I started reading a book called The Holy Wells of Ireland. …

I started reading a book called The Holy Wells of Ireland. Apparently there are 1000s of holy wells all across Ireland. People used to do pilgrimages to these wells for all sorts of reasons. There is some superstition involved but perhaps something deeper. The ancient people of Ireland revered water in the same way they revered trees and stones. They had 'spirit'. Water is life-giving.
While the wells preceded recorded history, when religion came to Ireland it had a proliferating effect on keeping the Holy Wells lore and pilgrimage practices alive. Religion in Ireland has an interesting symbiosis with the pre-christian times.
[[irish history and lore]]