This well was discovered at the end of a long and hard day’s exploration – see last week’s blog. It’s one of those wells that I have looked at on the map and sighed for it looked very remote and difficult to get too- also the name of the townland Rathcormack Mountain was a bit off putting. […]
North Cork
Causing havoc in Carrignavar!
Back in County Cork and I’m now on the trail of 15 obscure holy wells located on each side of the M8 heading towards Fermoy. I’m to the west of the motorway today and my first stop is near Watergrasshill. St Stephen’s Well Described by the Archaeological Inventory as a hollow in the ground with […]
An unexpected pleasure:Tobar Eoin Basti
I’m just back from a couple of days in Fermoy, meandering up and down the sides of the M8 in pursuit of the last crop of holy wells in this area – more of those shortly. This well, the final one of the trip, was an unplanned visit. Glancing at the map, I saw an […]
Chalk & Cheese: two very different wells near Burnfort
The last two wells in the latest North Cork exploration were like chalk and cheese, wonderful contrasts to show just how different holy wells can be. But first a diversion to Island Wedge tomb (CO042-056001) in the same townland as the first well. Island Wedge Tomb This took some finding – just a few miles […]
Cattle, Castles and Cranat: exploring around Ballyclogh
The day started with a visit to the outskirts of Kanturk in search of a holy well. It didn’t sound very promising: In pasture, c. 200m S of possible church and burial ground (14106). Bowman (1934, 523) recorded holy well here, noting that ‘Rounds have been discontinued for a long time’. Well collapsed and dry; […]
Trees, Saints, Cats & Cake
This cluster of wells was on my list last time we were in North Cork but had to be postponed as the weather was just too hot! The heatwave having abated I dropped Himself off in Ballyvourney as he tackled the last leg of the Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscrai, also postponed due to heat. We arranged […]