A few days on the Dingle Peninsula and what does one do with a bit of spare time – why visit a holy well of course. First we had a quick mooch around Dingle in the sunshine, admiring the many quirky doors and colour schemes. Then it was on to Minard, via Annascaul and its […]
Schools' Folklore Project
Tobairín Dónail, Rathcormack Mountain
This well was discovered at the end of a long and hard day’s exploration – see last week’s blog. It’s one of those wells that I have looked at on the map and sighed for it looked very remote and difficult to get too- also the name of the townland Rathcormack Mountain was a bit off putting. […]
Chalk & Cheese: two very different wells near Burnfort
The last two wells in the latest North Cork exploration were like chalk and cheese, wonderful contrasts to show just how different holy wells can be. But first a diversion to Island Wedge tomb (CO042-056001) in the same townland as the first well. Island Wedge Tomb This took some finding – just a few miles […]
Cattle, Castles and Cranat: exploring around Ballyclogh
The day started with a visit to the outskirts of Kanturk in search of a holy well. It didn’t sound very promising: In pasture, c. 200m S of possible church and burial ground (14106). Bowman (1934, 523) recorded holy well here, noting that ‘Rounds have been discontinued for a long time’. Well collapsed and dry; […]
Trees, Saints, Cats & Cake: well hunting North Cork
This cluster of wells was on my list last time we were in North Cork but had to be postponed as the weather was just too hot! The heatwave having abated I dropped Himself off in Ballyvourney as he tackled the last leg of the Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscrai, also postponed due to heat. We arranged […]
Two Prophets: St Colmcille & St Moling
I’m still off piste and this week in County Kilkenny. I will eventually return to Cork but there’s more to come on Moling! First stop Inistioge and a well dedicated to St Colmcille. St Colmcille’s Well, Tobar Cholmcille What a very pretty place right on the River Nore. It was all go and there were […]