secret garden

By freespiral

Limerick jaunt: day 3

Just back from a most satisfactory few days in County Limerick in pursuit of holy wells - 15 extremely varied and interesting wells visited, sometimes accompanied by extremely varied and interesting well keepers, all so helpful. The weather was astonishing - bright, cold and sunny; the hotel comfortable, and the company (Robert and Finola) delightful! We were also given a personal tour of a disused church with some interesting stained glass, climbed a Norman motte and staggered up a mountain to view an ecclesiastical settlement.
Two wells were on the agenda this morning but had to be postponed as we came upon a level crossing which was closed - apparently it never opens! We turned round, with difficulty, and continued to this one, Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh, Sunday's Well. This has to be one of the most challenging yet visited!  It is situated near Effin and was about a mile up a rough track leading into dense forestry at the base of a mountain. The track eventually petered out and was replaced with serious mud, much mossiness and dense forest.  We persevered, hauling each other out of mud and over streams, and were rewarded with this extraordinary  monument. The well is gushing and enclosed in a sort of earthen bank :
 It is said that a local man, on regaining his sight at the well, constructed the surrounding ditch in the shape of an eye. It is also believed that the well was stone-lined by a grateful father, whose daughter, after a fall from her horse, had her senses miraculously restored once her forehead and eyes were bathed with water from the Well.
The water unsurprisingly holds a cure for sore eyes.
 Originally there were 9 mini satellite wells but the dampness seems to have joined up now. The BVM is sadly headless. 
We were filthy by the time we staggered back down to the cars! Now officially wrecked. Backblips will follow.

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