Category Archives: Ireland

IRELAND – Key Holder

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland

ITEM: Key Hook

NOTES: A key chain with, perhaps, the most famous of Irish catholic blessings or prayers (which was originally written in Gaelic). It is attributed to Saint Patrick and is often recited at weddings, funerals and christenings, sometimes even sung, as the hymn ‘St Patricks Breastplate’. Johnny Lydon (of Sex Pistols fame) also lifted parts of it for his Public Image Limited song “Rise” (1986)

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: wood , tile .

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 14cm x 20cm

LOUGH CORRIB, IRELAND – Picture

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED: Lough Corrib , Ireland

ITEM: Picture

NOTES: Lough Corrib is a large lake in west Ireland covering 176 km² and with 1,327 islands within its boundaries. This 3D picture (a picture with rocks and whatnot in the foreground) is quite vivid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lough_Corrib

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood , organic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 17.5cm x 16cm

WICKLOW, IRELAND – Picture

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED: Wicklow (specifically the Vale of Glendalough) , Ireland

ITEM: Picture

NOTES: Glendalough is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is known for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. Depicted is the 33m “Round Tower”. It was built almost 1000 years ago by the monks of St. Kevin’s monastery. I like saying St Kevin …. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendalough

The 3D box art-ish  nature of the picture is great also.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood , organic material

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 17.5cm x 16cm

DUBLIN, IRELAND – Pencil Case

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED: Dublin , Ireland

ITEM: Pencil case

NOTES: A fancy pencil case in vinyl depicting all the sites of Dublin. Weell, most of them. It is very stylish in it’s own way and would get talked about more than your standard pencil case. And, that’s what it is all about, isn’t it?

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1990s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN: unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 22cm x 16cm

IRELAND – Tea Towel

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland

ITEM: Tea Towel

NOTES: Irish Family names on a map of Ireland with the usual symbols of Ireland : the thatched roof cottage, Glendalough Round Tower, a Celtic cross, a drinking cup and a gold collar. I’m not sure how accurate it is an ancestry location locator but many, many Irish surnames are shown.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: 52% linen, 48% cotton.

MADE IN: Ireland

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 45cm x 65cm

IRELAND – Wall Ornament

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED: Ireland

ITEM: Wall Ornament

NOTES: The Irish shillelagh is a walking stick or club used for walking and, errr clubbing? This one isn’t long enough to be a walking stick, unless you were a little person (the little people of Irish mythology?) and too ornate to be a club (I assume). So,  it is purely decorative though would hurt if used for non-decorative purposes.

In the modern world, the shillelagh is recognised, especially in the Irish-American context, as a symbol of Irishness and populates the mascots and logos of many Irish associations and sports teams. This is one weapon that made the onto the plane and through customs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillelagh_(club)

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood

MADE IN: Ireland probably

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 44cm long x 11cm wide (at its widest)

 

IRELAND – Toy – NEW PHOTO

Posted on by
Reply

2021PLACE REPRESENTED:   Ireland

ITEM: Toy

NOTES: A novelty blow up Irish Hammer. I assume it is for hitting people. The Irish would be well justified in hitting some people. The blow up hammer keeps the carnage to a minimum whilst still expressing an opinion.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 2000s

MADE FROM: plastic

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 90cm when inflated (packet 15cm x 20cm)

IRELAND – Calendar

Posted on by
Reply

PLACE REPRESENTED:   Ireland

ITEM: Calendar

NOTES: A rustic Irish calendar depicting a happy go lucky stereotyped “Paddy” (it says so between his legs!) with his shillelagh which is also depicted at the top of the calendar in twig form. The real shillelagh is a walking stick come club used for walking and, errr clubbing?

In the days before digital, computers, iPhones and all the rest, this is how you kept track of the date, by rotating the numbers and days around, each day.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1960s

MADE FROM: wood , steel

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: unknown

DIMENSIONS: 17cm high x 8cm wide

BUNRATTY, IRELAND – Dish

Posted on by
Reply

Bunratty Castle, Ireland - Nic Nac Dish (1)PLACE REPRESENTED: Bunratty, Ireland

ITEM: Nic Nac Dish

NOTES: Bunratty or rather the 15th-century tower house in Bunratty Castle in County Clare, Ireland. It is located in the centre of Bunratty village and is quite impressive and imposing. Too impressive for a nic nac tray perhaps.

YEAR (APPROXIMATE): 1970s

MADE FROM: melamine

MADE IN:  unknown

MANUFACTURER: John Hinde

DIMENSIONS: 13.5cm x 13.5cm