The Most Unforgettable

At the beginning of 2025 I was inspired by the words, ’The Irish high crosses give up their mysteries one by one’ and spent a year visiting old monastic sites and graveyards.

I discovered local links: the unique Viking-Celtic crosses in picturesque south county Dublin, St Brendan’s footprints around west Kerry, the forgotten graveyards at edge of the Wicklow mountains and Neo-lithic monuments in the Boyne Valley.  Others were once-off experiences in villages and small towns each with its own story.

However two places left me with a lasting impression, one in Kerry and one in Meath. Both were Holy Wells, places whose origins go back to earliest time and were happily adopted by Irish Christianity.  

Such ‘holy wells’ drew their energy from natural symbols: water, stone, wood and earth. (‘Fire’ alone seems missing.)

Kerry’s Tobar na Molt centres on a pond. A stone hut stands beside it and ancient slabs gather around. Castlekeeran’s in Meath has a cascade flowing over natural rock and through numerous cavities.

Both have ‘rag trees’ with their origin in the legendary ‘Bi-le’ and their history of healing and blessings. Even today the rags tied to them represent the petitions of visitors -- when the rag withers away their wish will have been granted.  

‘Earth’ is celebrated at both wells through natural growth: grass, flowers and shrubs.

What held my attention was the thought that these places have drawn people for thousands of years, and they still come. The wells echo some deep call in the human being, something that we are still trying to understand and build on today. 

This year my visits to ‘forgotten places’ have largely been limited to Leinster (where I am based) but I hope in the coming year I will be able to discover reminders of our early heritage in other parts of Ireland.   

My thanks and Christmas greetings to all who helped or joined me on my way. And if you know of any interesting ’forgotten places’ in your vicinity, be sure to let me know!