Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0003-4217-2057
Document Type
Report
Disciplines
Anthropology, Urban studies (Planning and development), 6. HUMANITIES, 6.5 OTHER HUMANITIES
Abstract
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document represents a report on the findings of the Kilkenny Traditional Shopfront Signage Project, an audit commissioned by the Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council and funded under the Creative Ireland Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Kilkenny.
The aim of this audit was to develop a pilot methodology for the audit of traditional shopfront signs, and using this methodology, to undertake an audit of shopfronts signs in Kilkenny City. The study focused primarily on the fascia lettering, though the analysis did however extend to noteworthy ancillary letterforms.
After discovering that the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage largely overlooked signage in the survey data, this project set out to see if this gap could be addressed. The objective was to test a methodology for analysing, cataloguing and classifying signage on the historic shopfronts to establish a typology that could potentially inform future signage policy.
This research was additionally inspired by the loss of traditional signage on Kilkenny’s traditional shopfronts. This observation prompted additional questions such as what was the current status of traditional skills of sign making and signwriting in Kilkenny. Finally, it begged the question whether it was possible to interpret and comprehend this undocumented element, resulting in a greater appreciation for this aspect of Ireland's built heritage.
In April 2021, Deirdre Ring - Project Consultant, commenced the creation of the working project dataset, data fields and appraisal criteria for the recording and analysis in advance of fieldwork.
For this current project, a total of 53 premises were identified, surveyed and recorded.
A Microsoft Excel database was created and a record of each location was generated to include an appraisal of the current signage, and links to existing archival images on Kilkenny Shopfronts Through the Ages. The dataset also details NIAH and RPS numbers, Kilkenny Archaeological Society records and online links to such entries if applicable.
When restrictions eased in May 2021, fieldwork commenced which included site visits to take additional, updated photographic data and to conduct an inspection of the signs in situ.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/gymg-b966
Recommended Citation
Maher Ring, Deirdre, "Pilot Audit of Traditional Shopfront Fascia Signage in Kilkenny City (KTSSP - Kilkenny Traditional Shopfront Signage Project)" (2021). Reports. 2.
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/aaschmedrep/2
Funder
Kilkenny Creative Ireland Programme
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Publication Details
Commissioned by the Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council. Funded by the Kilkenny Creative Ireland Programme.