Plunging into holy wells

Upperchurch’s Cáit Ní Riain in new TG4 series

This Thursday, April 18, Cáit Ní Riain from Upperchurch Hill plunges into Tobar na Molt in north Kerry as part of a new six-part documentary series on TG4.

Cáit, daughter of Jim of the Mills, is a musician now spending her time between her home place of Tipperary and west Kerry's Gaeltacht. She joins presenter Manchán Magan this week on ‘Ag Triall ar an Tobar’, a TV series that dives into the myths and legends associated with Ireland’s holy wells and asks what is it about these therapeutic landscapes that retain a presence in today’s world?

In each episode, Manchán uncovers holy wells that have been sites of worship and prayer for centuries and are still visited today for those seeking comfort and peace. Where have these rituals come from and who are the people that keep these traditions alive? Have you ever come across a holy well and wondered who else has walked on this path?

Ordnance Survey Ireland claimed there were as many as 3,000 holy wells in Ireland - more than in any other country in the world. This six-part series is a new format that fuses the exploration of Christianity and pagan customs with historical record and local knowledge to take us on a journey through some of Ireland’s undiscovered sacred places.

Manchán Magan treads through history to discover hidden secrets behind these rippled waters. He speaks of some of the customs that visitors to the well would enact, from tying ribbons to nearby trees, to circling the well clockwise three times. He also lists all the potential ailments that might find relief and treatment from the waters of the holy well. These ailments can be a cure for a herd of cattle, or a cure for dementia or bi-polar. Each ailment is as relevant today as they were back then.

Each episode in the series delves into a theme, unveiling unique stories, rituals and beliefs associated with a local holy well. From tales of saints and fairies to ancient healing practices and modern day pilgrimages, viewers will be transported into a world where spirituality, folklore and nature intertwine. Manchán takes a deeper look at the enduring relevance of these sacred sites in today’s society. He examines the reason why these places hold a special place in the hearts of the Irish people.

Holy wells in Ireland hold a unique role as symbols of Irish culture and a connection with the natural environment. These sacred wells pre-date the Christian era. Usually dedicated to saint names that still echo like Bríd, Pádraig and Colmcille, there is clear evidence that they were originally pagan sites. Where once a pagan sacrifice may have taken place, today a bride might look into the waters for good luck, or someone may come in a desperate search for a cure of an illness. Each attached to their own saints, legends and healing properties, these holy wells have been secret sites of worship and prayers for centuries, and are still visited today by those who seek the miraculous cures offered by the waters.

Each sacred well visited acts as a passage into the Earth and the Otherworld. Every culture has its own folklore and of course it’s the Irish folklore and storytelling goes way back.

Watch Cáit's visit to Tobar na Molt this Thursday on TG4 at 8pm.