Category: - Reading the Signs

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Bullet Marks

5/6/2015

The longer I hang about these parts, the more I am convinced that there is so much information thrown at us and available to us. Knowledge is merely making the connections.

Charles Bowen-Colthurst was mentioned here a while back . The latest update from the excellent Cricket Bat that Died for Ireland gave even more information for the knowledge bank.

It also reminded me of this little cottage at Raleigh outside Macroom. When there a few months back, I bumped into RH who told me that it was originally the family home, a home of a family that would have had Republican leanings but if I looked through the railings on the window opes, I could see marks on the back walls.

I was told that these are from bullets fired from lorries leaving Macroom Barracks with Black & Tan soldiers on their way past – just shooting for fun into houses.

Over 90 years later, they are still there.

Ellen & Agnes Clerke

28/5/2015

Last week, when in Skibbereen, I made sure to stop and photograph the plaque to Ellen Clerke and Agnes Clerke.

If you have a few minutes, you can read about both Ellen and Agnes on Roaringwater Journal. Both are very very interesting.

Fr Dominic, Brigade Chaplain

25/5/2015

On May 1st, I was in the Holy Trinity Church, the Church of the Capuchin Order, located on Fr. Mathew Quay.

For the first time, I spotted this plaque commemorating Fr. Dominic, I.R.A. Brigade Chaplain. Upto then I had not known that there were chaplains in the War of Independence and Civil War.

The following day, Stair na hÉireann had a piece on Fr. Aloysius who had a similar role in Dublin and attended some of the Proclamation signatories before their execution.

The web again educates. Fr. Dominic was appointed by Tomás MacCurtain and was first to his house on the morning he was murdered. He then ministered Terence macSwiney in England during his hunger strike. Fr Dominic was also a spy recruiter.

He died in Bend, Oregan but his remains were returned and buried in Rochestown College.

Still learning every day.

Birdy

18/5/2015

I was not fast enough.

Pólo regularly has a ‘Where is it?’ quiz. For the first time, I actually knew where it was but didn’t spot the question in time – a side-effect of being a non-twitter, I suspect.

I liked the sculpture at Mount Street Crescent in Dublin when I saw it a few weeks ago - Birdy by Rowan Gillespie .Through, Pólo I have discovered that it ‘represents a bird that has just been freed from its cage and is about to fly away.’

A good a reason as any to share with you.

Iona or Iona Columcille

12/5/2015

On this day in 563, St. Columcille formed a monastery in Iona – so I learned from the daily update from Stair na hÉireann.

Last evening, I was walking about in the Mayfield area and noted that Iona used to be translated simply as ‘Í’ but the authors of the newer streetsigns have thought that further explanation is required to associate with Columcille.

Me, I prefer the simple’Í’….

Walter Macken b.03.05.1915

4/5/2015

Walter Macken was born 100 years ago yesterday – with thanks to the daily update from Stair na hEireann for that piece of information.

I did blog some months ago about not having read any book by Walter Macken. That was then.

‘Rain on the Wind’ was completed over six months ago. Like buildings needing a few years to see if they age well and blend well with their surroundings, books also, I think, need time to mellow on the brain and find a comfortable spot.

This spot may be within reach or in some deep dark closet that is soon forgotten – most novels tend to end up in such a closet. Maybe this is because or as a result of my reading generally being of non-fiction.

‘Rain on the Wind’ was a welcome break from non-fiction. I can still picture the house, the boat and nearly-dead goose. The characters and their inter-relationships are still fresh – the father-in-law who knew his place; the son who knew he was not favourite; the youth with difficulty in going beyond friendship; the long lasting school friendship – each were well captured as was the dying of a trade with introduction of technology.

It appeared to be written very much in an Irish English – as if I was reading expressions and manner of speaking almost directly translated. More descriptive. I enjoyed that.

I will never make it as a book reviewer. There are very many better suited to that task. So do not expect to see too many blogs like this.

But that is no reason not to express what was very much enjoyed – so much so that a book of short stories (part-read) and his biography are on the book shelf next to me.

If you spot it on a bookshelf looking for a home, you could do a lot worse.

