It’s been a good year for well hunting, worthy of a quick round up of some of my favourite sites. I reckon I have visited around 150 or so holy wells in the last twelve months, all unique and all in different states of preservation, activity and care. Although most wells are to be found […]
Millstreet
On Wells 3: Saints & Sinners
All holy wells hold a capacity for healing. As far as I can ascertain, there some subtle distinctions between them: a Blessed Well, Tobar Beannaithe, holds a cure – often for sore eye or warts while Tobar Slanán, a health giving well, as the name suggest, contains water that is good for you and may or […]
Trees, Saints, Cats & Cake: well hunting North Cork
This cluster of wells was on my list last time we were in North Cork but had to be postponed as the weather was just too hot! The heatwave having abated I dropped Himself off in Ballyvourney as he tackled the last leg of the Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscrai, also postponed due to heat. We arranged […]
Old Friends Revisited
A final trip into the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí was required to find three unvisited wells. We intended to stay in the area for three days, Himself walking the Slí Muscrai Gaeltacht. I also had a motley quartet in my sights around Newtownshandrum. But we were slightly thwarted by the weather: no, not torrential rain or floods or […]
(Probably) the largest well in Ireland….
I have visited Tubrid Well in Millstreet several times and am always impressed how it is referred to with pride as being the second largest holy well in Ireland, and possibly the UK. No one seemed very sure which has the accolade of being the largest though. Popular opinion seems to suggest that it’s St […]
Only Fools & Horses
St John’s Well, Tobairín na bhFaithni The forecast promised light air, hardly any cloud and the odd bit of sunshine. It seemed like the perfect day to climb Mushera Mór, near Millstreet, and seek out the holy well that lies at the summit. After a day of nonstop torrential rain, the roads were wet and […]