The annual novena at St Fanahan’s Holy Well in Mitchelstown will start on Sunday week, November 17 and will continue for nine days, culminating in the Saint’s feast day, November 25.

While many locals will know the legend of St Fanahan, newcomers to the area and younger people might like to learn that St Fanahan’s Day was revered by the people of Mitchelstown down through the centuries.

Fanahan is thought to have been the son of a petty Ulster chieftain who was exiled from his native province and came south to Munster with his family, where Fanahan was born. After returning to his native Munster he was granted land in the present townland of Brigown where he founded a monastery. The old people had massive devotion to St Fanahan and his holy well is credited with so many cures. To this day, people still take the water away in bottles. There are many stories from older people of pilgrims who came to the well on crutches and walked away claiming to be cured.

As in other years, the path to the well will be lit by electricity, thanks to Michael White Electrical Contractor.

We would appeal to the public to come out and visit St Fanahan’s Well at Brigown and help keep alive the tradition that our parents and grandparents respected so much.

See details in next week’s issue of The Avondhu regarding Mass and Rosary at the well.