Stygian gloom...

... whatever that is, comes to mind! An adventure today as I went off looking for St Finbarr's well, somewhere beyond Dunmanway. This Sunday is of course St Finbarr's day (!) and much excitement will be occurring at Gougane Barra where he established a cell, but I wanted a little taster first! Many pilgrimage paths wend their way too Gougane and this little well was on one such path.
First trip out with the GPS unadvised! I followed the map down the Comatarparteen Glen - very small roads, weirdly shaped trees and much mossiness - and parked in a tiny layby, avoiding the steep ditch. The GPS suddenly came to life and we (!) were off on foot. From the map it looked as though the well was near the road but the GPS led me into the thicket,  all a bit too Blair Witchish for my liking - much dripping mossiness, dangling green lichen and crackling twigs. Litter everywhere - including that old burnt out car in the ditch. I rummaged around under tree trunks, under rocks, up banks and a loud and rather rude plea to St Finbarr brought no results.  I returned down through the wood back on to the road and my eye caught an unusual slab. There, down a ditch, right next to the road was the well. A sorry and unloved sight with a large mouldering bag of what looked like nappies, carelessly tossed next to it. I gingery gave it a little tidy up. An astonishing place- might be worth biggifying for the twistiness and the car. The well is directly opposite.

Off for a pizza and a film now. We're going to see Young Offenders, .Do you remember the massive drugs bust that went horribly wrong in our part of the world about 9 years ago - the largest amount of cocaine ever attempted to get into Ireland was left floating in the water. This story is about two likely Cork lads who come down looking for the missing bale! I'll report back.

And if you have time, do check out these two fantastic videos made by son#2, proud mummy:
Breathe 
Noisy Neighbour