Holy Wells of Ireland: Sacred Realms and Popular Domains

The storied landscapes of Ireland are dotted with holy wells--hallowed springs, pools, ponds, and even lakes credited with curative powers and often associated with indigenous saints who were never officially canonized. While many of these sites have been recently lost to development, others are daily visited for devotions and remain the focus of annual community gatherings.

Encouraging both their use and protection, Holy Wells of Ireland examines these irreplaceable resources of spiritual, archaeological, and historical significance. Of the roughly 3,000 holy wells once documented across Ireland, today some attract international pilgrims and others are stewarded by a single family. The so-called Post-Catholic era has prompted renewed interest in holy wells as popular domains with organic faith traditions. Reserves of localized spiritual practices, holy wells are also ecosystems in themselves and can provide habitats for particular flora and fauna. Featuring 140 color images, this remarkable volume shares the transdisciplinary work of contributors who study these wells through the overlapping lenses of anthropology, archaeology, art history, biomedicine, folklore, geography, history, and hydrology.

Braiding community perspectives with those of scholars across academia, Holy Wells of Ireland considers Irish holy wells as a resilient feature of ever-evolving Irish Christianity, as places of pilgrimage and healing, and as threatened biocultural resources.