After the atrocious weather of the the day before (see Part 1) and the cancellation of all ferries, Scattery Island Tours kindly laid on an extra sailing on Saturday morning to anyone who had missed their original booking. We were keen to avail of the offer and were amazed to find that we were the […]
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Jiving with (St) Senan: a few days in West Clare
I recently had a few very enjoyable days in West Clare with Finola of Roaringwater Journal. We were on the trail of St Senan, our sights set on holy wells and stained glass. I must first mention two excellent sources which I have relied on extensively and both are part of County Clare Heritage Office […]
Blessed Earth & Healing Priests
A couple of books have recently drawn my attention to the fascinating phenomenon of blessed clay/earth. The Holy Wells of Ireland: Sacred Realms & Popular Domains (Indiana Press, 2023) contains a variety of interesting essays covering all subjects connected with holy wells – I even have an article – but the one that is specially […]
A Decade in the Field
Unbelievably is seems that ten years have passed since I first ventured out, rather naively it has to be said, on my quest to visit and record the state of the holy wells in County Cork. My original motives were curiosity and a desire to see a bit more of the county, a good project for my recent retirement. I hadn’t really thought it through and wasn’t expecting to be so entranced and absorbed by my peregrination. When I set out I knew very little about the traditions or folklore surrounding holy wells nor about the attendant rituals and etiquette. I’ve had my eyes opened in all respects. These are a few of my experiences.
In the Hoofprints of St Manchán: a trip to County Offaly
We’re just back from a short but action-packed few days in County Westmeath which turned out to be full of wonders and astonishment. Perhaps the most amazing was to be found enroute to the early monastic site of Lemanaghan, actually in County Offaly. St Manchán’s Shrine, Boher The first stop was at the little church […]
A mysterious well at the end of the world – St Erc, Kerry Head
I have unsuccessfully tried to find St Erc’s Well on two previous occasion and written about my first experience here. It has played on my mind however, and another trip to North Kerry in the company of Himself and Finola from Roaringwater Journal, provided an opportunity for a third, and hopefully, fruitful exploration. St Erc’s […]