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Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts

Illustration taken from Kennedy's Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts, 1866

Image is present on following page(s): Irish Folklore: Nineteenth Century Perspectives

Cover of book entitled "Saint Moling Luachra" by Máire B de Paor

Cover of book entitled "Saint Moling Luachra" by Máire B de Paor

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Sources

Beswarragal and the man with wings

'Beswarragal and the man with wings' is an image taken from Lady Gregory's Kiltartan Wonder Book, 1910.

Image is present on following page(s): Anglo-Irish Literary Renaissance

Graves at St. Mullins

Graves at St. Mullins with church ruins in the background.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Mullins Ancient Site

Doorway at Teampall Mór, St Mullins

Close-up view of the pointed west doorway of Teampall Mór at St. Mullins. The pointing is not an original feature of the ruin but rather a later insertion. Teampall Mór or "great church" is the oldest church on this ancient site.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): The Battle of Mag Rath

Ancient Cross at St. Mullins

This is an ancient granite cross found at St. Mullins. It is thought to date from the 9th Century. The head is damaged. The cross is set in its original cylindrical base. This cross is found between the oratory and Teampall Mór.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Mullins in writings of Patrick O'Leary

Cathedral Old Leighlin

The Cathedral at Old Leighlin is said to have been built by Donatus circa 1230. It was thought to have been the successor of a wooden structure which had been destroyed by fire. It is composed of a square tower with belfry which is about 60 feet high. The walls are solidly constructed throughout. The Gothic windows vary in size and design and feature delicate tracery. The print shown here is from one published by S.Hooper in September, 1792.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Old Leighlin Antiquities

Tobar Molaise Sign

Wall plaque in celtic lettering for the Holy Well dedicated to St. Laserian also know as Molaise in Old Leighlin, County Carlow.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): The Name Laserian

Picnic area at St. Mullins

View of Picnic area situated beside the River Barrow at St. Mullins in South County Carlow. This is a popular scenic area developed in conjunction with the important ancient site associated with St. Moling.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Themes in Mad Sweeney

Sign to St Laserian's Holy Well

Directional finger post sign to St. Laserians Holy Well Old Leighlin. This Holy Well is a popular place of pilgrimage from ancient times.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Carlow Folklore

Round Tower Base at St Mullins

A view of the base of the Round Tower at St Mullins. Remains of Round Tower at St. Mullins Co. Carlow consisting of a circular base. The ruin consists of four rows of granite ashlar.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Carlow Folklore, St Mullins in writings of Patrick O'Leary

Exterior of St. Moling's Well

Exterior view in sepia of St. Moling's Well with an onlooker showing stone wall and trees. This well is a popular place of pilgrimage for local people and visitors. This photograph is one of the illustrations in St. Mullins illustrated - A Local History and the Life of St. Mullins by Patrick O'Leary from Ancient Manuscripts.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Moling's Holy Well

The Motte and Bailey at St. Mullins

This Motte and Bailey at St. Mullins dates from the Twelfth Century. It consists of a large flat-topped earthen mound, which is surrounded by a ditch or fosse. It also features a banked enclosure to one side.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Mullins Ancient Site

St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin

Old Leighlin Cathedral whose original structure was attributed to Donatus as early as 1230AD. The structure was named and dedicated to St Laserian the local patron saint. The architecture of this Cathedral dates from different periods. The nave and chancel are from the 13th Century while the transepts low crossing tower and chapel are 16th Century additions. The Cathedral is constructed from mixed rubble with dressed granite features.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Old Leighlin Antiquities, St Laserian

Teampall Mór, St Mullins

View of the Teampall Mór at St Mullins showing the pointed west doorway. It is the oldest church at St. Mullins. All that remains is a portion of the nave and chancel.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Moling

St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's wells, Ardbraccan

Excerpt from the 1938 Schools Folklore Commission notebook for Tullanghstown National School on St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's holy wells, Ardbraccan. "There are two holy wells in my parish, namely Saint Ultan's Well and Saint Brigid's Well. St. Ultan's Well is on Mr. Law's estate which is in the townland of Ardbraccan amd Saint Brigid's well is in Mr. Luke Gibney's field. St. Ultan's Well is noted for curing headaches and Saint Brigid's well is very good for toothaches. There is a pilgrimage to Saint Ultan's Well every year on the first Sunday in September and the Rosary is recited in Irish at the well." Source: Mr. Pat Coyle, Bohermeen, Navan, aged 63 years. Pupil: Agnes McCabe.

