Irish Thymes Blog

Of course, it has to be in Ireland, or else why would I be telling you about it? "Dubliners enjoy higher salaries and better employment prospects than almost anywhere else in Europe." So says a recent post in Irish Abroad. "The city has grown more strongly since 1995, on a combined index of employment, average incomes and productivity, than most other European cities. It was Europe’s “most dynamic” city." The claim is based on data compiled through 2005.

The Ireland visit has come and gone and leaves fond and happy memories. We visited with family and explored some of the country in County Cork, namely Cobh, where we stayed, Kinsale and Youghal, both day trips from Cobh, and the Beara Peninsula when we stayed on Bere Island in the amazing rugged beauty of the far southwest of Ireland.

Until recently, I had no idea that holy wells were all over the Ireland, with many of those in the Beara Peninsula. I am curious about the history of the holy wells and of St. Michael's Well, in particular, on Bere Island.

My mother, who grew up on Bere Island, told many stories, some about her youth, but many more about the people and places of Bere Island. St. Michael's Well, for some reason, held a very special place in her heart. It was one of my mother's dying wishes to "put a marker on St. Michael's well." I made a promise to do that.

Many years later, on a recent trip to Ireland, I was determined to find the well. My husband and I got directions to follow the stream and look for rocks painted white. It's way up high on a hill where sheep were grazing and not easy to find. Several times we thought we had found the path but it turned out to be an old rock turned white with fungus or lichen; we thought we were finally there when we saw a "white painted cross" only to determine on closer look that it was just the way nature shaped that rock. When we were just about ready to give up on finding the well (it was raining that day but it was our last chance to find it), we saw a strip of white rocks up just a little higher that at last led to the well. My husband was surprised to find "just a hole in the ground filled with water," which is, indeed, what it appeared it to be. My memory is bad and I didn't take my camera because of the rain and the arduous climb, but I think there was a white wooden cross (about two feet tall) and a ring of rocks around the well. I added several rocks from nearby in memory of my departed loved ones. Bere Island

Riobard O'Dwyer, a local Beara historian, in a post to the BearaL list, a list serve for genealogists in the Beara Peninsula area of Ireland, mentioned some of the other Holy Wells in the Beara area:
"St. John's Well is high up on the hill over Gowlane, Kilmacowen district, Eyeries Parish. People climb there (and you would need to be reasonably fit) to get water from the well as a cure for afflictions of the eyes. There used be a cluster of small holy wells on the Sliabh to the right of the entrance to the backroad to Castletownbere, just junctioning off the main Eyeries-Castlerownbere road. St. Catherine's Day, Jan. 31st, used always be celebrated in the Eyeries Parish. There is a little holy well known locally in Gaelic as Tobaireen Beannuithe (Tobar is a well. Tobaireen is a little well. Beannuithe means blessed) about 200 yards from where I live, just at the back of Mrs. Noreen (Joe) O'Sullivan's Guest House "The Shamrock", Strand Road, Eyeries. People in the olden days made the rounds of the holy well, reciting decades of the Rosary, and praying for various cures, especially of the eyes."

I've done a little research on the Internet about holy wells and found some interesting information, which I share with you now. This is from
the Holy Wells website at http://www.slaine.ie/ Slaine
"From time immemorial, Irish people have firmly believed in the healing powers of sacred well waters. Special days were set aside to visit wells and leave gifts in appreciation. The wells were cleaned, generally cared for and the water channels kept clear to ensure the flow of water in and out of the well's basin. Carrying healing powers and blessings, the water flowed into the nearest streams and on to rivers and lakes so that all life forms dependant upon water could benefit. The name Sláine can be loosely translated as “healthfulness”. It comes from the name of a mythological well located near Moytura, Co. Sligo in Ireland. This otherworld well was reputed to have life-giving powers. It is said that the Tuatha de Dannan bathed their fallen warriors in its waters, and they were restored to life."

As a side note, I am just getting used to the links on this blog, so if they look funny, it is an experiment and a learning expenience - I hope they come out ok.

About the holy wells, if anyone has any more informaiton about the holy wells in Ireland or, for that matter, in other countries, it would be great to hear about them. If you have trouble using the blog comments, send an email to me at info (at) irishthymes (dot) com.
'Til next time! Eileen