“But there were her father’s eyes. Hurt in them.

Friends’ eyes? Astonishment. Mockery. Incomprehension.

And here were the simple eyes of Mico. What?

‘I hope you’ll be happy’, said Mico.

‘You’re the first to say that, Mico,’ she said.

They both looked at the water.

In the lead-up to the upcoming Marriage Referendun, the church appear to be getting some criticism for interfering in state affairs, I have thought upon the passage when Mico is told of Jo’s life decision. Each to their own but much better expressed in the book

A Little Art

29/4/2015

I have long been impressed with the quantity and quality of public sculptures in Ennis – I will sometime get around to uploading them on a separate section.

Yesterday’s update from MeticulousMick was about ‘The Passage’ art installation in Wroclaw.

It reminded me of an installation near the library in Ennis.

When I saw it first, I thought it may have been a representation of Famine times with people shrinking back into the ground but seemingly ‘with a number incomplete sculpture pieces, which signify incompleteness through all stages of life.’

I thought I’d share…

A Lot of History in One Place

28/4/2015

I am not sure I will ever make it as a top grade connector of historical dots of information.

I spotted this plaque at the altar end of the disused church at Aghingh Cemetery where I learnt of Adrian Carton de Wiart and also Bishop MacEgan. I took the photograph to share with TMG who resides near Blarney. I thought it slightly odd that reference to ‘dutiful son and affectionate brother’ took precedence over ‘faithful husband and loving father’.

A few months back, I had watched Réabhlóid – Death of a Pacifist on TG4 about the killing of Francis Sheehy Skeffington in 1916 but did not register the name of the officer who had ordered his execution.

Captain J. C. Bowen Colthurst was the son of Robert Walter Travers Bowen Colthurst but it was TMG reminded me of this. A younger brother, Robert MacGregor Bowen Colthurst died in WW1 on 15 March, 1915.

An interesting coincidence that both Francis Skeffington and Robert Walter Travers Bowen each added the name of his wife to their name.

This weekend, Stair na hÉireann reminded that Francis Sheehy Skeffington was executed on 26th April, 1916 on the orders of Captain J. C. Bowen Colthurst.

Three separate pieces of history in one small graveyard…..

ALSO IN MEMORY OF

GEORGINA BOWEN COLTHURST

WIDOW OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED NOV 21 1921
AGED 65 YEARS

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

ROBERT WALTER TRAVERS BOWEN COLTHURST

BORN 16TH MARCH 1840
FELL ASLEEP 16TH NOVEMBER 1896

AT OAK GROVE CO. CORK

WHOM THE LORD LOVETH, HE CHASTENETH AND SCOURGETH EVERY SON WHOM
HE REVEICETH
IF YE ENDURE CHASTENING GOD DEALETH WITH YOU AS WITH SONS FOR WHAT
SON IS HE WHOM THE FATHER CHASTEBETH NOT (HEBREWS X11 6:7)

A DUTIFUL SON AND AFFECTIONATE BROTHER
A FAITHFUL HUSBAND AND LOVING FATHER
IN EVERY RELATION OF LIFE RESPECTED HONOURED AND ESTEEMED
LIVING AND DYING IN GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL MEN
TRULY IRISH IN HIS GENEROUS CHARACTER AND GENIAL NATURE
DEVOTED TO THE GOOD OF HIS COUNTRY
AND COUNTRYMEN
LOVING HANDS BORE HIM TO HIS LAST RESTING PLACE
THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS SIMPLE INTEGRITY TO HIS UNDAUNTED COURAGE
HIS CHEERFUL ENDURANCE AND SUBMISSION DURING YEARS OF BODILY SUFFERING
WILL REMAIN A BEAUTIFUL AND ENCOURAGING EXAMPLE

Bishop MacEgan

16/4/2015

Carrigadrohid Castle

Another blog post prompted by the graveyard at Aghinagh.

I spotted this headstone a short distance inside the gate of the cemetery and was intrigued on a few fronts – is it the original headstone from 1650? Why the mixed numerals – so was it second or eleventh of May; who was baolac mac aodagáin?

