Visiting my brother recently in Altrincham, Cheshire, I idly wondered how far away St Winefride’s Well might be as it is on the bucket list. I was delighted and surprised to find it was only 50 minutes away and we decided we needed a day out. I think this might be a first Welsh holy […]
shrine
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 […]
Diversions in Tipperary: Part 3. Tobar Íosa, Cahir
It’s been a while since we had a proper fieldtrip and this one was bittersweet – the first time we had ventured out without Robert, our dear friend, husband of Finola, and one half of Roaringwater Journal, who sadly passed away in March. Although much missed he seemed ever present and I know he would […]
Two Limerick Wells for Paddy’s Day: Singland & Patrickswell
There are 19 wells dedicated to the patron saint in County Limerick but whether he actually set foot here is debatable. I rather hope he did for his presence is everywhere. He left his footprints at Ballyelan; handprints at Ballingary; the print of his back on a tree at Knockainey and saintly kneeprints at Cloncagh […]
Views, folklore & a lot of green: St Patrick’s Well, Knockpatrick, Limerick
Close to the sea-drenched well at Barrigone is another well, a very different one, this one 572m above sea level and one of several interconnected monuments. St Patrick’s Well, Knockpatrick The site is gated but clearly signed and there is public access. We decided to go to the summit first and and followed the roughly […]
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 […]