Category: Tweets - Reading the Signs

Search the site

A Dramatic Headstone

27/3/2017

This morning, I spotted a retweet mentioning that it was #WorldTheatreDay. It included the image of two masks which reminded me of a headstone in Kilmalkader.

A bright lovely Sunday morning last April, this headstone did cause me to pause and wonder, and smile.

I have not seen the masks on a headstone before or since.

It has proved memorable.

Birds, Nuns and Witches

30/1/2017

I took this photograph in May 2015 when I had a few hours to explore and try to expand my collection of IHS Tiles – a ongoing endeavour.

May 2015 was reasonably early in my relearning Irish education.

I had a recollection that ‘bean rialta’ was the Irish translation for nun that I had known and used. When I saw the word ‘ealtanach’, it went on the mental ‘To Find Out More’ list but remained in the backwater of that list until this morning.

There were a few tweets about streetnames in Cork – their misnaming and such stories.

Then I spotted a tweet with an older streetsign for Nun’s Island and the same translation – ealtanach. ‘Ealtanach’ swiftly departed the depths of that To Do List and is now done – as much as I can, for now.

An amount of time searching the internet did result in quite a number of dead ends.

Teanglann.ie and pota-focal.ie both drew blanks in translations for ealtanach, ealtan and ealtanaigh.

Thinking it may be a surname, I went to sloinne.ie – another blank.

The online directory of Irish placenames is logainm.ie. Before it provided a clue, it gave some humorous distraction.

There are two Nuns’ Islands listed as being in Ireland. The other is in Lough Ree, north of Athlone. The Irish name for this island is Oileán na gCailleach Dubh. ‘Cailleach’ was in my Irish vocabulary, from another streetsign at Cahercalla in Ennis – the Fort of the Hag.

My translation of the Lough Ree Nuns’ Island would be Island of the Black Witches. Logainm plots a course from ‘the black hags island’ to ‘Island of the black nuns’.

Teanglann.ie does have an option for nun as ‘cailleach dhubh’ or ‘cailleach Mhuire’ .

Returning from that detour, I spotted that logainm.ie translates as Altanach and their notes for the Galway Nuns’ Island refer to altagnagh and altagneach. These provided some hits on the google lottery.

Coincidently, ‘Dubliners’ is my current reading material, resident in my inside pocket. Journey Westward by Frank Shovlin advises that it was the island of the flocking birds – to me, a lovelier name than Nuns’ Island.

Sean Spellissy’s book ‘The History of Galway’ has become a candidate for my shelf. It agrees with the ‘flocks’ of birds’ reference.

Tearma.ie does have ‘ealtaigh’ as the Irish translation for flock of birds.

This is close to but differs from streetsign ‘Ealtanach’ and logainm.ie’s ‘Altanach’.

The argument that the correct source is ‘flock of birds’ may well pass the test of ‘on the balance of probabilities’ but, I think not the test of ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’.

It remains on the ‘To Find Out More’ list.

‘Though called Nuns’ Island after becoming home to the Poor Clare order in Galway, the original Gaelic name for this strip of land surrounded by the Corrib waters was Oileán Altanach, as indicated in Hardiman’s history of Galway and in today’s bilingual street signs. Oileán Altanach in translation ahs nothing to do with convent life but rather means ‘the island of flocking birds’.’

Journey Westward: Joyce, Dubliners and the Literary Revival

‘.. this area was still known as the Island of Altona, an anglicised variant on Oilean Ealtanach, the island of the flocks of birds. ... The southern part of Altenagh, in the Nuns Island, was mentioned in 1802; by 1807 the new town Goal was being ..’

Sean Spellissy – The History of Galway

UPDATE 2017.01.30 -

The world of twitter has helped clarify, educate and improve my Irish.

Aonghus Ó hAlmhain advised that ‘ealtanach’ is listed on teanglann.ie as a variant of ‘ealtach’ translated as abounding in flocks (of birds); that the logainm notes also say ‘sin an áit ina mbeadh ealtaí éan’ – I translate as ‘That is the places in which there are flocks of birds’; and that eDIL dictionary confirms ‘caille, the base of ‘cailleach’ derives from veiled woman.

This Grave to be Closed Forever

18/1/2017

I do like visiting cemeteries. I do like mosaics.

It is not often that the two combine but they did so in Castlebar a few months back.

I had an early morning stroll around the cemetery. I stopped to ponder at the ceramic mosaic.

It appeared to be a triple grave but if anyone else was to be buried on the left section, it would mean destroying the mosaic.

Briefly I wondered as to whether that section was full; whether a decision was made that no more would be buried on that side; or even none buried at all on that side. Then I walked on and it was mentally filed away as a potential blog, sometime.

Over the Christmas break, I spotted a tweet from GraveyardDetective where he had spotted a headstone in Anfield Cemetery upon which was engraved the message that the grave was not to be reopened after the couple were buried.

