Category: - Reading the Signs

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Rock Art - Talk Today

30/1/2016

It has taken over two years but I am not much more educated.

The Rock Art on the Killelton Stone in Camp had me somewhat confused as to what ‘art’ I was looking at.

The good scribes at Roaringwater Journal are not just good company, they can put together an informative, concise, and clear exhibition on Rock Art as I found a few weeks back. The photography is co clear and educational. The information boards strike the balance between not enough and information overload.

I received an email during the week to say that they, Finola Finlay and Robert Harris, will be giving a talk at the exhibition today at The Museum, Fitzgerald’s Park. Negotiations regarding parental duties are ongoing but I do hope to get there.

The exhibition is so very well worth a visit.

What is the 'S' doing in Milltown Malbay?

3/1/2016

Ballard Road

Main Street

Main Street

Today I was reading the Concrete Stew blogpost about Milltown Malbay – particularly about its shopfronts and streetscape.

It reminded me of an unusual ‘plaque’ that I spotted on two buildings at the top of the town (church end) – each has an ‘S’ in a circle on the façade of the building – one on Main St., the other on Ballard Road.

I do not know the meaning, significance or history of these.

It could well prompt a return journey to ask of some publicans…..

Ballard Road

The Mouth Of The Glen - Preface or Chapter 1?

27/11/2015

Beal a'Ghleanna - Mouth of the Glen

The Boy, Allen

24/11/2015

Last year, I blogged about some monuments to the Manchester Martyrs, that I had seen around the country.

At end of Summer, POF told me of a memorial at Kilbrogan Graveyard in Bandon – so a visit was made. I also spotted that they are commemorated on the National Monument in Grand Parade.

I still have not got around to reading the book but the amount of times that I have read of them this year does make me wonder as to why I was so unfamiliar prior to this.

They were killed on 23rd November, 1867 so there has been many On This Day type references in the past few days including ExecutedToday, Stair na hÉireann, Ireland In History and StuartBorthwick.

Jean Prendergast’s tweets regularly include clips form newspapers 100 years ago. The Manchester Martyrs featured often recently with marches, parades, prayers among other anniversary actions. ComeHereToMe’s blog yesterday mentioned a final march to Glasnevin cemetery, without the bodies.

Maybe the book will educate but it appears, just like Pearse’s words at Rossa’s grave, that the Fenian dead Manchester Martyrs were a rallying call, a cause behind which Republican groups united in a common cause – such unity proving beneficial for later activities.

JOHN HOWELL, DONERAILE d. 04 Nov 1922

4/11/2015

Today’s update from Stair na hEireann, told of a skirmish at Ballineen and Enniskeane in West Cork.

“1922 – Skirmish between National Army and Republican troops who attack military posts in two villages, Enniskean and Ballineen in West Cork. Five Free State soldiers are injured, two fatally. Republican losses are at least two dead; a section commander Tadhg O’Leary and a volunteer, both IRA West Cork Brigade”

The plaque on the building in Enniskeane confirms one of the dead as John Howell who was some distance from home.

The plaque to Timothy O’Leary’s is in the adjoining village of Ballineen.

I definitely need to allocate time to upload all of the photographs of the Civil War/ War of Independence memorials.

Eamonn Kent, b. 21.09.1881

21/9/2015

This morning’s update from Stair na hÉireann advised that Eamonn Kent was born on this day in 1881.

I thought I’d share this photograph of the plaque on the house in North Co. Galway.

St. Patrick's Well, Nassau Street

16/9/2015

‘Be Prepared’ is a motto – unfortunately I was not.

Sráid Thobar Phádraig - Patrick's Well Street

Last Friday, making my way back towards the train home, I was walking along Nassau Street. A bell in my head went off.

Sometime recently, someone had mentioned something about Nassau Street that had been filed away under ‘unusual and worth checking out when next there’. But could I remember the sometime, the something or even the someone – could I hell.

I Remember Where I Was When…..

12/9/2015

A while back, I commented on Grandad’s site that there were only three such occasions that I could remember – Ayrton Senna’s death; Princess Diana’s death; and, Twin Towers on 9/11.

I remember thinking, shortly after writing that, at the time of Nelson Mandela’s death that the list would extend to four – but that has not proven to be the case.

I was reminded of this earlier this week, two days before 9/11, when we had our final Conversational Irish Walk. The venue was St Finbarr’s Cemetery, prompted by a tweet from Irish Garrison Towns, advising of an online map. The venue definitely provided very many topics of conversation and some new vocabulary.

As we turned the gate for home, we spotted this lovely triptych memorial – smooth or one face and rough elsewhere; bullaun type depression on top to trap water. The curve was definitely tactile.

I did recall that Ruth Clifford McCourt was originally from Cork but had not realised that she and her daughter were buried in Cork.

Something else to add to that memory of talking with MOS outside a school prior to a construction site meeting fourteen years ago.

Catch the Burning Sparks the Fly

20/8/2015

What is it about Forges, Blacksmith and bending metal?

More than once have I rabbited on here and there about the attraction of the forge.

Then a few more things come along together to warrant another rabbiting.

In Bantry recently, I spotted another plaque to a former forge, and to Denis Sexton.

Then Robert’s blog was about Umha Aois at Skibbereen Arts Festival where metal pieces were made using metal furnaces – something that would have kept me enthralled.

This week, looking through the listings for Heritage Week, I spotted that there will be a working forge at Coppeen on Sunday. I would love to be there but suspect that other plans have been made.

