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326:) there is a wishing tree, where visitors to the passage tombs tie ribbons to the branch of a hawthorn tree. Loughcrew is a site of considerable historical importance in Ireland. It is the site of megalithic burial grounds dating back to approximately 3500 and 3300 BC, situated near the summit of Sliabh na Caillí and on surrounding hills and valleys.
234:, where rags are still hung on the surrounding bushes and trees. Here the well was once thought to have had the power to cure sick children who were left there overnight. The site sometimes needs to be cleared of non-biodegradable materials and rubbish such as electrical items and a venetian blind.
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At clootie wells where the operative principle is to shed the ailment, and the clootie is thought to represent the ailment, the "offerings" may be grotesque castoffs. Those that instead view the clootie as an offering to the spirit, saint or deity are more likely to tie an attractive, clean piece of
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There are local variations to the practice. At some wells the tradition is to wash the affected part of the body with the wet rag and then tie the washing-rag on the branch; as the rag disintegrates over time, the ailment is supposed to fade away as well. At some wells the clooties are definitely
237:
In the heart of
Culloden woods near the battlefield is a walled clootie well also known as St Mary's well. This well was traditionally visited on the first Sunday in May. Until recently, it was a popular holiday, with an ice-cream van situated in the car park. However, this tradition is now in
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observed that the number of clootie wells had "increased markedly" both at existing and new locations in recent years. She added that those engaged in the practice often conceived of it as an ancient "Celtic" activity which they were perpetuating.
272:) the practice is to tie the cloth and as it rots the ailment is believed to disappear. In 1894 Madron Well was said to be the only Cornish well where rags were traditionally tied. Rags have only appeared at other Cornish wells such as Alsia Well (
136:. This is most often done by those seeking healing, though some may do it simply to honour the spirit of the well. In either case, many see this as a probable continuation of the ancient Celtic practice of leaving
246:
has both offerings of coins and clooties. Rags, wool and human hair were also used as charms against sorcery, and as tokens of penance or fulfilment of a vow. A clootie well once existed at
Kilallan near
148:(or circling) of the well a set number of times and making an offering of a coin, pin or stone. Additional votive offerings hung on the branches or deposited in the wells may include
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The most popular times for pilgrimages to clootie wells, like other holy wells, are on the feast days of Saints, the
Pattern or Patron day, or on the old
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When used at the clootie wells in
Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, the pieces of cloth are generally dipped in the water of the
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144:"rags" and discards, at others, brightly coloured strips of fine cloth. In some locations the ceremony may also include
284:) in about the last 30 years. Christ's Well at Mentieth was described in 1618 "as all tapestried about with old rags".
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659:"Wishing Tree on the path to Loughcrew:: OS grid N5877 :: Geograph Ireland – photograph every grid square!"
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255:. This holy well was dedicated to St Fillan and cloth was tied to overhanging shrub branches.
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Bowman, Marion (2002). "Contemporary Celtic
Spirituality". In Joanne Pearson (ed.).
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Belief Beyond
Boundaries: Wicca, Celtic Spirituality and the New Age
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is said to the spirit of the well – in modern times usually a
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648:& L, "Ancient and Holy Wells of Cornwall, 1894, p. xxvii
632:
Rundall, Charlotte (Ed.) (1998) "The Magic of
Cornwall" in
560:"Eerie tradition or eyesore? The Clootie Well clean-up row"
68:, usually by tying them to branches of the tree (called a
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A mention of the
Clootie Well of St Curidan (Scotland)
613:
Fentynyow Kernow – In Search of
Cornwall's Holy Wells
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210:Cloths tied to a tree near Madron Well in Cornwall
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238:decline although still marked. Craigie Well at
742:Doon Well, a renowned Holy well in Co. Donegal
167:The sacred trees at clootie wells are usually
758:Video footage of Saint Queran's Clootie Well.
