Eileen Magnier, North West Correspondent, RTÉ with cameraman John McMorrow at Doon Well (near Kilmacrennan) filming part of the feature on the survey of holy wells to be broadcast on Good Friday on RTÉ 1 at 7 p.m.
A total of 26 missing holy wells across Donegal have been rediscovered in a survey carried out in recent months.
The wells will be featured on Nationwide, RTÉ 1 on Good Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m.
The programme will outline the results of the survey of holy wells commissioned by County Donegal Heritage Office, Donegal County Council and the County Donegal Heritage Forum as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.
“Holy wells are sites of heritage, historical, cultural, folklore, religious and spiritual significance and they are viewed with affection by many communities,” explained Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.
“What many people don’t realise is that holy wells and their surroundings are also archaeological monuments protected under the National Monuments Acts. At the start of this survey, we knew of the existence of 164 holy wells in County Donegal. Of these, there were 43 holy wells of which we didn’t know the exact location. The survey helped to establish the location of 26 of the 43 ‘missing’ holy wells and also recorded a further 16 holy wells that were previously unrecorded.”
Last year, John Cronin & Associates were commissioned to undertake a selected survey of the material heritage of holy wells in the county and the collection of folklore and traditions associated with them. The survey was funded by Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.
Eileen Magnier, North West Correspondent with RTÉ, visited some of the holy well sites featured in the survey and spoke to local people about the heritage importance and cultural significance of holy wells.
Holy wells featured in the RTÉ Nationwide programme include Doon Well (perhaps the best known holy well site in the county); a holy well in Coillte woodland in Drumboe near Stranorlar; St. Catherine’s Well in Killybegs; Tobar Chnapostuin (a fairy well) in Muckros; St. Ciaran’s Well in Shalwy near Kilcar; St. Cartha’s Well in Kilcar; and St. Colmcille’s Well in Gleann Cholm Cille.
The survey of holy wells in County Donegal will be published later this spring and there will be a public presentation on the survey findings.
If you would like to find out more about the survey of holy wells in County Donegal, consult the County Donegal Heritage Office website at www.donegalcoco.ie/heritage and if you would like to find out where the known holy wells are in your area, consult the National Monuments Service website at www.archaeology.ie