You may never have spotted them before.

Still, little pieces of Cork’s past have survived years of progress, offering a fascinating glimpse into how things used to be.

Weathered and fading, ghost signs whisper tales of a bygone era. These painted relics, once vibrant advertisements and business signage, now stand as time-worn testaments to the city’s history. From the intricate brushwork on old brick facades emerges a glimpse into Cork’s commercial past.

Collected by UCC film and screen media grad Gabrielle Ulubay, these snaps and shots feature old signage spotted in every part of Cork, often in some unexpected places.

Here are 10 incredible signs of the times that stayed the course: 

CLOYNE

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on May 20, 2017 at 8:24am PDT

ST PATRICK’S STREET

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Jan 20, 2017 at 10:48am PST

SOUTH MAIN STREET

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Jul 24, 2016 at 10:31am PDT

PEMBROKE STREET

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Jun 28, 2016 at 1:53am PDT

OLIVER PLUNKETT STREET

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Aug 15, 2015 at 1:23am PDT

SOUTH MALL

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Aug 15, 2015 at 1:12pm PDT

CAMDEN QUAY

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Aug 14, 2015 at 7:09am PDT

POPE’S QUAY

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Jul 19, 2015 at 4:24am PDT

WASHINGTON STREET

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Jul 16, 2015 at 6:25am PDT

OLIVER PLUNKETT STREET

 

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A post shared by CorkGhostSigns (@corkghostsigns) on Oct 26, 2018 at 8:17am PDT