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Holy Wells of Cork & Kerry

not all who wander are lost

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St Erc

A mysterious well at the end of the world – St Erc, Kerry Head

6th April 2025 14 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: North Kerry Tagged With: bulla bullaun bulley Charles Smith Corridons Glenderry Heneas MacNichaill Irish Tourist Association Kerry Kerry Head leacht pilgrimage rounds St Brendan St Brigid St Erc St Gobnait St Macadaw

The Good, the Mad and the Strange: a round up of 2019

18th December 2019 4 Comments

A quick round up of some of the more intriguing wells visited in 2019. It’s been a busy year for I officially completed my research on the holy wells in County Cork: 310 wells visited and recorded, and then ventured forth into County Kerry. A long visit to New Zealand followed by a horrible bout […]

Filed Under: Dingle Peninsula Iveragh Peninsula North Cork North Kerry Tagged With: bile blessed fish Blessed Virgin Mary Buile Suibhne bullaun bulley butter stone Cnoc na dTobar Eyes Lunasa Mount Brandon pattern day pilgrimage Rheumatism rounds St Buonia St Crohane St Erc St Feaghna St Fursey St Macadaw St Manchán St Michael Stations of Cross trout Warts

The Holy Girl & the Wayward Boys: St Dahalin’s Well, Kerry Head

20th October 2019 7 Comments

 Once upon a time there was a holy girl who founded a small religious cell for women on the green slopes of Kerry Head. Here she passed her time in contemplation and general goodness. Some wayward boys decided to cause havoc and set out to either abduct her or make mischief. The holy girl was […]

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: Ballyheigue Ballyheigue Castle Bryan MacMahon cilleen dogs Eyes fish Kerry Head Laimhín Crosby Mass Rev Jerry Kirby Richard Cantillon rounds Schools' Folklore Project St Dahalin St Erc The Kerryman trout

St Macadaw’s Well, Kerry Head: yet to be discovered

12th October 2019 13 Comments

Kerry Head is a tiny peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic, the very limit of North Kerry. It is incredibly scenic and remote but home to several interesting holy wells. Today’s destination was St Macadaw’s church and holy well in the townland of Glenderry, a place of much folklore and tradition connected with one particular […]

Filed Under: North Kerry Tagged With: amulet Ballyheigue Bryan MacMahon bulley butter stone Charles Smith Corridons Glenderry Heneas MacNichaill ITA Kerry Kerry Head Kilvicada leacht Mary Brenneman Mount Brandon penance pilgrimage Schools' Folklore Project St Brendan St Bridget St Erc Walter Brenneman

A tale of Saints & Sheep: Tobar na Molt, Ardfert

20th November 2018 13 Comments

A trip to Kerry and a chance to take a quick excursion to a well I have long wanted to visit – Tobar na Molt, Well of the Wethers, in Ardfert just north east of Tralee. I have always been intrigued by the name and this entry from the Schools’ Folklore Collection offers an explanation: […]

Filed Under: North Kerry Tagged With: Altar An Túr Gloine Ardfert Bishop Erc bloodhounds Danes Lameness Mass Michael Healy. Patrick Logan Penal Times penitential pilgrimage pilgrims' shelter rag tree rounds Schools' Folklore Project St Brendan St Erc St Ita statues tomb chest trout Tubrid wethers

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Recent posts

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A mysterious well at the end of the world – St Erc, Kerry Head

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