Category: Plaque - Reading the Signs

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There is only one house in Dromcolliher

3/5/2016

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

‘Says I, have yez been to Dromcolliher?
Ye haven’t? Well now I declare.
You must wait till you’ve been to Dromcolliher
And seen the fine house we have there.
There’s only one house in Dromcolliher:
For hardware, bacon and tea:
If your master would come we would treat him in Drum,
Oh! Drum is the place for me’
Percy French, 1894

Katie Buckley - Lost on RMS Titanic

16/4/2016

“In loving memory of
Catherine (Katie) Buckley
Knockanemore, Ovens, Co. Cork.
March 6th 1889 – April 15th 1912
Lost on RMS Titanic
Beloved daughter and sister
Interred St. Joseph’s Cemetery,
West Roxbury, MA, USA.”

Memorial by Muskerry Local History Society October 2012

Yesterday was the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. 104 years ago, on 15th April, 1912.

News reports reminded of this plaque close to the church in Ovens, Co. Cork which I spotted a while back.

When there is a name and an image, it lifts the news beyond cold facts and numbers.

Twenty three years old and setting out on a new challenge.

The Shally's House

8/4/2016

I have never seen a plaque like this before.

This plaque is on the R360 in Co. Galway, a bit south of Williamstown.

As with many plaques, it gives an outline but does intrigue a bit as to the full story.

Why did the Shally family leave? Was it their choice or were they compelled by the Land Commission; or a landlord; or even for reasons of work? Did they own the house? If so, was it sold or does it remain in the family?

Why move to Tulsk in a neighbouring county?

Because of the unusual message on the plaque, to me it definitely asks more questions than it answers.

Angry in Leitrim

3/4/2016

‘tell me true tell me why was Jesus crucified
is it for this that daddy died?’
Roger Waters - Pink Floyd

On Easter Sunday 27th March, while many were participating in the Centenary celebrations in Dublin and elsewhere, I was driving the backroads of south Co. Leitrim looking for Effrinagh and the site of the Pearse Connolly Hall.

A while back, I learnt of Jimmy Gralton from a plaque in Carrick-on-Shannon.
When I found the site, a memorial stone had been erected and appeared to be waiting formal opening. It appears to have replaced a timber sign which I did not see that day.

I have read many plaques and signs over the past few years. As they are commemorating and recognising an individual or group, some can be biased towards the subject – to a greater or lesser degree.

I still have not watched Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall but am now determined to correct that – as well as Deported. These may educate me as to the man and the extent of bias, if any, in the plaque.

Allowing for, any possible, bias, I left the Swan Lake Inn behind me and headed back though Annagherly and Sheemore angry with the country that existed at that time – once more annoyed with how power was granted to the church and how it was used in conjunction with the state.

I reached for Pink Floyd and blared The Post War Dreams as I left. Go on, have a listen and replace ‘daddy’ with any of the names commemorated that Easter Sunday.

Jimmy Gralton

Jerome Connor b.1847.02.23

23/2/2016

In Summer, 2013 I spotted this memorial in Annascaul. It is in the park, near Tom Crean’s bar – the park with the poetry on the sculpture.

Two years later, I noted that another memorial had been erected – on the new section of road between Annascaul and Camp.

This morning’s update from Stair na hÉireann mentioned that Jerome Connor was born on this day in 1847 – so I thought as good a reason as any to share the photographs.

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

Memorials - War of Independence & Civil War

27/12/2015

I have spent whatever free time over the Christmas mapping the nearly-200 memorials to War of Independence and Civil War that I have photographed over the past few years,

The map can be viewed HERE.

Only some of the Limerick and Kerry memorials have the photographs uploaded – next task is to upload all the other photos.

The Mouth Of The Glen - Preface or Chapter 1?

27/11/2015

Beal a'Ghleanna - Mouth of the Glen

Hugh Lane, b. 9th Nov, 1875

11/11/2015

Century Ireland tweeted that yesterday was the anniversary of the birth of Hugh Lane, born on 9th November, 1875.

It reminded me of this plaque at St Luke’s Church in Douglas.

I understand, from talk on Heritage Day, that he was born in Douglas, at Ballybrack House on Donnybrook Hill, and christened in the church but, that that was the extent of his time spent in Cork as soon after he was brought to England where he grew up.

General Charles deGaulle

9/11/2015

Féilire Gaeilge tweeted today to say it was the anniversary of the death of Charles DeGaulle.

It reminded me of this monument that I spotted in Sneem last year and had mentally filed away as to why it had been erected.

It appears that he visited on a number of occasions and that the monument was erected in 1994, 25 years after his visit in 1969.

John Boyd Dunlop

6/11/2015

More work of Seamus Murphy that I spotted this week – after my conversational Irish class.

That is some beard that Mr Dunlop had.

Considering that John Boyd Dunlop died when Seamus Murphy was only fourteen, I wonder what he had to work on to create a 3-D image.

The plaque is not very prominently located – considering this is my third year attending at the O’Rahilly Building each Wednesday evening of a 20 week course and this was the first time that the corridor door was open and I saw it.

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.

Otharlann & English-ised Irish

14/10/2015

My schooldays finished over 30 years ago but the only word I recall ever being taught in Irish for ‘hospital’ was ‘ospidéal’.

On Monday, I was cycling to collect our 9-year old from school and spotted this plaque at St. Finbarr’s Hospital on Douglas Road. It took a while to register but then came the eureka moment when I remembered last year a discussion as to ‘Othar’, meaning a patient.

So, just as ‘Uachtarlann’ is a ‘creamery’ or more literally, ‘Cream Building;’ Leabhlarlann’ is ‘library’ (book building), and ‘marclann’ a ‘stable’, so ‘Otharlann’ is a ‘house of patients’.

The CUH uses ‘Ospidéal’ and not ‘Otharlann’ so maybe ‘Otharlann’ is falling out of use in favour of English-ised Irish.

That very morning the same 9-year old ‘corrected’ my use of ‘gluaisteán’ for ‘car’, saying that ‘carr’ was correct. It is interesting to note that Focloir.ie lists ‘carr’ ahead of ‘gluaisteán’ and also lists ‘ospidéal’ ahead of ‘otharlann’.

After two years of conversational Irish class, I have now realised that language is not mathematical; that it does not always translates exactly; and that it is forever changing and growing.

Continuing my cycle, I wondered as to how many other Irish words did I once know, that have now been replaced by an English-ised Irish word. However many there might be, I have not been able to recall another but suspect there are quite a few.

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.

Touching History – Thomas Kent

18/9/2015

Last evening, my 9-year old and I went up to Collins Barracks, to St. Michael’s Garrison Church where the remains of Thomas Kent lay in state.

As I have mentioned here before, my recollection of Intermediate Certificate history as taught in my particular Alma Mater is of events, places and people so distant in time and/or place. I never felt a connection or experienced a sense of inquisitiveness that I wished to pursue – something that I regularly encounter now when seeing a commemorative plaque.

I have no recollection of a school education on Fenian times, the Easter Rising or the War of Independence/Civil War period. Any interest, you may have observed in blog posts hereabout, are without the foundation of directed school learning.

The 9-year old did not enjoy the queuing too much. The ceremonial aspect of the changing of the guard definitely grabbed attention. The signing of the book; the photographers, the Mayor of Derry and Cork Lord Mayor; the guns; the guard of honour with heads bowed in respect; and, the flag over the coffin – there were all registered in the young mind.

My hope is that when it comes to Junior Cert history and the period of Republicanism, Proclamation and Civil War, that there will be a memory of last evening that will inspire interest and inquisitiveness which hopefully will lead to a greater understanding than this parent.