This year, 2024, marks the 1500th anniversary of the death of St Brigid, one of the three patron saints of Ireland, along with St Patrick and St Colmcille. Brigid is believed to have to have been born around 450AD in Faughart, County Louth but she is mainly associated with Kildare where she founded a religious […]
National Library of Ireland
Circles, swastikas & labyrinths: enigmas on the Iveragh
The first well expedition of the year set off at a cracking pace as we, in the company of the Roaringwaters, set off for the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry, rock art and holy wells on our minds. After a damp, mild and very wet Christmas the second week in January was cold, crisp and sunny […]
Some wells are invisible: exploring around Enniskean
Some wells prove difficult! I had five wells on the agenda today, all remote and my expectations of finding anything were low. This proved entirely justified. But I did get to explore some beautiful areas in the crisp Spring sunshine. St Srufan’s Well, Drimoleague First stop, St Strufan’s Well, long vanished according to the Archaeological […]
St Brigid’s Well, Mountbridget
This once important pilgrimage site, the townland is even called Mountbridget, is to be found just off the R522 two miles outside Buttevant, signed but easy to miss! A rustic but rather attractive little carved stone welcomes you in and invites you to honour the patron saint of the well, St Brigid or Mary of […]
St Patrick’s Well,Tobar Padraigh, Kinneigh
It being St Patrick’s Day it seemed appropriate to hunt down a well dedicated to the national saint. I managed to find one listed in the Archaeological Inventory that was fairly close to me and after attending the Parade in Ballydehob set out. The well was not on the map but I had written down […]