Talk to focus on holy wells

PENANCE, Pilgrimage and Pleasure – The Holy Wells of the Burren, an illustrated talk by David Drew and Tony Kirby with images by Karin Funke, takes place at the Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan on Thursday, May 30.
The event is organised by the Burrenbeo Trust, as part of the Burren in Bloom Festival. Beginning at 8.30pm, the evening is dedicated to the region’s most enigmatic field monument, the holy well.
David and Tony have documented the hydrology, material heritage and folklore of 20 holy wells in the region, while Karin has photographed all the monuments. The three of them will present interim findings from their research project.
Other sections of the evening will be dedicated to votive offerings, circumambulation/turas, cursing stones, imprint sites, saint’s beds, well dedications, landscape context of wells, penitential stations and the richness of the Burren region as a pilgrimage landscape. There will also be a projection of the film of the poem Saint’s Bed; Rag Tree; Holy Well.
David formerly lectured on hydrology in Trinity College, Dublin, while Tony is the author of The Burren and the Aran Islands, A Walking Guide. Karin has been taking pictures since she was 12 years of age and is involved with the BurrenBeo conservation volunteers.