BY DONAL FALLON
CLÓSCAPE
The beautiful cló gaelach typeface is slowly but surely disappearing from the streets of the capital. Pre-dating independence and showing a commitment from Dublin Corporation to the language, the green and white signs dot the landscape, but many have been replaced by more modern equivalents. Funded by the Trinity Long Room Hub Research Incentive Scheme, CLÓSCAPE is attempting to build a visual archive of the signs and invites the public to submit examples. It reminds us, too, of some unusual street signs from the past that have disappeared: for many years Nassau Street appeared as Sráid Thobar Phádraig. See www.nicolevolmering.ie/closcape/.
DRUID 50
An Post continues its long commitment to the arts and Irish design with a series of beautiful stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the Druid theatre company. Designed by Atelier David Smith, the stamps feature photography by Matthew Thompson showing productions of DRUID 50—Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (2016) and Druid Gregory (2020). Garry Hynes, co-founder of the theatre company, noted that ‘Druid is a small theatre company on the west coast of Ireland that has, over the past five decades, travelled all round the world. I hope that these two wonderful stamps will make similar journeys in the weeks and months to come.’
GOODBYE TO BAKER’S CORNER
Were Myles na gCopaleen to walk the streets of Dublin today, the loss of the Pearl and the Scotch House would be immediately apparent to him. Now Baker’s pub in Kill o’ the Grange has served its final orders. As Frank McNally noted in ‘An Irishman’s Diary’ (24 July 2025) for the Irish Times, the pub was once a regular haunt for Myles, with biographer Anthony Cronin wryly relating that ‘it had no stairs for him to climb or fall down’. McNally’s piece includes an image of a cycling race passing the premises, with what may be Myles himself standing in the doorway watching events. Baker’s will be replaced by 270 units of student accommodation.
THOMAS ANDREWS REMEMBERED
Is there a better-named organisation in existence than Grave Concern? Specialising in the restoration and maintenance of graves, the family-run business was recently hired by the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Northern Ireland section to undertake restoration work on the grave of scientific visionary Thomas Andrews in Belfast City Cemetery. The Royal Society of Chemistry notes that ‘Among his most significant findings was the discovery of the “critical temperature” for the liquefaction of carbon dioxide, which is the basis of cryogenics and low-temperature chemistry and physics. The modern refrigerator was also born out of his research on the liquefaction of gases.’ Andrews is an important figure in the history of Queen’s University, Belfast, where a plaque commemorates his contributions to scientific research.
HUGH LANE GALLERY TO CLOSE FOR (AT LEAST) THREE YEARS
News of the closure of the Hugh Lane Gallery may have come as a surprise to the general public in late July, but for those closely following events on Parnell Square North there was an inevitability to the announcement. News that ‘the refurbishment will also include a direct link between the gallery and the new Dublin City Library, creating a unique cultural experience across art and literature’, will be welcomed. While it’s great that the new Dublin City Library is moving forward, there has been radio silence of late on the planned Harry Clarke Museum, announced last year to much fanfare.
HISTORY ON YOUR DOORSTEP
History on Your Doorstep is an annual free publication produced by Dublin City Council’s Historians in Residence. The latest edition has just been published and is available across Dublin from library branches and free online. Guest contributor Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire contributes an article as Gaeilge on Irish food heritage. Mac Con Iomaire, together with Dorothy Cashman, is editor of the recent landmark Irish food history anthology from the Royal Irish Academy (‘Big Book’ review in HI 33.3, May/June 2025).