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Holy Wells of Cork & Kerry

not all who wander are lost

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eels

Trout & Tussocks: the Strangeness of Holy Lakes

11th October 2021 9 Comments

I don’t know what the situation is in other counties but Cork and Kerry seem to have a fondness for holy lakes. In County Cork for example, the entire Lake at Gougane Barra was once considered sacred for it was here that St Finbarr wrestled with the resident water serpent, Tú, and of course won. […]

Filed Under: South Kerry West Cork Tagged With: Beara Peninsula blessed fish Derrylough eels fish Gougane Barra holy lake Lough Adereen Lough Mackeenlaw miraculous tussocks Parknasilla pattern day pilgrimage rag tree rounds St Anne St Kilian Wurzburg

In pursuit of two grumpy & enigmatic saints: a day on the Beara

26th May 2021 15 Comments

Long ago St. Finnian and another Saint were out boating in the Kenmare River, and a British Man of War came along. The two Saints came into the land to preach to the people, and the owner of the Man of War stole their boat. When they came back to where they left it, they […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: Beara Peninsula bullaun Cailleach Bhearra Castletownbere Derrylough eels Eyeries Foildarrig George Walsh Hag of Beara holy lake Kilcatherine Schools' Folklore Project St Caitiaran St Finnian St Kentigern St Killian

St Peter & St Paul’s Holy Well, near Skibbereen

22nd January 2017 9 Comments

Browsing the Schools’ Folklore Collection as you do (if you haven’t you should – it’s a mine of information: duchás.ie)  I came across a hitherto unknown well just outside Skibbereen. It wasn’t listed in the Archaeological Inventory and I could find no reference to it anywhere else. It sounded fascinating though. This is what Seóirse […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: eels General pilgrimage rag tree Schools' Folklore Project Skibbereen Heritage Centre St Peter and St Paul

Four very different wells around Timoleague

25th February 2016 13 Comments

Today we headed out east on the trail of wells in the Timoleague area. Our first stop was a beautifully kept and still revered Lady’s Well, Tobar Mhuire, just outside the town. Lady’s Well,Tobar Mhuire, Timoleague This little well can be found right next to the GAA pitch on the road into Timoleague. It is […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: ballaun stone Bantry Blessed Trinity Blessed Virgin Mary Burren Bridge BVM clochán eels Eyes General Kilbrittain pilgrimage Rathclaren rounds Schools' Folklore Project Spittle St Abbán Timoleague Timoleague Abbey Warts

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