Saint Colmcille's
Holy Well
on the
River Nanny Estuary
At the bucolic setting of the beautiful River Nanny
between Julianstown and Laytown lies Saint Colmcille's Holy Well.
between Julianstown and Laytown lies
I've had to highlight the fact that the Well lies next to the estuary because there is more than one Saint Colmcille's Holy Well in the area.
© Tailte Éireann
Historic Map
A single set of Rosary Beads.
A lot of people, indeed myself included at one time, believed Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick is in fact just one of the three Patron Saints of Ireland.
The other two Patron Saints are Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille (Columba), he of Iona in Scotland fame.
Colmcille also known as Columba leads us on to the common boys name of Colm.
It is related to the Dove of Peace.
Although the Martyrology of Tallagh, a 9th or 10th Century manuscript, lists anywhere up to possibly a thousand Irish Saints,
the majority of Holy Wells
in Ireland appear to be most often named
after these three Saints.
An Old Post Box nearby marked with ER - Elisabeth Regina, Queen Elisabeth the second.
That in part perhaps help explain why there are at least two Saints Colmcille's Holy Wells located near to each other in this area.
Most unfortunately this particular Colmcille's Well seems to have been much overlooked and seldom visited which is indeed a shame.
As a practising secular atheist I am always a little saddened when these Wells disappear, or in some terrible instances, are deliberately covered over.
They are a window into the past, places of meditation and reflection and for those of a religious persuasion, places of pilgrimage, devotion and worship.
All to often in our race to cosmopolitan modernity we are losing sight of our past, our practises and our old customs and culture.
Despite practising no religion whatsoever I am always both delighted and rewarded by spending a few moments of quiet reflection or introspection at these often secluded and panoramic spots.
the majority of Holy Wells
in Ireland appear to be most often named
after these three Saints.
Here at this Holy Well a single set of old Rosary Beads is the only indication that this fresh water spring was a place of devotion.
Please excuse the formatting. Blogger has once again decided to do its own thing.
SMR Code : ME028 -064
Keep the wheels turning.