It did add a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Why?

Liam Burke (near Castletownroche)

I have seen similar messages only relating to Irish Republican Memorials but to effect that gate/wall remains until Ireland is fully free. I have never seen such a message in a cemetery.

Donal Shinnick (near Mitchelstown)

Back to Anfield - Why? Why was it necessary to have engraved? Was it obeyed?

I have no answers so your imagination is probably as good as mine, if not better – let it loose on that for a while.

A final reminder to self – better upload those mosaics that I have spotted around Cork. Until then, a taster.

Paris - just like Crosshaven

10/11/2016

Crosshaven

The first time I noted the name of an architect engraved on a headstone was in Crosshaven on the Bank Holiday Monday last week – that is the name engraved as the designer as opposed to the resident.

We went searching for the headstone designed by Seamus Murphy, the only one in St. Patrick’s graveyard in Crosshaven. It was made to mark the grave of former labour T.D., Dan Desmond, who died in 1964. His wife, Eileen, took up residence in 2005, thirty years after Seamus Murphy died.

I very much like the form and the shape of the memorial – appropriate to the proximity to the sea.

Patrick McSweeney was Cork County Architect from 1953 to 1975. I find it interesting to consider how the interaction between two designers may have operated – each having to yield some element of the complete design that they regularly hold in a project.

Paris

Crosshaven

Irish National Foresters

6/9/2016

More than once, I have commented that I have learnt from various plaques and signs that I have spotted – today’s blog is another lesson learnt.

I assumed that the Irish National Foresters was a trade association for those working in woodlands and forestry. It made me immediately think of Monty Python and their lumberjack song.

Today, a tweet of a ghostsign in Edinburgh for the Ancient Order of Foresters reminded me of the visit to Tullamore last month and this sign over Fergie’s Bar on Market Place. It prompted some education from the web.

The Ancient Order of Foresters was founded in 1834. The Irish National Foresters broke away in 1877 and became the largest friendly society in Ireland, supporting Irish nationalism and ‘government for Ireland by the Irish people in accordance with Irish ideas and Irish aspirations’. A procession in Dublin in 1923 was attended by 25,000.

There are some branches remaining, particularly in Ulster but also in Navan where those in the Irish National Foresters Brass Band are still blowing.

It is a bad day when one does not learn something new.

Cinema Fire - 48 dead

5/9/2016

Last April was the first time hearing of the Dromcollogher Cinema Disaster.

Maybe it is a sign of my own vintage – taking fifty years to hear of such a human tragedy.

I still remember waking up on a February morning to do some study for my Inter Cert, turning on the radio and hearing of the Stardust Disaster.

As one who would have been with my grandfather to many different sports grounds, watching the F.A. Cup semi-final at Hillsborough unfold on the television is well engraved on my own grey surface – on our recent visit to Liverpool, I was happy that my nine-year old accompanied me while we went to stand and remember at the memorial at Anfield – just a week after the inquest jury findings.

In May 1985, four of us should have been studying for our second year exams – results subsequently proved that 75% of us needed extra study time. Study lost out to a trip to the beach at Clogherhead. I still remember heading through the pub door with the Bradford City fire disaster on the television – I thought of how many timber stands I had stood to watch matches and get out of the rain.

As blogged previously, I first learned of the collapse of the Carmody Hotel from a sign. Last April, taking a road not previously travelled and involving a decent detour on the trip to Baile an Fheirteártaigh / An Buailtín, I stopped in Dromcollogher and was photographing a plaque at the old co-operative when spotted by JOD.

I explained my interest in signs and plaques and was then educated for the first time as to the Cinema Fire – and the memorials at the Library and the church. A tweet this morning from Irish History Links reminded me of the event.

The Dromcollogher Cinema Fire claimed 48 lives – the same number of fatalities as the Stardust in 1981.

The fire at the Dromcollogher Cinema happened 90 years ago – 5th September, 1926.

Graveyard Neighbours

8/8/2016

Thomas Wallace, 1st Cork Brigade, Old I.R.A.

Midleton, Co Cork

There was quite an amount of comments about the Remembrance Wall at Glasnevin Cemetery. I read of many objections to the listing together of those who fought on both sides – those who fought against each other.

There is a possibility that one that died in Easter 1916 is listed on the wall with the name of the person who killed him on the same wall. The killing may have been deliberate or unintentional as the wall also lists those who were not involved in the fighting, innocent bystanders.

At the time, a seed was planted to do a blog on the neighbouring headstones that I spotted in Rathcooney Cemetery and Midleton Cemetery, both in Co. Cork. When I spotted these I was reminded of Christy Moore’s Cabaret.

