Sometimes things come together in unexpected ways and at unexpected moments! Visiting my hairdresser recently, the talk of course got round to holy wells! She mentioned that she had been discussing local wells with another client and the well at Meenvane had come up. I confessed that I thought I had mis-identified this one and […]
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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 […]
Three ladies encountered enroute to Adare
Day one of a well hunting trip to County Limerick in the excellent company of Robert and Finola of Roaringwater Journal. The weather had been atrocious and I was nervous as to how we’d cope as were going to be in the field with nowhere to run. The journey up to Adare, where we were […]
A stray serpent, a sacred fish and elusive kneeprints: two wells dedicated to St Patrick
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 […]
A Few Waifs & Strays
A few waifs and strays remain from the many trips to Kerry this year. Here’s a quick round up of those in Corca Dhuibhne, Dingle Peninsula. Baile an Bhoithín, Ballywiheen ecclesiastical site We pulled in to examine an intriguing site that lay right on the side of the road having spotted mounds and crosses from […]
Sun bright Fionán, jugfuls of whiskey & a raging priest
Back to Corca Dhuibhne, the Dingle Peninsula, and a stop off at Annascaul to find Tobar na Croise, Well of the Cross. Annascaul is a colourful and attractive little village, best know perhaps as being the home of Tom Crean of South Pole exploration fame. On his retirement from the Navy he and his wife […]