NOW PROMOTED AS A WISHING WELL
NOW PROMOTED AS A WISHING WELL [IT IS IN REALITY ST ANN'S HOLY WELL]
Capturing this photograph was challenging due to the limited natural light. Although the information signs and the engaging children's tour refer to it as a wishing well, I'm not entirely convinced by this label. The absence of coins within the structure suggests that other visitors might share my scepticism.
St Ann's Well, nestled in Raheny, Dublin, was once a revered holy well. It lent its name (with a slight spelling variation) to the renowned St Anne's Park, Dublin's second-largest municipal park and former home of the Guinness family.
The well, sheltered by a protective stone hood, is situated just beyond the park's old lake, adorned with its Roman temple, and below the Watchtower folly, near the main coastal entrance.
Sadly, the well dried up in the 1950s. Despite several attempts by Dublin City Council to rediscover the water source, it remained dry as of 2021. However, the site retains its significance and was even visited in 2000 by a joint procession of worshippers from both the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes in Raheny. In early 2018, the site was carefully cleaned, the original well opening was identified, and a protective grille was installed to prevent debris from entering.
It seems I was a bit hasty in dismissing, in the past, the idea of wishing wells in Ireland! While dedicated wishing wells might be uncommon, the lines between wishing and holy wells can blur, particularly with the tradition of rag trees.
Holy wells are ancient sites deeply embedded in Irish tradition, often linked to saints or pre-Christian deities. People visited these wells for prayer, healing, and spiritual solace. Wishing wells, on the other hand, are more about folklore and superstition, with the act of tossing a coin and making a wish.
The prevalence of holy wells in Ireland, with their profound religious significance, might explain the scarcity of dedicated wishing wells. However, the practice of tying rags to trees near holy wells introduces an element of wishing. These "rag trees" served as repositories for prayers and hopes, with the rags symbolising the wishes and desires of those who tied them. In a way, this practice blended aspects of both holy and wishing well traditions.
So, while Ireland might not have many standalone wishing wells, the tradition of making wishes and offerings at holy wells, particularly through rag trees, demonstrates that the desire to connect with the spiritual realm and seek blessings is a universal human impulse, regardless of the specific label attached to the site.
Essentially, even at holy wells, people were, in a sense, making wishes, blurring the lines between the two types of wells.
Capturing this photograph was challenging due to the limited natural light. Although the information signs and the engaging children's tour refer to it as a wishing well, I'm not entirely convinced by this label. The absence of coins within the structure suggests that other visitors might share my scepticism.
St Ann's Well, nestled in Raheny, Dublin, was once a revered holy well. It lent its name (with a slight spelling variation) to the renowned St Anne's Park, Dublin's second-largest municipal park and former home of the Guinness family.
The well, sheltered by a protective stone hood, is situated just beyond the park's old lake, adorned with its Roman temple, and below the Watchtower folly, near the main coastal entrance.
Sadly, the well dried up in the 1950s. Despite several attempts by Dublin City Council to rediscover the water source, it remained dry as of 2021. However, the site retains its significance and was even visited in 2000 by a joint procession of worshippers from both the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes in Raheny. In early 2018, the site was carefully cleaned, the original well opening was identified, and a protective grille was installed to prevent debris from entering.
It seems I was a bit hasty in dismissing, in the past, the idea of wishing wells in Ireland! While dedicated wishing wells might be uncommon, the lines between wishing and holy wells can blur, particularly with the tradition of rag trees.
Holy wells are ancient sites deeply embedded in Irish tradition, often linked to saints or pre-Christian deities. People visited these wells for prayer, healing, and spiritual solace. Wishing wells, on the other hand, are more about folklore and superstition, with the act of tossing a coin and making a wish.
The prevalence of holy wells in Ireland, with their profound religious significance, might explain the scarcity of dedicated wishing wells. However, the practice of tying rags to trees near holy wells introduces an element of wishing. These "rag trees" served as repositories for prayers and hopes, with the rags symbolising the wishes and desires of those who tied them. In a way, this practice blended aspects of both holy and wishing well traditions.
So, while Ireland might not have many standalone wishing wells, the tradition of making wishes and offerings at holy wells, particularly through rag trees, demonstrates that the desire to connect with the spiritual realm and seek blessings is a universal human impulse, regardless of the specific label attached to the site.
Essentially, even at holy wells, people were, in a sense, making wishes, blurring the lines between the two types of wells.
NOW PROMOTED AS A WISHING WELL