Finally back in County Kerry and in search of a holy well that has long intrigued me: All Saints’ Well, Tobar na Naomh near Loo Bridge, Kilgarvan. This is the folklore that enticed me: There is a well at Loo Bridge called Tobar na Naomh. The people around the place go doing rounds to the […]
pattern day
A Black Dog, a Golden Trout & St Molua
Still in Limerick, and on a glorious crisp morning we made we made a very quick stop at a well close to our hotel in Kilmallock. Sunday’s Well, Toberreendoney, The Black Dog Well, Deebert The well is situated at the side of the main road and is beautifully maintained. The site is enclosed by a […]
Two wells on the Cork/Limerick border
Whilst in Limerick hunting down the Gobnait wells, it would have been rude not to visit a few others in the vicinity. In fact, I fear County Limerick might be calling! These two wells are literally on the border with Cork near Charleville, in fact they are both mentioned in the entries for County Cork […]
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 […]
Trout & Tussocks: the Strangeness of Holy Lakes
I don’t know what the situation is in other counties but Cork and Kerry seem to have a fondness for holy lakes. In County Cork for example, the entire Lake at Gougane Barra was once considered sacred for it was here that St Finbarr wrestled with the resident water serpent, Tú, and of course won. […]
A Peregrination part 1: the wanderings of St Gobnait
With time to think, research and mentally meander, St Gobnait has been in my thoughts. I thought it might be interesting to look in detail at her remarkable journey when she too (physically) meandered around Munster, as she searched for the site of her resurrection. It’s a long and complicated wandering and will be covered […]