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Holy Wells of Cork & Kerry

not all who wander are lost

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St Gobnait

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

Ringing in the old & the new: a round up of explorations in 2024

31st December 2024 6 Comments

It’a always interesting to look back on a year and see where I’ve been and what I’ve done. It didn’t feel as though I’d visited many holy wells this year as much of my time had been taken up with the project Well, Well, Well?, working with artist Marie Brett. This immersive and creative project […]

Filed Under: Limerick North Cork North Kerry Other West Cork Tagged With: Ardfert Ardfield Ballyheigue Ballyvourney Bristol bullaun Buxton BVM Cahir Celeste Ray Cloon West Culture Night Glen of Aherlow Glenbeigh leacht Liscaroll Lixnaw Manchán Magan Marie Brett Millstreet Mitchelstown pattern day pilgrimage pillar stone Roaringwater Journal St Anthony st Berrihert St Brendan St Brigid St Edith St Fanahan St Finian St Gobnait St James St John's Eve St Michael St Patrick St Peacaun St Sedna TG4 Tobar na Molt Tubrid Tullylease well dressing

An unveiling: two new statues of St Gobnait revealed

14th February 2024 9 Comments

One of the extraordinary rituals still maintained on St Gobnait’s feast day, 11th February, involves a much worn thirteenth century oak statue, a depiction of the saint herself. It is only made available for veneration for two days a year, the feast day and Whitsunday, when it is placed in the church in Baile Bhúirne, […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: Baile Mhuirne Ballyvourney Bishop of Cloyne Dorothy Harris emagine Heritage Council John Richardson Ó hÉaluighthe O Herilys pattern day pilgrimage relic replica ribbons Richard Cox sculpture smallpox specialbranchcarvers St Gobnait St Gobnaits Measure statue Tomas Ghobtnan Whitsunday

The curious, the scenic and the challenging – a 2023 round up

17th December 2023 4 Comments

It’s been a busy year for holy well work and the main excitement was the publication of my book Holy Wells of County Cork. This was kindly launched by Gary Branigan, author of Ancient and Holy Wells of Dublin and was hosted by the Working Artist Studios, Ballydehob. The book of course took much longer […]

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: An Blascoad Mór Ballyvourney Bandon Blasket Islands BVM Castleventry Cill Ralaigh eel Illauloughan Knockpatrick Lixnaw Manchán Magan Millstreet Squince Harbour St Barrigone's Well St Brigid St Crohane St Gobnait St Michael St Patrick Stouke Timoleague Tubrid well

An Adventure to An Blascaod Mór

16th September 2023 7 Comments

A tick off the bucket list and a visit to one of the most difficult holy wells to get to – Tobar an Croise, Well of the Cross, on An Blascaod Mór, Great Blasket Island, West Kerry. We have often gazed at the enigmatic Na Blascaodaí, the Blasket Islands, from the mainland, usually seen disappearing […]

Filed Under: Dingle Peninsula Tagged With: Billy mag Fhlionn Blascaod Mór Blasket Centre Blasket Islands Dun Chaoin Dunquin Muireann Nic Amlaoibh Muiris Ó Súilleabháin Na Bascaodaí National Folklore Photographic Collection OPW Peig Sayers Port na bPucaí St Gobnait Thomas Waddicor

Secrets, signs and sore eyes: Lispole part 2

20th November 2022 8 Comments

After our early morning searching for heads, Billy and I left the others to coffee and went in search of Tobar an Rúin, the Well of the Secret, which proved to be exceptionally well named! Tobar an Rúin, Toberaroon, Well of the Secret, St Gobnait’s Well Encouragingly Billy had been to the well the year […]

Filed Under: Dingle Peninsula Tagged With: An Seabhac Ballinagroun Billy mag Fhlionn Caherpierce Caomhin O Danachair Eyes Folklore Collection Main Manuscript Inch Strand National Folklore Photographic Collection offerings pilgrimage rounds St Brendan St Gobnait

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

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