It’s impossible not to be intrigued by a saint called St Munchin or Mainchín mac Setnaí to give him his full name. Sometimes known as Munchin the Wise or Little Monk, folklore surrounding his dates and origins are confusing but he is patron saint of Limerick City which some stories credit him with founding. Like […]
faction fighting
Barrigone: an estuary well
An unusual well in County Limerick on the agenda today, one literally in an estuary. Barrigone Well, St Jude’s Well, Craggs I have long been intrigued by this well having seen images of it waterlogged, like a small ship afloat. It’s situated on the Robertstown River estuary which flows out to join the mighty Shannon […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tobar Eoin Baiste, Cooliska
St John’s Well, Tobar Eoin Baiste, Cooliska Still in County Limerick, today’s holy well is about seven kilometres southwest of Newcastle West in the townland of Cooliska : an Chúil Loiscthe, the burnt corner. It is large well right on the roadside, dominated by a sparkling white statue of the patron saint, St John the […]
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 […]