732:Irish Holy Wells – some with rags and ribbons
747:Irish Landmarks: The Holy Wells of Ireland
607:
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222:on the A832, is a clootie well (called in
532:. Buckinghamshire, Colin Smythe Limited.
754:Includes Holy wells and sacred springs.]
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41:Clootie tree next to St Brigid's Well,
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722:Pictures of the Clootie Well, Munlochy
704:. Aldershot: Ashgate. pp. 55–101.
699:
682:
381:, features the Munlochy clootie well.
16:Holy well or spring, usually with tree
462:Moore, A. W.; Terry, John F. (1894),
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230:) at an ancient spring dedicated to
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356:, who visited the clootie well at
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112:and then tied to a branch while a
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500:In Search of Ireland's Holy Wells
510:pp. 12–19, 27, 56–7, 66, 69, 81.
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464:"Water and Well-Worship in Man"
76:). Clootie wells are places of
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773:Archaeological artefact types
589:Holy Places of Celtic Britain
480:10.1080/0015587X.1894.9720224
422:
342:A fictional clootie well at
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160:and other symbols of faith.
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100:is a strip of cloth or rag.
7:
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346:features in the 2006 novel
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717:The Clootie Well, Munlochy
502:. Dublin, Wolfhound Press
373:, written and directed by
370:The Party's Just Beginning
530:The Holy Wells of Ireland
364:before writing the book.
611:Straffon, Cheryl (1998)
498:Healy, Elizabeth (2002)
334:In 2002, the folklorist
615:Penzance, Meyn Mamvro.
293:Oldcastle, County Meath
783:Holy wells in Scotland
528:Logan, Patrick (1980)
349:The Naming of the Dead
314:53.743299°N 7.134040°W
227:
211:
46:
34:
25:The clootie well near
818:Christian holy places
788:Holy wells in Ireland
752:The Megalithic Portal
591:. London, Blandford.
278:) and Sancreed Well (
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40:
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808:Traditional medicine
319:53.743299; -7.134040
218:, by the village of
152:, religious medals,
803:Springs (hydrology)
727:Ireland – Rag Trees
587:Sharp, Mick (1997)
549:Healy (2002) p. 19.
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140:in wells or pits.
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443:. 30 January 2022
417:Nuragic holy well
182:festival days of
175:are also common.
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80:usually found in
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793:Pilgrimage sites
778:Celtic mythology
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397:Sacred grove
379:Karen Gillan
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70:clootie tree
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51:clootie well
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683:Bowman 2002
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57:(or sacred
33:, Scotland.
767:Categories
665:6 November
636:pp. 51–52.
623:pp. 40–42.
570:26 January
447:30 January
423:References
393:, Scotland
362:Black Isle
354:Ian Rankin
302:53°44′36″N
244:Black Isle
192:Lughnasadh
78:pilgrimage
45:, Ireland.
31:Black Isle
599:. p. 172.
412:Wish tree
375:Inverness
305:7°08′03″W
289:Loughcrew
249:Kilmacolm
202:Locations
190:(1 May),
173:ash trees
132:or local
124:, but in
110:holy well
104:Practices
55:holy well
29:, on the
564:BBC News
468:Folklore
391:Culloden
385:See also
358:Munlochy
281:SW417293
275:SW393251
269:SW446328
260:Cornwall
220:Munlochy
216:Scotland
169:hawthorn
150:rosaries
128:times a
74:rag tree
27:Munlochy
798:Rituals
242:on the
196:Samhain
188:Beltane
154:crosses
130:goddess
94:clootie
63:healing
43:Kildare
619:
595:
536:
506:
266:Well (
264:Madron
184:Imbolc
180:Gaelic
114:prayer
66:ritual
59:spring
262:, at
240:Avoch
122:saint
98:cloot
90:Scots
53:is a
667:2011
617:ISBN
593:ISBN
572:2022
534:ISBN
504:ISBN
449:2022
92:, a
476:doi
360:on
352:by
258:In
251:in
214:In
116:of
96:or
72:or
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439:.
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