St Brigid/Bridget’s Well: Liscannor, Co Clare

St. Bridget’s Well is along the Liscannor Road on the way to the Cliffs of Moher. It’s not well marked, but is a lovely stop. There’s a beautiful, life-sized statue of St. Bridget that you can see from the Road on your left as you head to Doolin. It’s a very moving experience to go into the small enclosure and see the mementos folks have left in thanks for favors granted and favors requested. There is a kneeling pad beside the well, so you can get some of the holy water. A brief, but wonderful stop!

• Wikipedia: St Brigid’s Well
• University of North Carolina: St Brigid’s Well
• Blather.net: Return to St Brigid’s Well (beautiful photo essay)

Editor’s Note: The stairs at the holy well lead up to the Corney O’Brien Monument (the same guy who built O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher). Until we get a post up about that monument, here’s the scoop: Two stories exist about Corney. One says the “beloved” Protestant landowner refurbished the holy well after he was cured from the waters there. The other says he was mean and greedy, and the well was refurbished by tenants who were forced to build the monument to the man they “detested.” Not sure who to believe on this one. — CT

Contributed by Joanne Bryers
Joanne’s love of Ireland began as a very little girl as she heard stories from her paternal grandparents who emigrated to the US in 1912. Her grandmother was supposed to be on the Titanic, but she missed the sailing because she was being “waked”! Her eleventh trip to Ireland is scheduled for this fall, and she making plans to bring her grandchildren to Ireland soon.

Photo Credits: By + Alan via Flickr and Mark Waters via Flickr