'Ghost signs'

24-11-2009 3:27pm #1

I've recently become interested in the various 'ghost signs' dotted around the city.

Basically a 'ghost sign' is an old advertisement sign for a business long since gone - typically they're painted onto old brickwork.

I don't have any photos yet, but would love to start putting some together.

I'd appricate hearing of any locations around the city where I could find them.

When we get a few together we could either make a new thread on 'em (this one maybe?) or merge them in the historic photos thread.

Anyone?.

deaddonkey · 24-11-2009 3:31pm

one on a building on Parnell Street, you see it as you walk down Nth Great George's Street. I think it's above the post office now, it's for a shoe and boot company.

A couple of brick ones along Pearse Street too if memory serves. And Nassau Street near Lincoln Gate.

grizzly · 24-11-2009 3:34pm

24-11-2009 3:35pm

deaddonkey wrote: »

one on a building on Parnell Street, you see it as you walk down Nth Great George's Street. I think it's above the post office now, it's for a shoe and boot company.

A couple of brick ones along Pearse Street too if memory serves. And Nassau Street near Lincoln Gate.

Thanks, if we get enough I can re-name this thread and continue it from here as I think when people see them it'll generate a lot of interest.

If anyone wants to add photos they don't need to be artistic or of a high photographic standard, mobile phone photos would be good enough for ghost signs I guess.

deaddonkey · 24-11-2009 3:48pm

i'll be down parnell street before the end of the week, I'll bring the camera.

Dord · 24-11-2009 3:55pm

I know a few around the city. I'll try take some pictures on my travels.

Gavin "shels" · 24-11-2009 4:22pm

There's one on the side of the Headline on Leonards Corner so sme old butchers which is long since gone, have a picture somewhere, if I find it I'll pop it up here.

mikemac · 24-11-2009 4:22pm

Yes, in Ballybough as you walk down the canal bridge towards Fairview there is a road. It's Sackville something,

If you walk on that road you come to Croke Park Villas, those flats were my shortcut home every day.

The wall has a sign for some old coal merchant, I'll be back with pics tomorrow. It's painted onto the bricks

Econoline Van · 24-11-2009 4:35pm

Paddy Whelan's old prams/bicycles shop on Cork Street is pretty cool looking, I just noticed it last week coming back from Lidl.

(photo nabbed from http://www.archiseek.com/content/archive/index.php/t-4795.html)

lightening · 24-11-2009 4:36pm

At the back of Jervis st, along the Luas line, across the road from the entrance to the Epicurean Food Hall there is old hand painted letters on the brick.

"Independent newspapers ltd"

just at shoulder height. If you need a tripod or a hand, give me a pm, I used to work as a photographer. Some of the signs might be best photographed at dusk or dawn with a long exposure from across the street with a long lens and a low depth of field.

spurious · 24-11-2009 4:44pm

Up near the Black Church there's a sign for a hotel on one of the gables.
Along Talbot St., many of the original buildings have ghost signs on their upper floors.

tricky D · 24-11-2009 5:05pm

The chemist one on the junction of Fairview Strand and Annesley Bridge Rd.

Iirc spurious mentioned it recently on another thread.

Dyr · 24-11-2009 5:06pm

you have "pure chemicals" and "nuzum bros" on a building on Pearse street. And you have "Finns hotel" just up the road from it on the side of kennedys on westland row(?)

AnonoBoy · 24-11-2009 5:09pm

There's a great one in Arbour Hill. Global Travel or something similar it's called. I'll check this evening and report back but won't be able to provide pictures I'm afraid.

WindSock · 24-11-2009 5:11pm

Bolands Flour Mills at Grand Canal & The Irish Yeast co on Pearse St

tricky D · 24-11-2009 5:27pm

Sth Anne St

Essex St

I think there's some opposite this too.

Grantham St

There's also a mosaic over Dunnes (if that's still there) on Grafton St which says Waterproofers I think. It's somewhere in the Dublin Picture Game.

deaddonkey · 24-11-2009 9:07pm

WindSock wrote: »

Irish Yeast company is still trading - occasionally.

Dyr · 24-11-2009 10:27pm

I've alway been fascinated with that shop, does the irish yeast company sell yeast? To who? Whats with the silver trays in the window? It's all very mysterious.

humberklog · 24-11-2009 10:58pm

Johnny Giles · 24-11-2009 11:57pm

Finns Hotel

spurious · 25-11-2009 12:26am

Bambi wrote: »

I've alway been fascinated with that shop, does the irish yeast company sell yeast? To who? Whats with the silver trays in the window? It's all very mysterious.

No idea on the trays, but they certainly sell yeast. A friend of mine used to buy it there in fairly small quantities when making bread. I think they're more suited towards people who buy it in big quantities.

Ste.phen · 25-11-2009 12:32am

I think the Irish Yeast Co is still in business, though doesn't open for long hours, Their window display implies they sell baking supplies, specifically for cakemakers. It looks interesting.

Back on topic, there's a chemist on Baggot St with a ghostly 'To His Excellency The Lord Luitenant' painted on the façade.

Guy:Incognito · 25-11-2009 1:32am

Michael Garry Electrical shut up shop in the last few years , but the painted name and phone number is still on the red brick on Bolton Street.

EDIT Actually it appears they just moved, which is good. http://michaelgarryltd.ie/index.htm

Theres a pic of the Bolton St store on the bottom right here: http://michaelgarryltd.ie/about.htm

Masada · 25-11-2009 1:54am

This is a small street off liffey street in town. its between the "hags with the bags" and the old K3 pub if i remember correctly,

latenia · 25-11-2009 2:18am

On the Hawkins St side of the Screen cinema there's a sign for Metroburger (a vile, disgusting little place) which used to be kind of built into the side of it.

dimejinky99 · 25-11-2009 2:19am

Aungier st, just over the sweet shop Kellys there heading out of town the shop is on your left, there's an extremely faded yellow ad painted over three floors of the front of the building looking onto Aungier st. I lived there for a year about three years ago and only noticed this recently...also there's an old Players No.6 painted ad somewhere but I'm having trouble remembering it's location.

Masada · 25-11-2009 2:51am

Just thinkin there. the old building that was once the gas company, i think its d'olier street. its now a coffee shop and it has a mosaic tile banner above it saying "GAS".

humberklog · 25-11-2009 3:06am

Masada wrote: »

Just thinkin there. the old building that was once the gas company, i think its d'olier street. its now a coffee shop and it has a mosaic tile banner above it saying "GAS".

It's a beautiful Robinson and O'Keefe Art Deco building. Well listed. Coffe shop to the front now and Trinity's school of nursing in the back.

Ste.phen · 25-11-2009 8:23am

humberklog wrote: »

It's a beautiful Robinson and O'Keefe Art Deco building. Well listed. Coffe shop to the front now and Trinity's school of nursing in the back.

I love that building. Is my memory failing me or did the 'oil rig' (gas?) structure have a flame at the top when Bord Gáis were the occupiers of the building?

BraziliaNZ · 25-11-2009 10:40am

does anyone remember the sign you would see from the Dart coming into Connolly Station that would say "WANTED (picture of dirty bucket) REWARD (picture of clean bucket)"

I think it's gone now but it was there for YEARS

AnonoBoy · 25-11-2009 10:55am

As you turn up towards Arbour Hill, just past the Belfry pub there's an old sign for:

Worldwide Discount Airfares

Not even sure if there's a building behind it or if it's just a facade at this stage.

'Ghost signs'

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