Geoff,
I tend to run on and on and on when I start quoting reference texts, so I
only mentioned the government-issued Arch. Inv. books for the counties. The
Donegal book you mentioned is a good one. So I might as well mention some of the
others I have, which are along the same line:
The Iveragh Peninsula - An Archaeological Survey of South Kerry, Ann
O'Sullivan and John Sheehan, Cork University Press, 1996. This was an FAS project.
It has a separate chapter on Holy Wells.
Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula, Judith Cuppage et al,
Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibne, Ballyferriter, 1986. Corkaguiney is not exactly a
'hot-bed' of wells, but there are some mentioned and located. The index under "wells"
will get you there.
North Kerry Archaeological Survey, Caroline Toal, Brandon Book Publishers,
Dingle, 1995. This is also a FAS production, with a Holy Well section and a
Possible Holy Well section.
Archaeological Survey of the Barony of Ikerrin, Geraldine T. Stout, Roscrea
Heritage Society, 1984. Separate section on Holy Wells.
At the risk of boring everyone to tears, I might as well <gr> add a few more
sources I have.
History of Mayo, J.F. Quinn, Publisher - Brendan Quinn, Dublin, 1992. There
is extensive coverage of Holy Wells in Co. Mayo...dozens of them.
I am in the process of acquiring the various Diocesan histories for Ireland -
I have only 7 or 8 so far. However, three of them have good references to
various Holy Wells.
The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, J. Fahey, M.H.
Gill & Son, Dublin, 1893.
The Diocese of Limerick - Ancient and Medieval, Rev. John Begley, Browne &
Nolan, Dublin, 1906.
History of the Diocese of Ardagh, James J. MacNamee, Browne & Nolan, Dublin,
1954.
I won't bother listing the Diocesan volumes which have no references to
Wells. Just a few more references now (Even I am getting tired and bored). The
late Tom Barrington's "Discovering Kerry", Collins Press, 1976, mentions two
JRSAI articles (details in the biblio of the book) which detail 103 wells in
North Kerry and Corkaguiney.
The Book of the Burren, various contributors, Tir Eolas publisher, Galway,
1991, has a short section and good map on 43 Burren Holy Wells.
Celtic and Early Christian Wexford, Edward Culleton, Four Courts Press,
Dublin, 1999 has several dozen Wexford wells, together with related information for
each.
The Beauties of the Boyne and its Tributary The Blackwater, William R. Wilde,
1849, has separate references for Holy Wells and the routine Tobars.
I think that's about it for now.
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Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts
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