimh

My memories of my seventies childhood include family religious outing on Sunday mornings. For whatever reason, we were sometimes late and this meant 12.15 mass at St. Mary’s on Pope’s Quay. The route home then was past Inchigeela Dairy which often was a stopping point for the papers or some treats.

In the late eighties, I started working not too far away and Inchigeela Dairy was the local shop. On a few occasions, I would have been delegated to call up to Mr. Creedon for the provisions.

When I was in Ennis recently, I noted plastered signage on a building that was, but no longer is, a shop. Of late, I have noted old shop premises by North Cathedral and by Tower St and had thought of taking photographs of these buildings for another section of the website – but had not yet put that thought into action.

Google Maps Image

This weekend, I was walking down Coburg St and Devonshire St and noted that the namesign on Inchigeela Dairiy had been painted over. The shop has been closed for many years but the signage was a reminder of my yesterdays which do matter – to me anyway.

I have spotted a photograph on Pana-Vision by Donal O’Caoimh and GoogleMaps with the old signage to overcome any failings that may arise with the memory.