Whilst roving around Tipperary recently, we came across some wonderful sites connected with some colourful and interesting saints – some previously visited before and some new. First up St Séadna, possibly St John, St Seona, St Sedna or even St Senan. St Séadna’s Well, Glen of Aherlow Located in the south east corner of Clonbeg […]
Rheumatism
Well dressed – in Buxton, Derbyshire
I’m just back from a week in Buxton, England having attended the excellent Sacred Waters Conference organised by Sewanee Liberal Arts College, Tennessee and Durham University, England. It was well attended with speakers and participants from America, England, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ibiza, Scotland, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Netherlands, India, Nigeria and Wales. It […]
In search of Avalon: some holy wells around Bristol
Staying with my son for a few days in Bristol, it would have been rude not to visit a few holy wells. People often express amazement that there are holy wells to be found in England but, as in Ireland, they are everywhere if you bother to look – admittedly some more obvious than others. […]
Brigid 1500: the Keeper of the Flame
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 […]
Enticed by old photographs: three more ladies met around Adare
The National Folklore Photographic Collection, available online at duchas.ie, is an invaluable source with a wide ranging variety of images including holy wells. County Limerick seems especially well documented and each of the three wells covered in this blog initially enticed me with their beautiful black and white photographs. I had high hopes for each […]
En route to Ardpatrick
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 […]