Just at the western edge of the village of Killybegs, up a little hill is St. Catherine's Well. The well is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria (Egypt). We have done some research into this and it seems that the well was dedicated to St. Catherine by three monks who were washed ashore at Killybegs after a bad storm. The name Killybegs in Irish is ‘Na Cealla Beaga’, meaning ’small cells’ which refers to the small cells built by monks who onced lived in the area.
It is said that the monks prayed for their safety while at sea in a heavy storm and promised that they would build a well to St. Catherine wherever they landed should they be saved. And it is is Killybegs they landed in, hence the well and the fact that St. Catherine is the Patron Saint of Killybegs.
Above the well is the ruins of the 14th century Kit's Castle and the ruins of the 15th century Franciscan Third Order Foundation and graveyard. The gates at the entrance to the path up to St. Catherine's Well were donated by the Sharkey family in honour of their late mother, Peggy.
Info cortesy of welovedonegal website.
the view from the well
Goedemorgen Bill, mooi verhaal, dit moet zeker in ere worden gehouden\
ReplyDeleteGroet Kees.
Muito interessante e aproveito para desejar uma boa semana.
ReplyDeleteAndarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Great story. First photo was made under much better weather condition but I like them.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good that in Ireland you still have Christian shrines like this.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That is a nice history about the well.
ReplyDeleteHello, it is nice to read the history of the St Catherine's Well. It is a pretty Shrine. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone still speak Celtic in Ireland, as part of daily life. I noticed when I last visited Wales many, many people were speaking Welsh.
ReplyDeleteSome older people do especially in the west part of Ireland.
DeleteHi Bill.
ReplyDeleteNice bill.
Still a climb to come up.
Look neat all out.
Greeting from Patricia.
Beautiful photos, Bill, and very interesting history.
ReplyDelete...lovely spot.
ReplyDeleteWay Cool
ReplyDeleteSuch a serene place.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a busy place in November, Bill!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great story there, Bill! Love it.
ReplyDeleteLots of good history about this well. I'm not sure why they'd put a well on a hill.
ReplyDeleteSt Catherine was one of the most important saints in the Middle Ages so I'm not surprised to see her remembered in this way. She was also the patron saint of learning so would have had a particular resonance with a community of monks.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting story. Thanks so much for the information. It's in pretty spot.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bill, for the photos of St Catherine's Well and especially for the interesting history behind it. Did I spy the castle ruins in one of those photos?
ReplyDeleteIt feels like a peaceful setting.
ReplyDeletelook green and beautiful
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting about the well and you lovely captured it along with its pretty green environment. But the ramp looks bit steep to climb
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the history that led to the building of this monument.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the story behind the pictures.
ReplyDeleteHow surprising they would go up a hill to dig a well. Perhaps there was water flowing there already? Thank you for the interesting story.
ReplyDeleteI can well imagine how those monks felt. Hope the seas near you are settling down now after Lorenzo.
ReplyDeleteNice to see your photographs and read the history about the well.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Come across the odd saits well here but they do not look like that
ReplyDeleteThe well sits in a beautiful setting. Looks like quite a climb to get up there.
ReplyDeleteFascinating history.
ReplyDeleteInteresting history to read about. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting story. Why did the monks want to build a well?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful setting though
MB
Lovely bit of history Bill, the well is in a super elevated spot for a view ✨
ReplyDeleteBill - fascinating little piece of history. Glad to see the area is being so well maintained!
ReplyDelete