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 […]
Eyes
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 […]
Three ladies encountered enroute to Adare
Day one of a well hunting trip to County Limerick in the excellent company of Robert and Finola of Roaringwater Journal. The weather had been atrocious and I was nervous as to how we’d cope as were going to be in the field with nowhere to run. The journey up to Adare, where we were […]
Secrets, signs and sore eyes: Lispole part 2
After our early morning searching for heads, Billy and I left the others to coffee and went in search of Tobar an Rúin, the Well of the Secret, which proved to be exceptionally well named! Tobar an Rúin, Toberaroon, Well of the Secret, St Gobnait’s Well Encouragingly Billy had been to the well the year […]
A Golden Fish & Fun & Frolics: Our Lady’s Well, Croom
Meandering through south County Limerick, a quick stop was made in Croom, County Limerick, in search of Lady’s Well. Steps from the main road lead down into a public park and the first things encountered are some strange looking stones – big ones. Three large stones seemed to be arranged in a triangular arrangement with […]
The Case of the Missing Spectacles: All Saints’ Well, Loo Bridge, near Kilgarvan
Finally back in County Kerry and in search of a holy well that has long intrigued me: All Saints’ Well, Tobar na Naomh near Loo Bridge, Kilgarvan. This is the folklore that enticed me: There is a well at Loo Bridge called Tobar na Naomh. The people around the place go doing rounds to the […]