This year, 2024, marks the 1500th anniversary of the death of St Brigid, one of the three patron saints of Ireland, along with St Patrick and St Colmcille. Brigid is believed to have to have been born around 450AD in Faughart, County Louth but she is mainly associated with Kildare where she founded a religious […]
East Cork
Wild out East
The last few wells in East Cork beckoned and on paper they sounded rather a motley crew. The reality was pretty much the same but a very interesting story was revealed. We stayed in Cobh overnight and enjoyed a beautiful evening light. The buildings glowed and we strolled along the Prom, admired St Colman’s Cathedral, […]
Explorations around Killeagh
East Cork was on the agenda for a couple of days, an area of much interest historically including a few wells still unvisited. Fuelled by a delicious lunch at the Bitesize Café in Midleton we made our way down to Bailic Park to see the incredibly evocative sculpture, Kindred Spirits. This beautiful and striking piece […]
Tobereenkilgrania
Most holy wells remaining on the list for discovery now look to be in obscure situations and today’s well was no exception. A perusal of the map showed it to be on the edge of forestry with nothing close to it, just a few ancient tracks wending through the woods. We set off and stopped […]
Way out East, a clutch of wells around Youghal
A while ago I spent a couple of days around Youghal, several wells on the agenda. While doing a spot of research I came across reference to some wells en route to Youghal, notably in the Carrigtwohill area: The five Holy Wells in our parish have gone dry or disused. Their locations are as follows: […]
Exploring around the M8
A very fruitful three days in East and Mid Cork enjoying a spot of well hunting. A fine variety was discovered, this little crop lurking on either side of the M8. St Cuain’s Well, Tobairin Cuain, Knockraha This well sounded intriguing: I liked both names – Knockraha (hill of the forts) and the unusual and […]