Founded in the seventh century by St Féichín, the extensive remains of this Benedictine Abbey date from the twelfth century. Dotted around the large site are traces of the Seven Wonders of Fore which continue to entice curious pilgrims. Look out for two holy wells, a sacred tree and a hefty lintel.
ash tree
In the Hoofprints of St Manchán: a trip to County Offaly
We’re just back from a short but action-packed few days in County Westmeath which turned out to be full of wonders and astonishment. Perhaps the most amazing was to be found enroute to the early monastic site of Lemanaghan, actually in County Offaly. St Manchán’s Shrine, Boher The first stop was at the little church […]
Enticed by old photographs: three ladies encountered around Adare
The National Folklore Photographic Collection, available online at duchas.ie, is an invaluable source with a wide ranging variety of images including holy wells. County Limerick seems especially well documented and each of the three wells covered in this blog initially enticed me with their beautiful black and white photographs. I had high hopes for each […]
Three fields, three wells, three lads: exploring around Rathkeale
Astonishingly the sun shone and the rain desisted on our big day out in the wilds of County Limerick, nine holy wells on the agenda! These three were all adrift in fields, all had male saints yet each was very different. St James’ Well, Ardgoul South St James’ Well was tricky to find and I […]
St Lachteen’s Well, Knocknagranshy
Ever since I came across this beautiful drawing by Dáithí Ó Ceanntabhail in the the Main Manuscript of the Folklore Collection, I have wanted to visit, St Lachteen’s Well in Knocknagranshee, County Limerick. Sketched in 1934 there is wonderful attention to detail. The chunky stone-built beehive wellhouse in nicely observed along with the accurate description […]
Still in pursuit of St Gobnait
This post may only be of interest to serious St Gobnait devotees! Whilst limited by lockdown I researched, virtually and whenever possible in the field, the peregrination of St Gobnait as she went in search of the site of her resurrection – identifiable by nine white deer. From setting out on the Aran Islands where […]