St Gobnait’s, Ballyvourney: 11th Feb 2013

St Gobnait, who is venerated at different sites in the south of Ireland, has her feast day on 11th February. St Gobnait’s house and holy well in Ballyvourney, Cork, is one of the main sites of devotion associated with the saint. On the feast day or pattern day, people come to do the rounds and visit the well. The site located just outside the village is very well maintained an attracts visitors throughout the year.

Pilgrims praying in the rain at the statue of St Gobnait

The grave of St Gobnait which is a focus of devotional activity. It is a station on the rounds and people frequently leave votive offerings here.

Looking down on the pilgrimage site from beside the statue. One of the wells is in the foreground, with the grave in the middle ground to the right and the old church, which is also part of the rounds, is in the background.

St Gobnait’s Well which is adjacent to the graveyard; it is the final station on the rounds

Audio Recording: 

A recording at St Gobnait’s Holy Well Ballyvourney Cork on 11th Feb 2013, the feast day of the saint. The recording captures the lifting a cup form above the well, taking up some water, drinking some, returning the water, the ambient sound in the well structure and returning the cup.

Video showing the holy well: 

Locating the Site: 

Further reading: 

Checkout Pilgrimage in Medieval Ireland‘s comprehensive blogpost on St Gobnait’s.