Well Bridie!
The expression 'Well Bridie' is the Irish modern-day distilled
format of 'Hello Brigid'. The Irish equivalent of 'Hello' is 'Conas
atá tú' which translates to 'How are you?'. The optimistic
presumption of the Irish assumes that the answer is going to be
affirmative, the expression translates to 'Are you Well?', which is
then abbreviated to simply 'Well?'.
'Bridie' is one Pet-name version of Brigid. Other variants are
Brid or Breege.
(I stand to be corrected on all of the above!)
St. Brigid’s Well at Liscannor, Co. Clare, is one of many
wells throughout the country dedicated to St. Brigid. At the
location, there is a modern statue, and to the left there is a
small ‘grotto’ where the well is housed.
Inside the grotto are many hundreds of statues, photos, holy
pictures and rosary beads etc. These are left as offerings in
thanks for favours received through the intercession of Saint
Brigid.
Many years ago there was an annual pilgrimage to the site which
took place on the day before the first Sunday in August, a date
that coincides with the ancient Festival of Lughnasa. Contemporary
writers describe how the crowds would gather in the evening to do
the ‘rounds,’ and would pray aloud at the well. Large
numbers of people would stay overnight, and in the early hours of
Sunday morning, dancing and singing took place. It was a great
religious and social occasion in the days when there was not much
to celebrate in Ireland.
The ceremony is now held on the 15th of August, the Feast of the
Assumption, and while large crowds still gather to pray there, it
is a much more sedate occasion.
St. Brigid’s Well is about 4 kilometres northwest of
Liscannor on the Doolin road, and is situated beside a tall, 19th
century monument, erected to honour Cornelius O’Brien, M.P.,
who as it happens, forced his tenants to pay for building the
monument.
The Cache
The cache is camo'd 35mm container and contains log sheet and
pencil.
Please replace as you find it.
