Category: Religion - Reading the Signs

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Legitimate & Catholic Descendants

3/10/2025

This blogpost has only been over eight years in the making.

In the Summer of 2017, I visited the four cemeteries in an around Ballymacelligott in Co. Kerry. The most difficult one for me to find was Ó Bhreanáin / O’Brennan Burial Ground. It was there that I spotted this tomb structure.

The Status of Children Act of 1987 abolished child illegitimacy. The Legitimacy Act, 1931 had provided that one might become a legitimated person if one’s parents had been entitled to marry at time of the birth and subsequently did so – a retrospective erasure of a societal stain.

I was surprised when I read the restrictions imposed for future residents of this cemetery plot – I have not seen anything similar in the many graveyard strolls in the intervening years.

Today, third of October, is Day 3 of #31DaysOfGraves and the prompt is ‘Tomb’ – an encouragement to get this blog post eventually written.

If The Hat Fits …………. Stick It On A Picture Frame

28/11/2022

It is a long time since I even thought of the headwear of the Catholic clergy.

I do recall the Canon in the local parish church regularly wearing a hat that the other priests did not wear – a black Biretta if memory has not faded too much. The Eucharistic Procession would also show that the bishop wore a mitre.

What I did not realise until a couple of weeks ago is that there were/are quite a number of different types – and I did not see real hats, paintings or photographs to realise this, just picture frames.

I was deliberately early for a meeting which allowed me to stop in Maynooth and look for the Seamus Murphy statue of St Patrick. The directions I received were spot on and there he was inside the main door of the enclosed quad – once again a piece calling out to be touched.

It was only when I had touched and photographed St Patrick did I realise the paintings along the corridor. Then I spotted the hats incorporated into the top of the frame. And then, that not all of the hats were the same.

The corridor gallery brought me back to the Capuchin Cemetery in Rochestown, Co. Cork where I went looking for the Celtic Cross headstones made by Seamus Murphy for Fr. Albert and Fr. Dominic whose bodies were repatriated in 1958 – 23 years after the death of Fr Dominic who was chaplain to both Cork Lord Mayors who died in 1920, Tomás MacCurtin and Terence MacSwiney. But there was no sign of a Celtic Cross.

The graves of Fr Dominic and Fr Albert were marked with a cross – a simple cross just like all of the others in the cemetery. A friend did ask a member of the Capuchin community in Rochestown who recalled that some years ago, a Provincial decided that all priests and brothers were equal and should be recognised as equal. The location of the Celtic Crosses removed to make way for the uniform simple cross memorials remains unknown.

The principle of all being equal in death did not extend to the African Missions Cemetery in Wilton in Cork. It appears to have been introduced in Maynooth but not retrospectively – the newer paintings appearing to have no adornment on the picture frame.

I foresee that I will be in a rabbit hole in the future trying to understand the different hat syles and meanings……

Julia M. Crowley – 1932

9/10/2022

R532 - Buttevant to Kildorrery, Co. Cork

This morning, I started filing away some of my photographs, a long overdue task. I got as far back as late July and this roadside Calvary cross on the Buttevant to Kildorrery road (R532). The filing of the photographs stopped as the vague recollections stirred.

Calvary Cross locations marked in blue

I was correct in thinking that I had another in the Grotto folder named Wallstown. Only when comparing the two did other coincidences come forth:

The majority of roadside grottos or religious statues are to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Calvary crosses are not nearly as common. When I eventually get around to populating the full database, I will be able to give the percentage but suspect it will be in low single digits.

1954 was a Marian Year as is regularly noted on the roadside shrines. 1932 is not as common – another for the database recording.

When plotting the crosses on the map, they are not very far apart.

They both mention Julia M. Crowley and 1932. She erected, or caused erected, the Calvary Cross on the N73. She died on 27th September and the Calvary Cross on the R532 was erected in her memory – interestingly, this one has statues of three others praying and remembering, whereas the earlier one does not.

Julia M. Crowley of Wallstown Castle has gone onto the To Find Out More list……

Saint John Paul II

21/9/2022

I did stop when I spotted one of the side altar dedicated to Pope John Paul II.

Taking chill out and chill time in the Basilica of San Miguel while the dedicated shoppers did their thing, I was surprised that the first side altar on the right contained a statue to the former pope. I did remember that the canonisation of John Paul II was some years ago, subsequently checked to be 2014.

But my very limited religious participation has contributed to, since then my not hearing the words Pope John Paul II – hence the surprise.

Location, Location, Location……..

31/7/2022

Real estate matters - even in burial

I have spotted a couple of signs at cemeteries, recently, giving notice of upcoming Mass for the Dead. My recollection is that elsewhere these were held in October/November close to All Souls Day.