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

Image is present on following page(s): Saint Finian & Bridewells

View of River Barrow at St. Mullins

View of River Barrow at St. Mullins County Carlow. Showing wooded hillsides and picnic area with trees in the distance.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Moling

Holy well, Tullaghanogue

Holy well, Tullaghanogue

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Longwood & Trim

View of Old Leighlin

A view of Old Leighlin an important ancient site in County Carlow. Tombstones of varying periods are seen in the middle distance while in the far distance can be seen Mount Leinster in the South of the County of Carlow.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Folklore and St Laserian

St. Ciaran's Well, Castlekeeran, Kells

St. Ciaran's Well, Castlekeeran, Kells

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Keenahene & Loughan

Lady Well, Slane

Lady Well, Slane

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Navan & Slane

Votive Tree at St. Laserian's Well, Old Leighlin

A view of the votive tree with offerings from pilgrims at St Laserians well Old Leighlin also showing St. Laserians Cathedral in the background.

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): St Laserians Well

Image of St. John, St. John's Well, Warrenstown

Image of St. John, St. John's Well, Warrenstown

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

Image is present on following page(s): St. John's Well, Warrenstown

Title page of Buile Suibhne, the Irish Texts Society

Title page of Buile Suibhne, the Irish Texts Society

Carlow County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Versions & Dating of the Mad Sweeney Story

St. Ciaran's Well, Castlekeeran, Kells

St. Ciaran's Well, Kells, celebrated for its sacred trout. This drawing is from 'Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland, a folklore sketch, a handbook of Irish Pre-Christian Traditions with numerous illustrations in two volumes' by W. G. Wood-Martin , M.R.I.A., 1902. "The little stream, shown in the illustration, comes from the well, which is always bright and sparkling, and, remarks Mr. W.F. Wakeman, "Certainly, at times, contains lusty trout, whether 'enchanted' or otherwise I cannot say. Some of these fish I have seen myself, and Sir William Wilde saw them also."

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): The Holy Wells of Meath: Folklore & History

St. Columcille's Well, Kells

St. Columcille's Well, Kells

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Tara & Skryne

St. Ciaran's Well, Castlekeeran, Kells

"The great ash tree to which Sir William Wilde refers, and which is shown in early sketches, decayed and fell in the present century. Wilde refers to a curious story that about ten years earlier, that is about 1839, a report spread in the locality that the ash tree was bleeding and that thousands of people flocked to the place expecting to witness the phenomenon!...In the 1880s some restorations and improvements were carried out by the Farrell family of Castle Kieran; a protective railing was erected around the well; seats were provided and an entrance foot-bridge constructed over the little stream which flows by the roadside." Ríocht na Midhe, 1957, p.31 Castle Kieran, O'Connell, Philip, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Keenahene & Loughan

Lady Well, Killyon

Lady Well, Killyon

Courtesy of Meath County Library

Image is present on following page(s): Lady Well, Killyon

St. John's Well, Warrenstown

St. John's Well, Warrenstown

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

Image is present on following page(s): St. John's Well, Warrenstown

St. Columcille's Well, Calliaghstown

Holy well named after St. Columcille at Calliaghstown, Co. Meath.

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

Image is present on following page(s): Calliaghstown

St. John's Well, Warrenstown

St. John's Well, Warrenstown

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

Image is present on following page(s): St. John's Well, Warrenstown

The wren boys

Traditionally, the wren boys would go around to the local houses on St. Steven's day, singing songs and collecting for a party.

Courtesy of the National Folklore Collection