There are a wealth of wells dedicated to St Brendan in County Kerry. So far I have visited where he was baptised, where he anointed two heathens, where he received the vision to go across the Atlantic and various others that are dedicated to this well beloved and wandering saint. Three more were on my […]
Archaeological Inventory
Tobar Fláinn: on the edge of the World
Whilst up Mount Brandon and chatting with Mícheal he asked me if I had been to St Flainn’s Well. I confessed I had not, mainly because the Archaeological Inventory is rather dismissive: Toberyline/Tobar Flainn: Located at the base of the sea cliffs immediately S of Brandon point. It is a ‘clear spring in a rock […]
Tobar an Bhile & a lot of Serendipity
Many years ago, and I’m talking about the late 1990s, we came for a family holiday in Kerry, staying in a cottage on the old butter road high on the slopes above Coad Mountain not far from Caherdaniel. Whilst in the local shop, I saw a notice about a pattern day at a holy well […]
On Wells 5: Their Sacred Trees
One of the most encouraging sights to see is a lone tree in a field, one that has been carefully left to its own devices, for often under that tree is a holy well. Holy wells and sacred trees go together perfectly for, like wells, trees have long been subjects of devotion and mystery. Found […]
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, […]
Some Favourite Wells of 2018
It’s been a good year for well hunting, worthy of a quick round up of some of my favourite sites. I reckon I have visited around 150 or so holy wells in the last twelve months, all unique and all in different states of preservation, activity and care. Although most wells are to be found […]