Religion, Magic and The Cure - The Holy Wells of the Burren
There over 3,000 holy wells in Ireland. Pre-Christian in origin, the well was a vibrant theatre of indigenous spirituality and colourful folk medicine in pre-Famine times. Some sites still attract significant numbers of devotees today. The Burren is home to almost fifty wells, several of which will feature in this presentation, including new information on St Fachnan’s Well, Kilfenora.
This talk by Tony Kirby draws on recent research and includes new insights into the history, geography, folklore and hydrogeology of Burren holy wells, as well as contextualising the "Irish martial arts" and faction fighting which took place at some of the sites.
Tony Kirby is a full-time and well-known Burren walk guide. He recently completed an audit of almost forty holy wells in North Clare as part of the Clare Holy Wells Project under the auspices of the Heritage Council and Clare County Council. Tony is the author of "The Burren and the Aran Islands - A Walking Guide".