Views of St.Patrick's Well and Catsby Cave at Ballyshannon Co Donegal

Check out two of Ballyshannon's  ancient sites in beautiful and accessible locations close to town. Well worth a visit.


 Grotto at St. Patrick's Well

One of the stations that pilgrims prayed at

Tying rags  in an ancient custom

Catsby Cave at Ballyshannon

Listening to the history of the Abbey Well

Holy water font at St. Patrick's Well

Rag Tree at St. Patrick's Well Ballyshannon

Rag Tree with the Abbey bay in the background

The photographs above were taken by Pauline Kilfeather Coláiste Cholmcille on a tour I gave to students  from the local community school on 12th May 2015.

A  Local History Book suitable for those at Home and Away
"Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" reveals newly researched history and genealogy of the town, extending as far as the Rossnowlagh, Cashelard, Corlea, Clyhore, Higginstown and Finner areas. Includes the parishes of Kilbarron and Magh Ene. It contains the full story of  The Green Lady which  was recently performed in Ballyshannon  to great acclaim. The genealogy material provides detailed guidelines for anyone tracing their roots in the area or anywhere in County Donegal or Ireland. The book contains 500 pages and is richly illustrated with stunning colour, aerial photography, original illustrations and rare photographs of the area not seen before. Available in Novel Idea, Museum and Local Hands in Ballyshannon and 4 Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.

Also available from Anthony Begley for postal enquiries email anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com

Lady Gregory in Ballyshannon tomorrow night - not to be missed

Mother, socialite, folklorist, traveller, landlady, lover, writer, patron ,activist and Gaelic speaker, Lady Augusta Isabella Gregory is well known for her role as a founding member of the The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and as close friend of WB Yeats. Less public is her life as a London socialite, her interest in European architecture, the politics of her day and the fact that she spoke with a charming lisp…Tale of the Gael tells a carefully researched tale of a woman who influenced the social and literary currents of her time, and was equally influenced by them…
Often defined in terms of others, this well researched evening with Tale of the Gael presents Lady Gregory as herself. Their trademark blend of traditional music with classical overtones provide the perfect backdrop for a woman whose story is synonomous with Irish culture, but whose early experiences were colonially British and European.