I have blogged before as to Cillíní throughout the country being recognised.

The Radio Kerry Saturday Supplement from last year visited the Cillín at Derrymore and it was said that there is an annual mass for those buried in the Cillín (05:20 minutes in) but this is the only reference that I have seen so far to such remembrances, the majority of Cillín are not recognised, let alone commemorated with a mass………. So far.

P.S.

The number of Cillíní on my To Visit list is increasing:

Annaghdown, Co. Galway

Clontallagh, Co. Donegal

Coomnakilla, Co. Kerry

Dumhnach na Leanbh, Co. Galway

Lackan, Co. Wicklow

Lislevane, Co. Cork

Lisselton, Co. Kerry

Loch Con Aontha, Co. Galway

Oileán na Marbh, Co. Donegal

Quilty, Co. Clare

Would be delighted to hear of any more Cillín - marked or unmarked - please do contact

Ceramic Religious Tiles

29/7/2022

I did a talk a few months back on the IHS tiles that are on buildings around the country. A friend suggested that the practice may be Mediterranean in origin and I did find a couple on tiles on streetview in Capranica.

Seven years ago, I blogged about ceramic tiles on The Brown Pub in Kealkil – but since then, very little similar.

A few weeks back, Kanturk provided two mosaics – one to Our Lady of Fatima, the other well beyond my Spanish, or maybe Portuguese, knowledge.

If anyone knows of any more, would be delighted to learn of them.

Where the Covid-world met the Folklore-world

20/12/2020

On Tuesday, I observed how the modern Covid-world met the folklore-world. Initially, I was surprised, but really I ought not to have been, and should have expected it.

At many of the Holy Wells that I have visited, there has been a Rag Tree, upon which visitors would tie a piece of cloth. As I understand the practice, the visitor rubs the cloth on that part of the body with an affliction prior to fixing the cloth to the Rag Tree hoping to transfer the affliction to the cloth/rag and to leave the affliction behind at the Rag Tree when the visitor departs for home.

Today I listened to the RTE Archive clip on Fr. Moore’s Well which is located just outside Kildare town, on the road to Milltown. On Tuesday, the well had very many items which would have been encountered at other Holy Wells that I have visited – a sign describing how to perform the stations/rounds; a donation box; a memorial card, and, a Rag Tree. Fr.Moore’s Well provided all of these and more. It had a crutch – whether cast aside in hope, in recovery, or, for effect is unknown. But it was the Rag Tree, or more particularly, the rags, that brought the tradition upto the year 2020.

Among the items tied to the tree were, not just one, but two face masks – one was disposal-type of the medical sky-blue colour; the other was a reuseable-type of a bright purple colour with what appeared to be the initials ‘S.Q.’.

A used face-mask is a perfect example of ‘only of value as homage’ and proof of the continuation of tradition.

‘Yet, a large part of the business of visiting a holy well is to come for a cure. Many wells are named specifically for the particular body part or illness they reputedly cured, such as eye wells or wart wells, though many were relatively panaceal (Logan 1980). Linked to this a range of healing rituals emerged, the most prominent of which was the leaving of offerings on rag bushes or trees. This ritual was (and is) a mix of the embodied, symbolic and performative wherein an object that should have touched the body (such as a strip of cloth from a petticoat), was dipped in the well water, rubbed on the affected part and left on the tree to let nature take the now disembodied illness away.’
Ronan Foley - Small health pilgrimages: Place and practice at the holy well

‘At a number of wells the tree (or occasionally a bush) is used to secure a cloth placed there by a pilgrim. The range of trees varies greatly. A.T. Lucas took a closer look at holy well trees. He visited 210 holy wells in Cork in the 1960’s and found whitethorns (103) predominated, with ash (75), oak (7) and a mixture of other species making up the remaining 25.’
Michael Houlihan – The Holy Wells of County Clare.

‘Early in the nineteenth century, a hostile witness wrote a description of a pilgrimage to Devenish Island, Co. Fermanagh. In it he mentioned the holy well dedicated to St. Molaisse
In it people with sore eyes, and back going children wash for a cure making what is called a station (a thing that I know nothing about) and tye a rag on the thorn according to custom.’

The Holy Wells of Ireland – Patrick Logan

‘It is right, on visiting a well, to make offerings of small objects, only as value as homage. Rag offerings are naturally most frequent where there is a ‘blessed bush’ at the well, but they are frequently hung on a bramble, or even, on the Atlantic coast, kept in place by stones. Rags abounded, with other offerings, at Gleninagh, at least till 1899, being tied to the twigs of an elder bush. They were hung in quantities on the stunted old hawthorn at Oughtmama well, and were found at Tobersraheen, at Aglish graveyard at Ogonello, and on the fallen hawthorn near the basin at Kiltinanlea. They were often accompanied by rosaries, religious medals, necklaces and ribbons, broken or whole plaster and china figures and vessels, and glass, buttons, pins, and nails.’
T. J. Westropp – Folklore of Clare

Statue Protection – Irish-Style

13/6/2020

During the past day, I have seen images of the statue of Winston Churchill in London’s Parliament Square boarded up to protect it ahead of a planned protest.

