Another magical day
With over 60 people turning out yesterday to walk with Donncha O Duailing to St Brigid's Well, in aid of the Bothar charity, the event was deemed a substantial success.
If it wasn't the largest crowd in the series of Holy Well walks, an idea of the veteran RTE broadcaster which was initially greeted with some scepticism by the station's producers but has since literally 'got legs' and is strongly increasing awareness throughout the country of Bothar's work, it was one which showed a strong level of enthusiasm.
The walk took in New Abbey Cemetery, where Nessa Dunlea of Kilcullen Heritage Group outlined the history of the Portlester family and the 'altar table' gravestone which is one of the important monuments in the locality.
Jim Collins then spoke about the 'mass path' which the walkers would use to get to St Brigid's Well in The Valley Park, and recalled how a previous owner of the New Abbey estate, Ken Urquhart, had formally incorporated the traditional right of way of the path across the land.
At the well itself, Jim Collins detailed its history and how the Valley Park had been developed around it. Fr Michael Murphy PP then gave a special St Brigid's blessing to all present.
Local writer Pauline Fagan provided some detail on Brigid, a 'person of great compassion' whose persona had predated the Christian saint. Afterwards some of those present recalled their childhood memories of the well, including Miriam McDonnell who talked about its reputation as a cure for eye ailments.
Donncha, who recorded the proceedings for broadcast on a future 'Failte Isteach' programme on Radio 1, concluded the afternoon with some anecdotes about his holy wells odyssey, quipping that it could take him into the 'middle of the next century' to complete, as holy wells were 'springing up all over the place' since the adventure had commenced. Skoda Ireland is providing him with a Roomster car for the project.
All repaired afterwards to the Heritage Centre for tea, and many stayed to join those who were attending the special performance of 'Poets in Paradise' in the adjoining theatre, presented also for the Bothar cause.
'Poets in Paradise', written originally for the Kilcullen celebration of the Millennium, was performed by the usual suspects. Bernard Berney had the part of Percy French, Maurice O'Mahony was Patrick Kavanagh, Vivian Clarke played Brendan Behan and James Healy performed a suitably poncey William Butler Yeats who was nevertheless well able to seduce his guardian angel in Heaven, played and sung by Philomena Breslin.
All in all, the whole afternoon and evening was one of those special occasions in the never-ending story of Kilcullen, and the people who might meet with us. The magic of life in our town continues. And a slide show of the people who took part in this most recent magical event can be seen here.
Brian Byrne.
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