Tradition

Today's MonoMonday challenge is just up my street - tradition. As you know, I'm getting ready to be fully immersed in holy wells and what could be more traditional than them! There are more than 3000 holy wells in Ireland (and quite a few in Cork) and some have been visited for hundreds if not thousands of year. Each well was usually associated with a patron saint, or with special healing powers. Traditionally there was a special feast day  or Pattern when devotions were made. This would include doing the rounds - walking a special path, saying particular prayers, and possibly leaving a small token or offering.

This tiny little well was traditionally (see how many times I'm getting it in) visited on St John's Eve (23/24th June) and was part of the rounds that centred on a visit to Father Barnane's grave, a priest who had healing powers (particularly good with animals) and is buried in the nearby churchyard. These pattern days could get a little out of hand though and were occasions of merriment - drink was usually taken (quite a lot of it), fighting normally broke out and it usually ended in tears. Even more so here, for the priest in question was known for his love of the hard stuff and it was traditional to leave a bottle of whiskey  on his grave! The church was not impressed and such goings on were eventually banned. This little well was still being visited in the 1930s for this is what a young girl wrote about it in the Folklore Survey of 1938:
In Durrus cemetery .... there is a holy well which bears evidence of cures in former times as many personal belongings have been left there. People do not go to pay the rounds there at present but they probably did in former times. Rounds were paid at the grave of a certain Father Bernane who is buried there.
I think I'm the only one who's been there recently though.

And listen to Lynched traditional music is alive and well - hang for the jolly bit at the end :)

And just heard the great news - well done the Fab Four!!!!