Artists Statement
St Gobnait is a 6th century saint associated with healing the sick and is also considered a patron saint of bee keepers.
The remains of her monastic site can be found near Ballyvourney, in County Cork in the south of Ireland.
St Gobnait's Well is visited by pilgrims and those who are sick. People drink the water from the holy well and part of the ritual of the visit is to leave an object near the tree that stands over the well. Some of these objects have religious significance. Some have more personal meanings. Others seem to be random objects that people root out of their bags or pockets.
Whatever the significance of these rosary beads, holy statues, ribbons, scraps of cloth, toys, photographs or rusting hair clips, they all have one thing in common. They are symbols of the profound beliefs and hopes of the person who placed them there.
"Is chugat-sa thánag ag gearán mo scéil leat
Is d'iarraidh mo leighis ar son Dé ort."
"It is to you I came with my complaint (my story)
And I asked you in God's name for healing."
Prayer to St Gobnait