Four wells beckoned in the backhills around Clonakilty. Enlisting the help of my pal Finola of Roaringwater Journal fame, an expert navigator thankfully, we set off to explore, the day being bright and beautiful. Trinity Well, Tobar na Trionóide Naofa, Castleventry First stop was Castleventry. Parking in a handy layby, we were surprised to find […]
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Two wells on the way home from the airport
Well of the Ague, Tobar na Creathaighe, Tobernacrohy, Ballinhassig Never one to miss an opportunity to discover some new wells, I managed to fit in a bit of exploration on my way home from an airport visit. The first well proved exceptionally elusive mainly because my map reading skills are pretty dreadful and I had […]
On the trail of St Finbarr
Today’s adventure was centred around the scenic back roads between Dunmanway and Crookstown, a day of exploration with my pals Robert and Finola from Roaringwater Journal. Several holy wells were of course on the agenda. St Finbarr’s Well, Tobar na Daibhche, DunmanwayFirst stop was St Finbarr’s Well just outside Dunmanway, an area of little shady roads, […]
St Brigid’s Well, Mountbridget
This once important pilgrimage site, the townland is even called Mountbridget, is to be found just off the R522 two miles outside Buttevant, signed but easy to miss! A rustic but rather attractive little carved stone welcomes you in and invites you to honour the patron saint of the well, St Brigid or Mary of […]
A trio of Wells in Tullylease
The enchanting North Cork village of Tullylease was once the site of a large ecclesiastical settlement founded by the wonderfully named St Berrihert (his name can be spelled in a huge number of ways: Bearhtwine, Bearcheart, Berechtuine, Berikert, Berichter, Berectchert, Berechtir, and Berehert, but locally he is mercifully known as St Ben and that’s what […]
Tobar Eoin Óg, St John’s Well, Carrigaline
Today is the Feast of St John the Baptist, a good example of one of those Christian festivals that neatly superimposed itself upon a much older pagan celebration, for it is also Midsummer – an ancient Celtic festival when fires were lit to honour Áine, the goddess associated with the sun, fertility and the protection […]