Two small, well camouflaged wells today, both with minute roads leading to them which required nerves of steel but well worth it! St Barrahane’s Well, Tobar Bearcháin, Castlehaven What a beautiful spot this is – a small, narrow, bumpy road takes you down to the unexpectedly expansive harbour of Castlehaven, the blue of the water […]
West Cork
St Bartholomew’s Well, Tobar Partalam, near Bantry
This little well proved very elusive. I had tried on two previous occasions to locate it and had driven down small lanes, asked two women on horseback and generally found nothing. Armed with the GPS and a navigator, things proved a little easier the third time. We pulled into the corner and looked hopefully into […]
Roaringwater Wells
Today’s exploration was concentrated mainly around the coast looking out into the delightfully named Roaringwater Bay. All was calm, though, the sun shining and not a hint of roaring. Roaringwater Well First stop was a picturesque little well down by the attractive and secluded inlet at Roaringwater Pier. This small well nestles snugly into a […]
A clutch of wells around Castlefreke
An exploration around the Castlefreke area today. The castle itself is a massive Gothic pile built by the Freke family in 1820, replacing a much earlier castle. The house was burnt down in 1910; later sold, its valuable interiors were gutted and the building left a ruin. It was purchased once again by the Freke […]
Well of the Poets, Tobar na-n-Duanairdhe
This well is easily accessible and lies just off the Sheep’s Head Way as you approach Kilcrohane. The terrain is boggy and brackeny, a small valley between the hills with views out to Dunmanus Bay. Everywhere the sound of running water. The well is a small rectangular basin marked by a large upright stone. Smaller […]
St Brendan’s Well, Tobar Breanain, Castlepoint
This little well proved very elusive the first time we looked for it but the exploration was interesting. We asked directions from a man who was tie dyeing table cloths for his 70th birthday. He was a little uncertain but pointed us in the right direction. We searched hither and thither but found nothing that […]