A touch of Van Gogh in Ballingeary

Just back from Ballyvourney and a long an enjoyable meeting with Cornelius who is another St Gobnait aficionado. We talked for two hours fuelled by strong coffee and the most enormous scones and jam and cream. He was born and bred in Ballyvourney and St Gobnait was a large presence in his life. He's hoping to visit every site dedicated to her (like me) and would love to see a Gobnait Comino. After we parted I nipped down to the holy well and was intrigued to see it had some sort of phosphorescence going on - mega powerful. I had a quick trespass wander in the land behind the well to see how the remains of the old manse were faring - very poorly. Once a magnificent Gothic edifice, the roofs have fallen in but the porch just about remains, the windows on each side still retaining their glass.

 I then revisited another teeny well dedicated to St G in the woods nearby - a bullaun stone (manmade scoop in a rock) surrounded by quartz, cups, an Infant of Prague and perpetual candles.  Even more poignant the area around it is a cilleen - a burial ground for the unbaptised, mostly children. The site would have been carefully chosen as it is as holy as possible without actually being consecrated land. 

A visit on the way home to Gougane to take some pix of the well there - as usual a wedding was going on but it looked a small and tasteful one with a posh vintage car.

But my eye was caught by this incredibly colourful and jolly display in Ballingeary. Everything in Ballingeary is jolly and colourful but there is absolutely nobody about! 

Back home, the mist had come in and it was drizzling and Himself had painted a kitchen wall. He's a good 'un.