And the children coming home from school
Look in at the open door,
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing floor

What is a Gneeve?

30/7/2015

Seemingly it is one twelfth of a Ploughland – should that be of assistance.

There I was, back in June, minding my own business when the latest update came through from the West Cork History blog. The title was about Gneeve, a new word to me.

Reading the blog, it appeared to be a form of classification of land based upon what the land could bear in terms of output.

This got me thinking of Gneeveguilla and prompted my first visit to Gníomh go Leith (Gneeve and a half).

When on holidays, I was reading The Tailor – translation of recordings with Tim Buckley of Tailor & Antsy fame and on the first page he mentions ‘Gneeve’.

I might as well share the knowledge.

“That was an old-time way of reckoning. Anyone buying land would inquire how many collops it would carry. That was the first thing: how many collops would the land feed?

A three-year old cow is also a collop. Three collops then would mean the same as a horse: they would eat the same amount. And two calves from the previous year – that is yearlings – they too would be reckoned to be a collop. And I think six goats would be regarded as a collop.

That mode of reckoning is no longer used. It would be better if it were, for then people would be able to determine what the land was capable of carrying”

Stories From the Tailor – Edited and Translated by Aindrias ó Muimhneacháin

“My grandfather was born in Coolavohir, Ballyvourney. His name was John Buckley. There were at the time, two John Buckleys in Coolavohir, married to two sisters surnamed Lehane, daughters of Peter Larry.

Peter Larry had two gneeves of land. That land, I think was in Moornaghbeg, Direenawling and Derrynasaggart).”

Stories From the Tailor – Edited and Translated by Aindrias ó Muimhneacháin

“How do you define the word ‘gneeve?’ – It is the twelfth part of a ploughland; and those ploughlands and gneeves vary in size. One gneeve in my parish is a slarge as twelve others. I know gneeves in my parish that do not exceed from four to five acres in extent; and I know of another gneeve which has thirty acres on it : it is let according to its value”

Law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland: minutes of evidence: part II

“Ploughland

1. land that is ploughed for growing crops

2.(history) a measure of land in parts of England after the Norman conquest, based on the area which could be ploughed in a year by eight oxen”

Collins Dictionary

O’Donovan Rossa

26/7/2015

Skibbereen, Co. Cork

On Monday, I attended the performance of Rossa at Skibbereen Town Hall, in the very pleasant company of the scribes from Roaringwater Journal.

I was only taught history in school upto the (then) Inter Cert. The play however, brought home how much we were NOT taught as to Irish history and in particular Irish Republican history.

The production, a collaboration of a number of amateur drama groups, was very enjoyable, used mixed media well, but more than anything else for this viewer, it was so educational.

I would have had a sense of connecting O’Donovan Rossa to America; I would have thought that the Bobby Sands hunger strike was the first campaign for political status; I did not know that Pearse’s oration was at his grave. I do now but also have so much more to learn.

Buy A Book

26/6/2015

Go on. Go on. Go on.

Get out and buy a book.

I have had these photographs for some time. I have had the inkling of a blog post rattling around for over a year. CornflakeGirl’s post this morning prompted some action.

For me, there is a joy and elation in seeing a book that you have never seen before, are unlikely to see again, and so must buy there and then. The book can be new or secondhand. But it is that moment when I realise what I hold and must bring home.

Dingle

Stolpersteine

23/6/2015

Images of Elsewhere – 4

This evening I learnt about Stumbling Blocks.

Don’t hang about here – get over to That’s How The Light Gets In, and learn for yourself

Uillinn

20/6/2015

I was reading Robert’s entry on Roaringwater about the opening of the West Cork Arts Centre.

I could definitely understand why there may have been conflicting opinions as to the design – size; height; impact; without even getting to finish.

Me – I like.

Well I like the design. The execution may be a different story.

Some staining on framed image

I like the fact that it is a new modern building located in the centre of the town. I like the height and the different shapes. I like the double height effects. I like the metal and the exposed concrete. As in City Hall in Cork, exposed concrete does not always need a plaster finish.

As one approaches the door, there is a low concrete wall on one’s left that provides a viewing opening up to the building and the sky. When you go there, I recommend taking a moment to appreciate the image framed by the structure.

Streaks

More Streaks and Snots

The execution and the detail is where I was so very disappointed.

More than nearly all, I can appreciate the need on occasion to make cost savings on a building project. Budgets only stretch so far. There is no benefit in having nicely plastered walls to stairs if the overall budget is broken so much that the building is not built and there are no stairs.

However, cost saving on finishes can be no excuse for poor detailing that will be there forever.

I like the metal cladding and understand that it will take some years to each its final colour. Unfortunately, over that time, the poor edge detailing will mean that it will continue to streak down the wall.

I am a fan of polished concrete finish but why continue into a landing where it must attach to a stairs with a same but different finish – a definite NO from this observer.

As for the other stairwell with the poorly finished blockwork, the water stains and joints on the concrete finish, I only hope that a strategic decision was made not to concentrate on finish as, when funds prevail, this stairwell can be finished later. I really do hope that is the case. But am not so sure.

Gortaneidin

19/6/2015

A first – for me anyway.

As those who stop by here regularly probably realise, I stop and photograph every grotto that I pass on my travels. I have even been known to alter my travel path so that I might find another grotto.

Last week, heading to West Cork, I spotted this grotto at Gortaneidin, outside Inchigeela. Speaking with CC, he said that the statue was seen as moving which prompted a web search.

For the first time, I came across a website about a grotto.