“When the elections are all over we’ll be pushing up clover

I tell ye everyone in the graveyard votes the same.”
Christy Moore

W. Froyne d 1915.06.24

Rathcooney, Co. Cork

M O'Callaghan d. 1918.10.28

W. Buckley d. 1922.09.26

That seed has taken some time to germinate. The growth spurt prompted by a tweet from Luke Portess as to similar bedfellows in Glasnevin.

I remembered a talk from Neil Richardson at Ennis Bookclub Festival being surprised at the very large percentage of Irishmen in the British Army at the time of World War One – as Ireland was a part of the British Empire, they were also fighting for or defending their country.

At the launch of ‘The Immortal Deed of Michael O’Leary’, Danny Morrison spoke of his grandfather joining the British Army in 1917 and that very many Irishmen joined on the understanding that victory would lead to freedom for Ireland (text here – well worth a read)

The seed has been a long time in bearing fruit but I am thinking that these neighbouring souls could actually have had the same hopes – just a different way of getting there. If one had not died in World War I, they might even have fought together some years later.

We will never know…..

Making Connections

27/7/2016

There is a kick in joining the dots of information.

Harrington's Square

Gardiner's Hill

Ballyhooley Road

Wellesley Terrace

Some Mother's Son & Opting Out

4/7/2016

Last week was the centenary of the commencement of the Battle of the Somme. There were very many tweets on the matter. Many included CWGC headstones to those who died.

Many of the headstones are without the name of the deceased – Soldier of The Great War; an Irish Soldier of The Great War; Eight Soldiers of The Great War; A Comrade in Arms Known but to God; and, A Soldier of the Great War Known Unto God.

With so many deaths in the first day and days of the Battle of the Somme, recording the names of locations of all of the deceased fell back in priority behind fighting and staying alive.

These unknown deceased reminded me of this headstone that I spotted in Bandon – to a man who died 85 years later. A man who died anonymous to those who found and buried him.

I remember the most recent census in April. I was in Kerry that weekend for my converstional Irish break. I did think, seriously, of staying late and driving through the night so that I would not have resided in any house and so could avoid the census.

Maybe it was a sense of frustration as to over regulation, classification numbers and passwords. Maybe it was a desire to just step off the Magic Roundabout for a little while.

In 1999, it was some achievement to survive unknown to those. Just thing of all transactions that require identification – bank accounts; state payments (pension; social welfare); even employment.

That Mother’s Son was a smart man to remain unknown.

I am not sure that I would like to stay off the Magic Roundabout for too long but it would be nice to experience it, to be the man from God Knows Where.

First in the Graveyard

3/7/2016

Times past were most definitely different to society today. Recently I was reminded of this in my reading and in a visit to a cemetery.

Adjacent to the wall of St Patrick’s Church cemetery in Bandon is a headstone which records the first burial in the cemetery. When I read the headstone, I was thinking that the power of the church over its community in 1881 was greater than today.

It was probably a great honour to be the first burial. I would not be surprised if there was a payment to the parish priest, over and above burial fee, for such an honour.

A few weeks back, I finished The Apprentice by Éamon Kelly, the seanachie, He recounted details of having to pay the parish priest for a pew in the church and also an annual rental fee.

If a parishioner did not pay, they were welcome in God’s church but only to stand or kneel at the back.

Last week a tweet from GraveyardDective about a plaque recording the first burial in a cemetery reminded me of the Bandon headstone.

Leaving the graveyard that day, I made a mental note to visit some newer graveyards to check whether they record the first burial. I suspect not. I also expect that the market willing to pay a premium for being the first is low – but I could well be wrong.

“We didn’t have a family pew in the church. They were for the well-to-do farmers, shopkeepers and teachers, who could afford to buy a new pew and pay the yearly rent for it. Some of those seats were never full, yet outsiders never sat in them and I don’t think they would be welcome. The family pew was private property in a public place. One year the parish priest put up the rental and family, thinking the charge was dear enough, refused to pay. The parish priest ordered them out of the seat. They refused and the priest had the pew taken out and put behind the church, where in the end it rotted. The family never went to Mass in that church again during the parish priest’s reign, but drove all of the way to the friary in town. They never spoke to the parish priest after. Even when he came to the stations in their house they didn’t speak, because they felt that he had humiliated them before their neighbours and friends. There was a large space behind the seats and those of little property or none stood or knelt there, the men on the gospel side and the women at the side of the epistle. It was strange that among the poor there was segregation, while in the pews husbands sat with their wives.”
The Apprentice – Éamon Kelly (b. 1914)

Engraved with Affection

2/7/2016

IN MEMORY OF ANNIE McCARTHY NOONAN, DUNMANWAY, DIED 8 - 9 - 1842 ERECTED BY HER SON JAMES, R.I.P.

I spotted this headstone a while back at St. Bartholomew’s in Kinneigh – a cemetery that has already prompted more than one blog post.

