I am a sucker for artwork done in metal. I have a perception, real or otherwise, that it is a difficult form of artwork. I smiled and appreciated the artwork on the gate in Ennistymon last weekend. |
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In the last few months, I have spotted a few more grottos around Cork. The total that I have recorded in the city now stands at 42 but some may consider Barrett’s Buildings and City Hall not to be within this category.
What I find intriguing is the number within private gardens – that probably reflects as much on me as anything else. In Cork, these would include Old Blackrock Road and Angel’s Rest. There are even more within County Cork which I will get around to uploading some time soon. Full list I was out for a walkabout on Saturday morning and came across this sculpture at the end of Barrett’s Buildings. I like. I do wonder though if it has religious connotations and so might be included in the list of grottos.
Well done that man!! I do recommend a walk from town to Blackrock; along the Blackrock – Rochestown – Passage old railway line; €1 foot passenger charge on the ferry; and then onward to Cobh. Return by train €5.50. Good for the mind as well as the body. I was listening to podcasts while walking. This included Thought For The Day from a few years ago: “What do we want to be remembered for? That’s the question at the heart of the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, which we’ll be observing this Saturday. It’s that rarest of phenomena, a Jewish festival without food. It’s a time when we ask God to write us in the book of life, and when God, as it were, asks us how we’ve used our life thus far.” It may be a factor of my age. It may be influenced by the Winter Solstice and the reflection associated with this time of year but that thought did strike home in this quarter.
On this short day, whether you have a God to do the writing or whether you do it yourself, I hope you are happy with what is written. I think that I prefer the nameplaque for Charles McCarthy Services Ltd. in Emmet Place. However, the image as well as the style very definitely have an appropriateness. It is growing on me. A definite improvement on the plain brass plaque that is so prevalent. If only there were more of this artistic style……. I very much liked the order of priority of the various titles or job descriptions for Con Houlihan.
I do like the statue and the simple plinth. Driving from the Dingle peninsula back to Cork early one summer morning to start another week, the sun coming through the statue probably disimproves the photographic image but definitely improved the appreciation of the sculpture by this viewer. It did make me think what five words would best describe me. Suffice to say, I am not happy with them so far.
I had to head west during the week and spotted the sculpture travelling through Timoleague. Then later when reading through the West Cork People, they had more details.
As good a reason as any for a blog entry. The Cork section of the website has details of commemorative plaques, crosses and seats that I have come across. I have photographs and details of others from outside Cork City that I need to upload to the website.
One of those to be uploaded are photographed above which was spotted when we walked along the Cliffs of Moher at the end of August. When I read the inscription, I immediately remembered hearing of the accident but could not remember why it was significant to the memory. "There comes a stillness where the route moves upward and the skyline begins to brighten an intimation" I am not sure that I have placed the photographs and the words in the correct order.
I do like the concept of a sculpture combined with poetry combined with a useful seat. Well done Annascaul. The former Thomas Crosbie Holdings building and former Allied Irish Bank building at corner of South Mall is on the market. When passing the other day, I noted the ornate carved limestone panels at the top facing South Mall – Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Navigation. It was the prominence of Navigation that caused me to pause and consider. Obviously, it was much more important in 1865. There are many other ornate carvings – maybe for future blogs. Interesting historical information is available on Archiseek and National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Maybe it is a consequence of my Leaving Certificate many decades ago. Maybe it results from my college years in Dublin when Patrick Kavanagh’s seat on the Grand Canal, when visited, was a place of downtime, a time for me. Whatever the cause, and even despite my attraction to signs, I have admired the idea of a seat to act as a commemoration.
When in Ennis last weekend, I saw the commemorative seat idea merged with a sculpture. The outcome was brilliant - visually attractive; useful; thought provoking; and, allowing for personal contemplative space. What a way to be remembered. Thank you to Dr Moylan and his family. |
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