It reminded me of a different statue in Co. Limerick.

A few weeks back, I spotted similar protection was offered to the statue of the Sacred Heart at Croom Hospital to avoid damage….

….. from building activities.

Exquisite Pain

23/2/2018

Letter to Heaven

25/3/2017

In Clooneyquinn, in Co. Roscommon, they have created the impression of a telephone line to heaven.

West Cork, in typical laid-back and chill-out West Cork style, appears to prefer the old snail-mail.

I have seen and photographed many grottos on my travels but this is the first in a post-box. I have also photographed very many postboxes – including quite a number of disused boxes – but this use is a first. As a positive use of old street furniture, it is definitely the best use of a disused postbox that I have seen.

Yesterday was a great day in Ahakista. I spotted this as I left for home – adding to the smile and satisfaction of the day.

A selection of disused/decommissioned postboxes

Unique in Drimoleague – Beautiful

3/10/2016

Last Christmas, I spotted a notice in the window of the Irish Examiner advertising Unique Gifts. I was definitely not in agreement – if it can be repeated, can it be unique? I still believe that unique means a one-off, not repeated previously or repeatable in the future.

Working in construction, it is rare than one will see something novel. Every material and component now needs certification. Such certification process costs money and so it does not encourage bespoke, unique or special components. There are some, but they are rare.

The uniformity of construction materials falls in step with this age of mass production – this age when the new buildings and even a street in Cork city could be uprooted to or from many English cities. There are many chainstores selling the same products as in Birmingham or Manchester, quite likely in a building that is so similar to the new street or buildings in Cork.

It is as if we are reverting to restricted choice, back to the days of Henry Ford – any colour you want so long as it’s black.

I have a recollection of hearing a radio piece many years ago where the design by Frank Murphy of the Church of All Saints in Drimoleague in 1956 was complimented – quite possibly Alf McCarhy & Gerard Kennedy, but I cannot find online now. A few weeks back, I travelled to the church to photograph the plaque by Seamus Murphy. I did not expect to be there long.

I was there quite a while, appreciating what I saw.

I then remembered the radio documentary. I loved almost every detail and the choice of materials.

It is regularly mentioned on building sites that some issue does not matter as it will be covered by the plaster. Frank Murphy did not have that luxury as there was no plaster – at least not until they (subsequently, I presume) added a toilet block.

The finish on the blocks with quartz -like exposed aggregate is definitely not widely available. I suspect that the blocks and the special shaped blocks at window reveals were manufactured specifically for this project. The external blocks are different to the internal blocks.

What is unique anymore?

Plaque by Seamus Murphy

Plastering - all aspects covered. So true.

Still Unsure

12/6/2016

In Ballydehob, I thought there was religious veneration.

This, we spotted on the Naas Road and, while not definite, think that it is very probably a public display of religious admiration.

The recent tweet from Irish Garrison Towns as to the smiling Jesus at the Calvary at Ringaskiddy brought me back to Inchicore.

It may bring a smile to you – or maybe not…..

Naas Road, Dublin

Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork

Thomas M. Ashe - More Church & State

2/5/2016

The longer I am at this blog, the more I realise that I will never have a complete collection of the eclectic things that keep me distracted.
The last month of centenary commemorations means that the percentage of plaque that I have photographed has decreased substantially – there being that many new plaques unveiled.

A while back, I was aware of two stained glass windows in Catholic churches commemorating Republican fighters who died prior to 1924.

Last weekend, driving back from my Conversational Irish break, I stopped to enter the church at Lispoole and found another.

The grotto outside the church is dedicated to Thomas Ashe who died by force-feeding while on hunger strike in 1917. The centre window behind the altar is dedicated to Thomas M. Ashe.

St Brigid's Well, Kildimo

30/3/2016

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.

Is the Public House no longer the Church of the People?

12/1/2016

I have seen former churches converted into Museum/Display Centre use, Houses, Hotels and Concert Venues among other uses. In Mary St, Dublin a church was converted to a bar and restaurant.

I have heard of many pubs closing down. I think that I had only seen the buildings turned into shops or residential but I had never seen a pub converted to a church– until my recent trip to Co. Roscommon, that is.

Google Maps shows a Guinness sign in 2011 – where the Grace Community Church sign now hangs.