Day 13 Well, Well, Well!

St Brigid's Well

Today was the most glorious day weather wise in Lahinch and beyond. The sky was blue, the sun was out and the Atlantic Ocean was just calm and gentle. I think the whole of Lahinch came out and just enjoyed the sun.

Nice jumper, hey???

The ocean was just superb and I reckon I could've stayed all day just beside the beach.

Gentle Atlantic on a magnificent day

But I had a plan for the day so I had to move on! My plan started yesterday when Antoinette at the Clare Genealogy Centre started talking about St Augustine's Well. I was commenting on the fact that we had many Austins in our family tree and she was telling me that Austin was a short name for St Augustine who was really big in County Clare.

So I thought I was going to visit St Augustine's Well, but, ummmm, I don't think I got to that Well!!

St Augustine's Well

This short video above is an excellent synopsis of St Augustine's role in County Clare and shows the Well and its surrounds. Worth a look.

When I put my info into Google Maps, I certainly got to a Well, but I think it was a different one!

The well I went to was in Killmaley and it was a lovely Well and I prayed there for my sick friends and relatives.... so it will do me fine!

So..

Well Number One

Kilmaley Well

Killmaley Holy Well

The journey to get there was relatively easy, as I slavishly followed my Google Maps. However when it said "You have arrived at your destination", I was on a straight stretch of road just outside Kilmaley with nothing in sight!

So I went back to the Kilmaley shop and asked the ladies standing out the front.

Killmaley Shop

Fortunately one of them said, yes it's just up the road where I had just come from... but she offered to take me there, because it was a bit obscure..

So Ciara jumped in my car and showed me exactly where the entrance was...

Thanks Ciara!

It was on the road from whence I had just come, but I certainly would not have found it without Ciara's help.

Kilmaley Well Entrance

So I had to go back to the shop to park the car and then walk back to this little entrance. But it was worth it all..

Kilmaley Well

Ciara had told me there was a path down to a lovely little water fall, but I would have to go through brambles to get there! Too true!!! But again it was worth it.

Killmaley Well Path

There was a lovely little waterfall at the end surrounded by bush..

Killmaley Well Waterfall

So that was all a bit of an adventure and challenge! Wrong Holy Well, but very nice all the same.

I felt a bit like I was Dougal on Fr Ted when I found out!!! 😁

So after that little jaunt I was up for my next Holy Well....

Well Number Two

St Brigid's Well

Now I was pretty sure I knew where St Brigid's Well was, because I had passed the turn off multiple times in the last week, as it was on the road north out of Lahinch - just before the Cliffs of Moher. So I didn't even bother putting it in to my Google Maps. Pride cometh before the fall!!!

So I found the turn off easily and I guess I thought there would be a sign post or something so I followed the road up the hill - view was beautiful! - and ended up back on the main road again after a big loop! So this time I thought I would put the name into Google Maps... and off I went again. But I ended up going up and over the hill again. Fortunately there were two lovely old farmers up the top fixing the fence that had come down and I asked them. They just gave me a big smile and told me to go back the way I came... it seems the Well was actually in the Cemetery right on the corner of the main road. And one of the farmers told me - again with a big smile - that apparently there's an eel that lives in the Well and if you see it you will win $1 million Euros!!!! I was looking out for it - trust me!

Anyway - here are some pics. It was an extraordinary place...

St Brigid's Well

Apparently people put memorabilia of their loved ones there to keep those people in the prayers of Sr Brigid. It was impossibly crowded along the walls - would be hard to fit another thing in... and lots of statues and rosary beads!

Here's a short video from Bishop Fintan Monahan which explains St Brigid's Well. It's very well put together (no pun intended!!!) Hahaha

There was a statue outside and a sign that tells you all about it and what you have to do...

St Brigid's Statue

Too hard for me!!!

So... we move on.

Now if a Well is place that gives you sustenance, then I think I've found the ideal Well for me!!!

Well Number Three

The Well found at the Atlantic Hotel

Good old Atlantic Hotel

So that was my funny old day - didn't really turn out the way I expected, but I found some new places, and new experiences. And once again I was helped by the generosity of the Irish people.

So after regaining my strength I walked home along the promenade and there were people everywhere, just sunning themselves...