Day 2 of the Banteer explorations and the the first well on today’s agenda was very close to where we were staying. St Fursey’s Well (or Forsin or Forsa or Fursa) seemed to lie just outside an old graveyard. We found the graveyard easily enough, right beside the road and very enticing it was too […]
Colonel Grove White
In search of Blessed Fish
Confined to barracks due to hurricanes and tidal surges, my thoughts turned to blessed fish. During the year and a half I have been exploring holy wells in County Cork, I have been fascinated by how many are said to contain a blessed fish – roughly one tenth. The fish are usually described as eels […]
Meandering south of Mallow
Four wells on the agenda today, all south of Mallow and all having interesting and detailed write ups by Colonel Grove White in his Historical and Topological Notes etc. Ania’s Well, Tobar Aine, Dromore As we approached Dromore House, (now called Nazareth House and run by the Sisters of Nazareth as a holistic centre) where the well […]
St Gregory & St Catherine: two secretive wells in North Cork
Visiting North Cork with some friends we headed in the direction of Glanworth, first stopping off at two saintly wells: one dedicated to St Gregory and the other to St Catherine. Gregory’s Well, Tobercarrown, Ballyshonock This well is not marked on the current OS map but is referred to as Tobercarrown on the historic 25 […]
The Rakes of Mallow
Who knew Mallow was so exciting? It’s a place that we normally just drive through on our way to somewhere else but today we stopped, three wells on the agenda. The first one I knew no long existed but I wanted to visit the site anyway. Well of the Breast, Toberaroughta, Mallow This well is […]
The Three Marys: a trio of Marian Wells in North Cork
Since I began this project, a year and a half ago, I have come across dedications to 51 various saints at nearly 200 wells. The most popular patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), who currently has 29 wells dedicated to her. Not surprising really considering her elevated place in the Catholic pantheon as Mary, […]