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; […]
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Trees, Saints, Cats & Cake: well hunting North Cork
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 […]
Diversions in Tipperary Part 2
Still feeling tranquil and otherworldly from our visit to St Peakaun’s monastic site, we travelled another few miles deeper into the Glen of Aherlow to visit somewhere I have long wished to experience – St Berrihert’s Kyle. St Berrihert’s Kyle We parked, GPS suggesting we needed to go across the fields. A car passed us […]
The Red Well, Tobar Dearg: a moving well
Having come down off Mushera Mór of course the sun came out and fuelled by a large bowl of soup we felt able to explore another well. What an unexpected delight this was. The Red Well, Tobar Dearg, Toberderg Rather intriguingly, it sounded as though the Red Well, Tobar Dearg, was on two sides of […]
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly …
… a quick whizz through some of the most memorable holy wells visited in 2017. Most privileged encounter: St Patrick’s Well, Castletownroche The year started with a wonderful encounter where we were not only privileged to visit St Patrick’s Well, Castletownroche, right on the Blackwater River, but we were also given an extensive and personal tour […]
Kilmacow Holy Well, near Kanturk
After a disappointing search for a a couple of wells near Kanturk, we decided to try one more site before returning home to West Cork. It proved to be something rather special. Kilmacow Holy Well, Tobarkilmacoo The well was instantly recognisable as we travelled up the long boreen towards the farmhouse, for there in a […]