Chris Dundon of St. Senan's Parish came on the programme to tell us about Barrigone Blessed Well which is on the road between Foynes and Askeaton. The pagan Irish just like the pagan Romans, worshipped many Gods. Manannán Mac Lir was their God of the Sea, and each river and stream had its own particular deity (divine status).  Springs, especially strong springs in arid regions were specially venerated and to such spring the people came to worship and revere.  We can assume that the well at Barrigone was one of these revered springs to which the local people came on certain days in each of the seasons.

Time passed and in 432 A.D. St. Patrick came to our land bringing the Christian message to our pagan ancestors. He came on the Munster Mission converted and baptised Aengus, King of Munster in Cashel journeyed to Penny Well, Patricks Well, out by Eas Geitine and so to Donnaghmore, now known as Robertstown.  Like a politician at election time, St. Patrick always sought out the assembly places:- the aonach(fair), the crowd at the iománaίocht(hurling), the worshipers at the sacred shrine. We may presume  that he came to Barrigone on such an occasion with the pagan people of the Hy Fidhgente gathered at the Well.  Patrick brought them the good news and now for the first time the glistening waters were raised in the rite of Baptism and a pagan font had become a Christian Shrine – before baptising a large group Patrick would first bless the Well and hence the term ever since “The Blessed Well”.  Patrick wise man that he was would not denounce or forbid the ancient practice of Well visitation  rather would he give it a new and Christian interpretation. May we not perhaps presume too that it was here that he baptised Bulius and the men from Corca Baiscin (Co Clare) and from here sought out Mullagh Fidhne (Knockpatrick) from whence he blessed Clare and Kerry.

The name of Muirdeabhair would seem to mean “Disciple of Mary” from which we gather that he had a great love for the Mother of God. So too, had St. John the Evangalist (The Beloved Disciple) and so we begin to see the name Barraig Eoin make sense.  A famous well in Morgans is called locally “Toberawhora” obviously Tobar Mhire, or Mary’s Well. Muirdeabhair dedicated his “Barraig” to St. John in Irish “Eoin” so Barraig Eoin means “The Blessed Well of St. John.” Today the people of the Ṹi Conaill Gabhra and from far beyond come to pray the rounds on the feast of The Assumption – Lá Fhéile Mhuire so bFomhar (Our Lady’s Day in the Autumn).

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