First Mass in 300 years at Banteer well draws huge interest
IT was an emotional and very special occasion for the people of Banteer when Mass was celebrated for the first time in approximately 300 years at the Mass rock and Holy Well in Fermoyle by local PP Fr William Winter.
A large crowd from Banteer parish and surrounding areas turned out for the event.
The Holy Well is reputed to have healing properties and local folklore recounts how in the distant past a blind stone mason had his eyesight restored after praying at the Well, and subsequently carried out the lovely stonework that surrounds it.
Up to September 2015 the Well was practically inaccessible and Con O’Sullivan of IRD Duhallow, who supervised the refurbishment project, told The Corkman how IRD workers along with local volunteers undertook the mammoth task.
“We started clearing the area around the well in mid-September 2015 by chopping up all the fallen and dangerous trees.
“We then went on to clear the pathway up from the road as it was unsafe and overgrown,” Con said.
The workers dug out a path up the mountain to facilitate a four concrete block wide pathway all the way up to the well and Mass rock. “It was tough going at times getting out tree-roots and some big rocks, and humps also had to be leveled,” Con explained.
“The first 300 or so blocks were taken up by hand and on shoulders, and then placed into position.”
Pat Twomey of the organising committee thanked all who helped to make this a beautiful tranquil shrine where local people can visit and pray for generations to come. • When images of the Mass were posted on Facebook they received over 3,000 views within a matter of days.