As part of National Heritage Week 2024, an exhibition, short film and story map ‘Customs & Cures: Roscommon’s Holy Wells’ were launched recently in the County Library in Roscommon. The project was funded by the Heritage Council and Roscommon County Council, as an action of County Roscommon Heritage Plan. All were welcomed to the event by Cllr. Marty McDermott. Tamlyn McHugh of Fadó Archaeology gave an overview of the audit of all holy wells in the county. Jim Ganly from County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society carried out the launch.
Holy wells are sites of heritage, cultural and religious interest and significance. The traditions, oral heritage and customs surrounding our holy wells is a very important aspect of our intangible cultural heritage. It is important to collect and collate the customs and traditions relating to our holy wells before this information before it is lost. This is an invaluable body of research.
Work on this project started last year with a talk at Ogulla Well for Heritage Week. Over 40 submissions from the public were received. Heritage Officer Nollaig Feeney said: “Information from the public was hugely important to the project and we owe a great debt of gratitude to everyone who shared their information so generously. We also thank members of County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society for their help and support with this project“.
The exhibition is in Roscommon Library until 31st August. It gives an overview of the tradition of Holy Wells; the locations, setting and types of Holy Wells, the archaeology features; the saints, pattern day and ritual of Holy Wells, the cures and folklore of Holy Wells and where you can get further information. The short film is available to watch here on the Roscommon County Council Youtube page. The story map contains the full survey data on each well surveyed. This can be accessed on the Roscommon County Council website. The short film and story map are also currently available as digital projects on www.heritageweek.ie
