Ballindoon Abbey (Priory)

Ballindoon Abbey aka St Mary's Priory
Ballindoon Abbey – the ruin of a Dominican Priory, aka St Mary’s Priory

Ballindoon Abbey aka St Mary's Priory

Ballindoon Abbey - Dominican Priory
Ballindoon Abbey overlooking Lough Arrow, Co Sligo, Ireland

Glenade Lake and the legend of the Dobhar-chú

Glenade Lake is where one of Ireland’s lake monsters the Dobhar-chú (Water hound) is said to have killed Grace Connolly in 1722. Her husband found her bloody body with the Dobhar-chú and killed the beast. The legend has the creature emitting a high picked shriek that summoned its mate as it died and the mate attacked the husband who fled on horseback. The Dobhar-chú gave chase and eventually the man was forced to confront the creature. There was a fierce fight ending with the slaying of the beast.

Glenade Lake

Glenade Lake where the Dobhar-chú (Dobharchú) is said to live in the deep waters

Glenade Lake

The graves of Grace and her husband can be found close to Glenade Lake in Conwal graveyard, Co Leitrim.

Dobhar-chú

On Grace Connolly’s worn grave slab is a carving of a hound like creature with its head twisted back and a hand thrusting a dagger into the neck of the Dobhar-chú.

Grace Connolly's grave
Grace Connolly’s grave slab

Dobhar-chú (Dobharchú) slayer

Her husband’s grave slab has a carving of him with dagger in hand on a horse.

Grave of Grace Connolly's husband

The grave of Grace Connolly’s husband

Conwal graveyard

Conwal graveyard

 

Carrowkeel Cairns

Carrowkeel megalithic complex on the summits of the Bricklieve Mountains comprised of fourteen passage tombs from 3400 to 3100 BC

Carrowkeel Cairn G

Carrowkeel Cairn G aligns with sunset on the summer solstice

Carrowkeel Cairn G

Lightbox above the entrance of Carrowkeel Cairn G which aligns with sunset on the summer solstice.

 Carrowkeel Cairn G

Carrowkeel Cairn G inside the chamber

Carrowkeel Cairn H
Carrowkeel Cairn H also aligns with sunset on the summer solstice

Carrowkeel Cairn H
Carrowkeel Cairn H

Carrowkeel Cairn H entrance
Carrowkeel Cairn H the entrance

Carrowkeel Cairn K
Carrowkeel Cairn K

Carrowkeel Cairn K entrance
Carrowkeel Cairn K the entrance

St Patrick’s Well and Shaver’s Well

St Patrick’s Well (Tobar Phadraig) and Shaver’s Well (Tobar An Bherrtha)

St Patrick's Well and Shaver's Well sign
The sign for St Patrick’s Well and Shaver’s Well, Bunduff, Co Leitrim, Ireland

St Patrick's Holy Well
St Patrick’s Holy Well

Shaver's Holy Well by the sea
Shaver’s Holy Well is a short distance away by the sea

Shaver's Holy Well

Prince Connell’s Grave

Corracloona Court Tomb aka Prince Connell's Grave
Corracloona Court Tomb aka Prince Connell’s Grave, Co Leitrim, Ireland

The court of Prince Connell's Grave
The court of Prince Connell’s Grave

Prince Connell's Grave
The tomb as viewed from the North

Kennel-hole entrance stone at Prince Connell's Grave
“Kennel-hole” entrance stone


The sign for Prince Connell’s Grave

St Colmcille’s Abbey

St Colmcille's Abbey
St Colmcille’s Abbey, Gartan, Co Donegal, Ireland

St Colmcille's Abbey
The site is reputed to be the birthplace of St Colmcille

St Colmcille's Abbey

Ancient cross
The remains of an ancient cross on a small mound

ancient cross

ancient cross
The remains of the other cross

Holy Well
The Holy Well at the entrance to the site

Holy Well

The flagstone of loneliness

The flagstone of loneliness
Leac na Cumha –  The flagstone of loneliness, Co Donegal, Ireland. St Colmcille is said to have slept on this ancient cup-marked stone before his exile to Iona.

Ancient megalithic tomb
Ancient megalithic site…

St. Colmcille's Birthplace
rebranded as St. Colmcille’s Birthplace by a large cross and stone plaque

Old Conwal Graveyard

Old Conwal Graveyard pillars
Old Conwal Graveyard, Co Donegal, Ireland

Conwal decorated pillar

Decorated pillar

Crude figure

Crude figure on stone

Celtic cross carved grave slab

Celtic cross and knot work on grave slab

Crude carved cross slab

Cross on large grave slab

St Deirbhile’s Holy Well

St Deirbhile's Holy Well
St Deirbhile’s Holy Well, Belmullet, Co Mayo, Ireland

St Deirbhile's Holy Well
An annual pilgrimage takes place around 15th August

The story of St. Dairbhile goes something like this… born of a noble family of Meath she travelled to the Mullet peninsula to escape a noble suitor. However, she was followed, and gouged out her own eyes to make herself less attractive. When her horrified Prince left, she washed her eyes in the waters of a well that sprung from where they had fallen and her sight was restored.

St Deirbhile's Holy Well

Bective Abbey

Bective Abbey
Bective Abbey, Co Meath, Ireland

Bective Abbey
Bective Abbey was founded in 1147 for the Cistercians by Murchadh O’ Melaghin, King of Meath and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin

Bective Abbey
The Cloister