“Wishing Trees” are very common throughout Ireland, England, and Scotland. They are usually individual trees upon which “folk magic”, “folk spells”, “faerie offerings”, or “prayers” are offered. Sometimes, it is particular to a specific species, where the tree lives, or how it looks. Many times, they are associated with faeries or a particular Deity.
The Goddess or St. Brigid has two holy wells in Kildare? She certainly does. Some say that one of the wells belongs to the Ancient Goddess Brigid while the other well belongs to St. Brigid. Both are sacred, both are holy, and both hold Brigid’s magical healing waters.
All Saints Well, BlarneyBallinspittleInchigeelaRonogue’s WellSt. Bartholomew’s Well, Cork CitySt. Brigid’s Well, CastlemagnerSt. Brigid’s Well, Mountbrigid, ButtevantSt. Fanahan’s Well, MitchelstownSt. Finbar’s Well, Gougane BarraSt. Fursey’s Well, Clonmeen Parish, BanteerSt. Gobnait’s Well (St. Abbey), Ballyvourney (Baile Mhuirne) – Feast Day February 11thSt. John’s Well, KilcorneySt. Laichteen’s Well, BlarneySt. Lawrence WellSt. Olan’s Well – Aghbullogue ParishSkour Well, Highfield, […]
As you drive up to the Tobar Ghobnatan Statue, Well, Hut, Grave, Church ruins, and yard, you will see on your right a wrought iron archway with the letters spelling “HOLY WELL” along its top. Another sign labels it as the “Tobar Ghobnatan Holy Well”.
Nestled into the woods between housing estates is a beehive shaped rock cairn covering a historical holy well that today is known as “St. John’s Well” or “Toberabbog”. Since Cork County has a few “St. John’s” Wells, it should be annotated as “St. John’s Well Carrigaline”.
Just inside the gate crossing over to the Island with the Church that is known as Gougane Barra resides a stone-enclosed holy well attributed to Saint Finbarr. Some claim this is one of the most potent holy wells in all of Cork known for its healing properties.
Much lore surrounds the hill, ranging from apparitions of a grey ghostly horse, a big black dog with blazing eyes, and a hold hag with bundles of faggots gliding towards the Holy Well. It is said the well was originally dedicated to St. Werburgh, a Saxon princess who ruled in 689 C.E.
In the small town of Marpingen of Saarland, there are two holy wells with extraordinary history. As the village is located between Tholey and St. Wendel which are notable for their religious histories.
his little housed well is called “Ladyswell” and its well house was built in honour of the Virgin Mary. It was a place of pilgrimage until the end of the 19th century and was also the site of the Fair Green of Cashel, a town fair held every March and June for over 1500 years.
ccording to the Folklore Archive Collection at UCD, the Holy Well of Shanrahan in Shanbally Demesne (ethnographic research from W. Flynn, Poundlane, Clogheen age 80) recently changed names from the “Holy Well of Shanbally” to “St. Malachis Well”. An older woman referred to the well as “Tobar upnai Ceasra” and it was known as a well to be visited every Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.