I knew of Bishop McEgan College in the Castle Grounds in Macroom and always assumed it was the Bishop at the time or just prior to the opening of the school. I was wrong – so wrong.

It was only when I came home and also looked at the photograph taken at Carrigadrohid did I spot the connection.

Boetius MacEgan was made Bishop of Ross in 1648. Oliver Cromwell arrived in Ireland the following year. Bishop MacEgan rallied armies to fight against Cromwell but was captured at Macroom.

The following day, he was brought to Carrigadrohid Castle which was occupied by Irish forces. He was told that his life would be spared if he persuaded the Irish to surrender but he encouraged them to fight on and so he was hanged using the reins from his horse.

I have learnt some but still am unaware as to whether it is a replacement headstone and why only partially Roman Numerals.

Aghinagh Cemetery

In onóir
do ḃaolac mac aodagáin
easpaig rois
do maraíod ag sasanaiġ
i gcarraig an droiċid

11 – V – 1650

Carrigadrohid Castle

Limerick Women

11/4/2015

Clontarf Place, Limerick

I recently read on Cornflakegirl’s Musings of an article on Nellie Cashman – the first in a series of ten by the journal.ie and the National Women’s Council. Kit Coleman was the subject of the second article.

Since starting this, I have learnt of very many people who, to then, were unknown to me but when prompted to do some research I have learnt much of the likes of Eliza Lynch, Ellen Organ, Annie Moore and Agnes Mary Clarke.

Recently, I spotted this art installation to famous Limerick women. I was hooked as an art installation and also a record of famous people. The series of articles prompted me to expedite the research of those named – a number of whom I had not heard previously.

Today’s update from Stair na hEireann noted that Kathleen Daly Clarke was born on this day in Limerick – another prompt.

I would have thought that she might have warranted inclusion on the art installation.

Terence MacSwiney b. 28.03.1879

30/3/2015

Yesterday’s update from Stair na hÉireann advised of the birth of Terence MacSwiney.

It was a prompt to put all of the photographs relating to Terence MacSwiney in one place.

The Greatest Guitarist in the World….

8/3/2015

“I want to plant a star in the sky,

One you can find at the end of the night”

Follow Me – Rory Gallagher

One of the updates during the week from Stair n hÉireann was that Rory Gallagher was born on 2nd March, 1948 – 67 years ago.

This was as good a prompt as any to take head to South Main Street and photograph the mural – even if the ‘quote’ is unverified.

Vengeance is Theirs

8/3/2015

I remember many years ago seeing some of the documentary on the Ballyseedy Massacre.

Pat Butler’s pronunciation of the Kerry placenames such as Gneeveguilla and Knocknagoshel left a stronger memory than the killings on the young me. Way back then, things of history did not hold my attention for too long.

I did not see the start so it was only this morning’s update from Stair nahÉireann that educated as to relative timing of Ballyseedy and Knocknagoshel. For the past number of years, until the opening of the Tralee by-pass last year, we would have passed the Ballyseedy Monument regularly on our way to the Dingle Peninsula.

Since photographing the Knocknagoshel Monument last year, I have been intrigues somewhat as, I think it is the only memorial that I have come across to Pro-Treaty/Free State soldiers, excluding those to Michael Collins. I have photographed many but there appear to be either Civil War memorials and/or Anti-Treaty memorials.

Thanks to YouTube, I can watch what I think is Pat Butler’s documentary from years ago, and learn.

As for learning, my brain had filed away the saying as ‘”Vengeance is Mine” said the Lord’ but apparently the bible has a longer quote.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
King James Bible

Anniversary of Irishmen Killed

6/3/2015

I like co-incidences.

Yesterday, I learnt of the death of Jim McCann from blog update. His death was one day after the date upon which Grace Gifford Plunkett was born – she being the ‘Grace’ in the song he sung.

The update this morning from Stair na hÉireann referred to two separate events from the 1920’s – both of which have memorial plaques which I have photographed but which I had not realised were on the same day – just two years apart. (or maybe 1 day short of 2 years)

I Cheated…

6/3/2015

Challenge Completed – Partly