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Holy Wells of Cork & Kerry

not all who wander are lost

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A holy stone & a crooked half crown: meandering in South Kerry

21st July 2022 10 Comments

A quick field trip to County Kerry recently produced a couple of interesting finds. The first was a bullaun stone, recognised as a holy well, now enclosed in its own ivy-covered stone enclosure at the side of the Cloonalassan road out for Castlemaine. Closer inspection revealed the bullaun to be large, flush with the ground […]

Filed Under: South Kerry Tagged With: Barbara Freitag bullaun BVM Castlemaine Celeste Ray Kilsarkan Kiltallagh offerings Patricia O Hare pilgrimage rag tree rounds Schools' Folklore Project sile na gig sore eyes St Carthage St Mochuda

A stray serpent, a sacred fish and elusive kneeprints: two wells dedicated to St Patrick

7th April 2022 5 Comments

St Patrick’s Well, Cloncagh Just when he though he had the job done, St Patrick was visiting the church at Cloncagh, South Limerick, when what should he see but a serpent hurtling towards him! He quickly threw his prayer book at the beast and where it landed up sprung a holy well. The serpent was […]

Filed Under: Limerick Tagged With: Ardpatrick Ballyelan Cloncagh Eyes fish kneeprints offerings pilgrimage rag tree ringfort rounds Schools' Folklore Project serpent shrine St Maedoc St Patrick statues

Lady’s Well, Ballylanders

26th February 2022 8 Comments

There is only one Holy Well in the parish of Ballylander Co. Limerick – it is in the graveyard about two hundred yards from the village. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and is patronised especially by those suffering from sore eyes. 15th August is the pattern day and for a fortnight before and […]

Filed Under: Limerick Tagged With: Ballylanders BVM Caoimhín ÓDanachair Eyes Feast of the Assumption Folklore Photographic Collection grotto Kilmallock Lameness rag tree rounds Schools' Folklore Project trout

A Black Dog, a Golden Trout & St Molua

7th February 2022 4 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: Limerick Tagged With: Ague black dog BVM Caomhin O Danachair cross slab Deebert golden fish Kilmallock pattern day pilgrimage rag tree rounds Schools' Folklore Project St Molua trout

En route to Ardpatrick

30th January 2022 3 Comments

En route to Ardpatrick, a sign caught our eye somewhere near Kilfinnane- holy wells. Having never knowingly driven past one let alone more than one, we decided to investigate. A gap in a hedge and faded signage looked hopeful. It was quite a steep clamber down the other side, the steps literally cut into the […]

Filed Under: Limerick Tagged With: Bachall Ísu BVM early ecclesiastical settlement Kilfinane Lameness offerings pilgrimage rag tree Rheumatism rickets round tower rounds Schools' Folklore Project sore eyes souterrain. St Patrick whitethorns

Trout & Tussocks: the Strangeness of Holy Lakes

11th October 2021 9 Comments

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. […]

Filed Under: South Kerry West Cork Tagged With: Beara Peninsula blessed fish Derrylough eels fish Gougane Barra holy lake Lough Adereen Lough Mackeenlaw miraculous tussocks Parknasilla pattern day pilgrimage rag tree rounds St Anne St Kilian Wurzburg

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