Mapping the Holy Wells of Leitrim: New project calls on local volunteers
Leitrim County Council has launched a new project with Archaeology Plan to survey and document the county’s holy wells, with volunteers invited to help record history and traditions.
A new project is being launched to document and record the holy wells of Leitrim. These sites, rich in heritage and cultural significance, have long been an important part of the Irish landscape.
Moreover, they are still places where long-held traditions continue to be practised, and where religious faith finds expression.
The project has been launched by Sarah Malone, Heritage Officer with Leitrim County Council. It will be conducted on behalf of the County Council by the heritage consultancy firm Archaeology Plan.
The project will survey and assess the holy wells sites of Leitrim, recording their features, and their current condition, as well as attempt to identify the location of any missing holy wells.
Furthermore, with the help of the volunteers, it will seek to gather local lore, history and traditions associated with these important heritage sites, and record it for posterity.
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At present, there are 44 holy wells recorded as archaeologically protected sites for County Leitrim.
It is believed, however, that there are more holy well sites in the county, some of which have slipped out of popular use but still merit recording.
Survey work and research will be carried out over the summer and autumn of this year, and it is planned to present findings in late October.
Also, as part of the survey, a holy well themed event, open to the public, will be held during Heritage Week in August.
Archaeology Plan and Sarah Malone are also looking for persons in Leitrim to volunteer to participate in this countywide survey. This will give the people of Leitrim a chance to contribute to the preservation and protection of their own local heritage.
Volunteers will be offered training in archive and online data collection, as well as in oral history collection, and will have the opportunity to contribute information to the survey.
Anyone wishing to be a volunteer, or to contribute to this project, is invited to contact Sarah Malone by email, at [email protected] or Archaeology Plan’s liaison, John Cronin, at [email protected].