Mayo Holy Wells Project

21/08/2025

The Irish Tourist Association (ITA) Topographical and General Survey was compiled in the early 1940s on a parish basis within each county.

The survey documents & images for each parish are now available to view from Mayo County Library at this link https://mayo.ie/Irish-Tourist-Association-Survey

29/03/2025

25/03/2025

03/03/2025

Well done to Pat Reid & to Monaghan County Council.

06/02/2025

29/01/2025

For those of you interested in the Holy Wells of County Roscommon - details in the link below 👇

Our day time seminar returns to highlight and celebrate women's contribution to Roscommon's history.

20/12/2024

Delighted to have our survey of Mayo’s Holy Wells feature as the subject of the Mayo Heritage Calendar for 2025. Published by Mayo’s heritage office, it features a selection of holy wells from across the county.
Available for free from Mayo County Council offices in Castlebar.

The Heritage Council Mayo County Library Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society North Mayo Heritage Centre Hidden Mayo History

13/11/2024

Looking forward to doing this talk on Fri 15th Nov 7pm in Knockananna.

05/11/2024

A little update for you..the Mayo Holy Wells book has been written, editing is underway and it will be available in early 2025 all going well. 🥳 What a fantastic journey it has been, almost 2 years of survey and research, 146 holy wells visited and an additional 21 holy wells rediscovered.

Thank you to heritage officer Deirdre Cunningham for her unending support. Thank you to the Mayo Heritage Forum, and to Mayo County Council and The Heritage Council for funding the project.

It has been an honour to undertake this work, it couldn’t have been achieved without my survey partner and chief bull distractor Leo Leydon! Thank you to the many landowners and custodians of these sacred places, they certainly are in safe hands. Thank you to all of those who shared their knowledge and stories, as well as the many chats and offers of tea we had along the way, the kindness shown to us has been phenomenal.

I will miss the weekend road trips around the Mayo countryside, but I have finally drawn the line in the sand in my search for Mayo’s lost wells and finish on this exceptionally beautiful blessed well at Carrowkennedy.Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann/ The National Folklore CollectionNational Monuments Service - ArchaeologytMayo County CouncillMayo Historical and Archaeological SocietydMayo County LibraryiHidden Mayo HistoryrAttymass History and FolkloreaArchaeology IrelandlLouisburgh & Killeen HeritagebNorth Mayo Heritage Centrerth

21/09/2024

For anyone in the Kilkenny area.

Are you interested in learning the skills of recording heritage features in your local community?

The Kilkenny Mass Paths & Holy Well Surveys: Heritage Recording Workshops with Marion Sutton and Pat Reid in association with Kilkenny Heritage Office takes place;
Tuesday 24th September from 4pm – 6pm at Castlecomer Library
Wednesday 25th September from 4pm – 6pm at Glenmore Community Centre