Unusual Holy Wells in County Mayo
Posted on Tuesday, February 01 @ 13:44:30 GMT on stephen |
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Eight sites for the serious well hunter
Above: St Marcans Well on Rossclave inlet not far from Newport. The well is in poor condition but plans to restore it are on the way. Locals believe this site was probably used for pagan worship and burials in prehistoric times. Not on Discovery maps.
Below: Altar Stone at the children's burial ground close to the well. When babies were refused burial in consecrated ground the distraught parents resorted to burying them close to a holy well. In Ireland many of these burial grounds remain to commemorate the anguish of a past age.
Above: A special stone in Kilbride graveyard, Lecarrow, Newport. After the area was drained St Brigid's documented Holy Well disappeared. Locals believe this stone was connected with Brigid's well and that the water once had curative powers.
Below: St Anne's Well, Knockrooskey, about four miles from Westport on the Ballinrobe road. In its heyday hundreds of pilgrims came across the fields from all directions on pattern day. About 40 years ago RTE did a documentary on this well. The local people would love to view it again. Can anyone help to make this dream come true?
Above: St Dominic's Well, Kiltarnet about a mile from Newport on the Newport to Achill road and not far from Burrishoole Abbey. A few years ago the local priest blessed this well and the people did the stations barefooted. Not on Discovery maps.
Below: Close to the well a Celtic Cross and a large stone honours the saint. The pattern day in August is remembered as a day when, apart from saying the rosary, there were races in Collins' field, sports and bag racing, and in between people visited family graves in Burrishoole Abbey.
Above: St Patrick's Well, Ballintober where the yearly pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick starts. Situated in the beautifully kept grounds of Ballintober Abbey. The ultra-modern statue of the saint was donated by a priest.
Below: Carrowkennedy Well. About eight miles from Westport on the left-hand side of the Leenane road and before the Celtic Cross in memory of the Carrowkennedy ambush. Through a gateway on the bend in the road and about 400 yards walk to the well. Higher up yet another children's graveyard can be found. Cure for eyes. Not on Discovery maps.
Mo Griffith
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