The verdant landscape of Ireland is dotted with holy wells-small springs, pools, and ponds that hold spiritual and often curative meaning to locals. Sadly, many of these sites have been lost to development, despite being associated with daily devotions and indigenous saints never canonized by the Catholic Church.

To celebrate and protect the wells that remain, Holy Wells of Ireland examines these irreplaceable resources of spiritual, archaeological, and historical significance. Of the roughly 3,000 holy wells documented across Ireland, about a third are still visited; some attract international pilgrims and others are stewarded by a single family. This sense of spiritual tradition draws younger Irish generations to the wells even when they no longer consider themselves practicing Catholics. Holy wells are also home to flora and fauna deemed sacred to their patron saint and instrumental in their waters' curative powers. Featuring 140 color images, this remarkable volume shares the interdisciplinary 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.

About the Author

Celeste Ray is Professor and Chair of Anthropology and Environmental Arts & Humanities at Sewanee: The University of the South. She is author of The Origins of Ireland's Holy Wells and of Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South. She is editor most recently of Sacred Waters: A Cross-Cultural Compendium of Hallowed Springs and Holy Wells.

Finbar McCormick is a retired Senior Lecturer from the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen's University Belfast. He is author (with Aidan O'Sullivan, Thomas R. Kerr, and Lorcan Harney) of Early Medieval Ireland, AD 400-1100: The Evidence from Archaeological Excavations and (with Emily Murray) of Knowth and the Zooarchaeology of Early Christian Ireland.

Reviews

"Deeply rooted in the rich cultural and natural heritage of Ireland, Holy Wells of Ireland celebrates the sacred allure of our holy wells, shedding light on the spiritual, historical, archaeological and ecological significance of these cherished sites. Through the lenses of various disciplines, the contributors unveil the profound connections between faith, pilgrimage, and the preservation of our natural environment. With contributions from a diverse group of experts, this comprehensive exploration offers a multidisciplinary perspective on the significance of holy wells in Irish life and identity. From their spiritual and historical importance to their role in preserving biodiversity, Holy Wells of Ireland serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of holy wells and the urgent need to safeguard the vital elements of our precious biocultural resources."-Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland

"A deep dive into Ireland's divine waterholes, sacred springs, and mystical hydro-portals, this book will change how you regard and experience the landscape of Ireland. Like a powerful well, it bubbles with insights, theories, and fables about these watery realms and therapeutic refuges."-Manchan Magan, author of Listen to the Land Speak

"In pre-Christian times, sacred wells were considered to be a portal to the underworld and the trees that grew beside them a bridge between the earth and the heavens. This book is a magnificent homage to this ancient respect which lingers to this day."-Eanna Ni Lamhna, author of Our Wild World

Book Information
ISBN 9780253066688
Author Celeste Ray
Format Hardback
Page Count 448
Imprint Indiana University Press
Publisher Indiana University Press