There are seven inhabited islands off the coast of Cork: Cape Clear Island, Sherkin Island, Heir Island, Long Island, Whiddy Island, Bere Island and Dursey Island. And of course they all have a well or two. Some island hopping required. The rain and wind having ceased slightly, I thought it time I ventured over to […]
Schools' Folklore Project
A Motley Quintet around Mitchelstown
The last five wells from our recent expedition to North Cork are all unloved, neglected or forgotten, a motley crew indeed yet one or two exciting discoveries were made, as usual. Mitchelstown Holy Well Confusingly this little well is not in Mitchelstown itself but in a small townland of the same name a few miles […]
St Dominic’s Holy Well, Glanworth
St Dominic’s Well, Tubbernacruinahur, Glanworth This well was visited at the very end of an intense day of exploration. The light was fading and weariness setting in but there was just time for one more well – one I really wanted to visit for I had seen an enticing photograph and hoped against hope that […]
In search of St Mologa
Today we were in search of St Mologa, two wells on the agenda both within a few miles of each other: one in Templemologa (church of Mologa) and the other at Labbamologa (bed of Mologa) – the area between the two seemingly being the Tearmon or sacred space, where Mologa offered protection and sanctuary. The […]
Fionnchú: The White Hound
Arriving in Mitchelstown in the late afternoon the light was fading and a thin mizzle had set in but we thought we could manage a trip to two wells dedicated to the town saint, St Fanahan, or, as he is known as Gaeilge, St Fionnchú: the white hound. St Fanahans’s Well, Tobar Naomh Fionnchú St […]
En route to Mitchelstown
Well hunting is always an enjoyable experience especially when you devote a few days to it. Wells in North Cork beckoned. We stayed for a few days in Mitchelstown in the very comfortable Ballinwillin House, complete with free range deers and boars. A welcome break on the M8 on the way up saw a diversion […]