This headstone prompted an array of thoughts. It reminded of the name plaque on the Old Youghal Road – was the carver still in apprenticeship?

I have enjoyed the tweets from @PoorFrankRaw where he notes some errors cast in stone – setting out and spelling. But I do not think this headstone is in the same category.

My first though upon seeing the memorial was to be brought back to early school days with the red and blue lined paper to ensure that my pencil written letters were of reasonable consistent size – a skill that did not stay very long.

Tom Spalding pointed out that the sign at Tuckey Street is similarly scored with marker lines – but no way as obvious as this.

The romantic in me took over and convinced that James not only erected the headstone but, not for reasons of economics but for affection and pride, that James took lessons and decided to make his first carving in stone.

The carving had the marker lines very prominent. The carving is not an example of how to set out text. It is, however, a carving that outlived him and still shows the depth of his affection for his mother.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I prefer the maybe.

Art - under your feet

4/6/2016

We spotted this outside Lime Street Station in Liverpool.

There were a good number of paving slabs with similar engravings.

I assume that they are computerised/automated engravings from original sketches.

I do like the image as well as the inclusion of co-ordinates. Anything that makes a streetscape, building or place unique is good in my opinion.

Compliance with regulations and need to meet CE, or I.S./B.S standards are such that I believe they are encouraging a small number of manufacturers and a smaller range of products in all construction materials.

It could be argued that shopping centres and main streets are similarly affected with stores from the same chains occupying the centres of cities - each city turning into a version of the other.

I am definitely fed up with standardisation. I have long since determined to support to support the local independent over the branch of the chain.

These paving slabs are just another reminder as to the value of difference and being unique.

I read of proposals for art on the pavings in The Liberties in Dublin, and smiled. Well done, The Liberties.

Crossing The Bar

23/5/2016

I suspect that it is not an expression that one spots regularly in a cemetery. On Saturday, I read the update from Epitaphs of the Great War about Lance Corporal Horace Albert Millard who had similar wording on his headstone.

The following day, I was at Old Church Cemetery (Clonmel) in Cobh. The cemetery has previously prompted more than one or two blogs. This visit was no different.

I was struck by the amount of Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones in the cemetery. The CWGC website advises that it has the greatest number of war dead of any cemetery in Cork – 130.

I suspect that this was a factor of proximity to Spike and Haulbowline and also that those dying on board ship may be returned to port rather than buried in the field as may have been expected in the army. That is on the ‘To Find Out More’ list now.

There are inscriptions in Welsh and Belgian. There are a few members of Canadian regiments.

Among the many headstones, I spotted the headstone to Leading Signalman, A. Glazebrook. Alfred Glazebrook was born in Leeds and died in Cobh, 23 years later.

Crossing The Bar is a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It was definitely new to me.

Go on and listen for yourself.

P. E. G. VAN DER VEKEN - GESTORVEN VOOR BELGIE - DIED FOR BELGIUM

R. G. Morgan - MEWN ANGHOF NI CHAIFF FOD - Their Deeds Will Not Die

J A Mahaney Newfoundland R.N.R.

W B Arnold, Canadian Infantry

The Lusitania Sank – 101 years ago today

7/5/2016

“Every Man’s Work Shall Be Made Manifest. For The Day Shall Declare It.”

This morning, I was reminded of this anniversary by Stair na hÉireann, Irish History Links and Don MacRaild .

An interesting tweet this morning included a photograph of notice offering a reward for discovery of a body of a Lusitania passenger, Robert Preston Prichard.

A few weeks back, I blogged about the statue of Robert Emmet in St. Stephen’s Green. This was made by Jerome Connor who also made the Lusitania Memorial in Cobh. This week, we were well impressed with the exhibition about the Lusitania at the Liverpool Maritime Museum.

As well as a poster from the White Star Line agent in Caherciveen – John Dennehy, the Museum had a map showing the addresses of those travelling on the Lusitania. William Lawrence was originally from Wales but his then address was Whitegate, Co. Cork – the only Cork address and one of only six from Ireland, Hugh Lane was not among them.

All of these connecting dots were prompt enough for me to put together the photographs from different places linking the Lusitania.

Cork – A City with Eight Quarters

6/5/2016

And there may even be more.

I have spotted a few tweets about the number of ‘Quarters’ in Cork. When the list was at four, it was thought that Cork had reached Peak Quarter, but then the list reached five - Huguenot, Victorian, Trinity, Digital and Brewery.

It appears to be the latest buzz-word for marketing people so there could well be others lurking around the city but there are at least three more to add to that list – Shandon Historic, Shandon Cultural and City.

I suspect that those marketing people may need to start thinking of something new.

I wonder how long it will take for those ‘quarters’ to be consigned to the less desirable addresses as could be argued happened to the ‘Lanes’ as remembered by Frank McCourt before Opera Lane attempted a revival.