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 […]
offerings
Tobar Mhíchíl, St Michael’s Well, Lixnaw
I suppose I must have visited nearly 400 holy wells over the last few years and some are still capable of surprise, none more so than this one in Lixnaw, North Kerry, dedicated to St Michael the Archangel: Tobar Mhíchíl. The Site The well is clearly signed off the R557 just before reaching the village […]
St John’s Well, Minard, Kerry
A few days on the Dingle Peninsula and what does one do with a bit of spare time – why visit a holy well of course. First we had a quick mooch around Dingle in the sunshine, admiring the many quirky doors and colour schemes. Then it was on to Minard, via Annascaul and its […]
Tobairín Dónail, Rathcormack Mountain
This well was discovered at the end of a long and hard day’s exploration – see last week’s blog. It’s one of those wells that I have looked at on the map and sighed for it looked very remote and difficult to get too- also the name of the townland Rathcormack Mountain was a bit off putting. […]
An unexpected pleasure:Tobar Eoin Basti
I’m just back from a couple of days in Fermoy, meandering up and down the sides of the M8 in pursuit of the last crop of holy wells in this area – more of those shortly. This well, the final one of the trip, was an unplanned visit. Glancing at the map, I saw an […]
Chalk & Cheese: two very different wells near Burnfort
The last two wells in the latest North Cork exploration were like chalk and cheese, wonderful contrasts to show just how different holy wells can be. But first a diversion to Island Wedge tomb (CO042-056001) in the same townland as the first well. Island Wedge Tomb This took some finding – just a few miles […]