A LABOUR of love has resulted in hundreds of Clare’s holy wells being documented and surveyed, with their details to be made available online. 

The Clare Holy Wells Project, supported by Clare County Council and funded by The Heritage Council and Creative Ireland, will be formally launched via Zoom on St Brigid’s Day, Tuesday, February 1 at 7pm. The event will celebrate the efforts to survey and document 237 holy wells in Clare.

In recent years, surveyors Michael Houlihan and Tony Kirby produced a fascinating survey of a part of local heritage that holds a special place in the hearts of many Clare people. For the first time, information on all of Clare’s known holy wells is gathered in one place. The webpage can be searched by region, as well as alphabetically. Maps, photographs and detailed information bring the stories of these wells alive.

“Local knowledge was crucial during the survey and many people responded to requests for information,” said Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor PJ Ryan. 

Clare Heritage Officer, Congella McGuire agreed that support from the public was vital. “Holy wells are usually located in quiet and beautiful places but are often also remote,” she said. “

The surveyors Michael Houlihan and Tony Kirby often needed assistance from local people to locate them, as they visited all 237 known holy wells in Clare. We’d now like people to consult the website, where all the findings are collated. We would love to get feedback, further information, and even more local stories from the public. The website is a dynamic resource and we will continue to add to it.”

The online launch is open to all. Those planning to attend are asked to email clareholywells@gmail.com and a Zoom link will be sent to closer to the date.

The Clare Holy Wells project can be viewed online here.