This was rather an unexpected sight to see in a remote area of North Kerry: three larger than life statues of St Bridget, Our Lady and Christ crucified lined up along the side of a road. They were of course connected with a holy well. Knoppoge Holy Well, St Brigid’s Well, Tobar Eilís, Tobereleesh, Tobar […]
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Cream Pies & Crubeens: Pattern Day in Ballyheigue
The most important day in a holy well’s spiritual and social calendar was the pattern day – the day when the patron of the well was celebrated. Up until the early 1800s patterns days were common at most wells and were frequently boisterous affairs attended by literally hundreds of people. (See Pilgrimage, Partying & Paying […]
Two wells on Valentia Island
A couple of days staying on Valentia Island. The weather roared and howled around us with a complex mixture of snow and sleet, gales and glorious sunshine. Our comfy base was the Royal Hotel Valentia – a roaring fire and excellent food welcoming us after each hard day’s well hunt. Valentia is a remarkable place […]
Causing havoc in Carrignavar!
Back in County Cork and I’m now on the trail of 15 obscure holy wells located on each side of the M8 heading towards Fermoy. I’m to the west of the motorway today and my first stop is near Watergrasshill. St Stephen’s Well Described by the Archaeological Inventory as a hollow in the ground with […]
Not a holy well…
… but a Spa Bathing Well or chalybeate well! And a very interesting one too. I had an email from Janine, who sent me to John who sent me to Ray to find out about an intriguing well deep in the woods at Garrettstown near Kinsale. Lady’s Well, Ringrone, Kinsale I arranged to meet John […]
Found, Lost & Unknown: Three Beara Wells
A trip out to the Beara Peninsula. It was misty and mizzling, low clouds moving over the rugged mountains, the scenery spectacular, the colours ever changing; incredibly imposing even in the damp weather. The search for wells had mixed results: one definite, one confusing and one not found. Holy Well, Tobar Beannaithe, Roosk, near Adrigole […]