Rathcabbin village gets an impressive new mural focusing on St Ciaran’s Well

A LOCAL initiative by Rathcabbin Rural Development and Tidy Towns Association members has led to the unveiling of their new Village Mural last week.

This mural represents the conclusion a heritage project which the team invested much research and creative time on, from January 2024.
They applied for inclusion on a Heritage Keeper’s programme not knowing exactly where it would take them and hoping they would be successful in obtaining up to €1,000 and a little more if very fortunate.
During the academic programme and research, they invited local historian James Heenan, Lorrha, to join them and together with the support of Heritage Keepers and Burren BEO Trust hosting the two hours weekly programme over 5-6 weeks, they viewed ancient local maps, school pupil diaries and journals from the 1930’s - to take note what was topical and important at the time in the lives of locals and had many discussions to arrive at their chosen spotlight in Rathcabbin - none other, than St Ciaran’s Well itself.
It stood out to them as a Rathcabbin asset of key significance and a local hidden gem. It occurred to them that this sacred and very special place ran the risk of becoming lost of meaning in current generation and those to follow. With this, they engaged with some locals who were not on the programme and agreed it was worthy of a spotlight as a local hidden gem and acknowledgement of its place in the local heritage as a place of healing.

The project they created included a basic tidy up of the well area, an insightful tour of the well with local historian James and an important educational element for the local school to reach the youth. In addition, a key element was bringing the well to pride of place currently with a village focal point to serve as a consistent reminder of its presence.
This was very important to encourage and remind locals to visit the hidden Well, on a winding rural road about 1.5km from the village centre and for those who cannot, to have a mural of the Well as an acknowledgement and place to visit in the village centre.

Check out the Rathcabbin Rural Development facebook page for history and details on the Well. Feel free to visit the Well and the mural in person also. If you do, please note there is a local knee stone that exists a few hundred metres from St Ciaran’s Well, across the road from it at a ditch by a stream, roadside near a field gate. The Well is renowned for its healing powers connected to the eyes especially and has a beautiful sound of water following nearby. The knee stone is associated locally with healing warts.

Despite the much-appreciated funding assistance, a project like this always costs more these days than initially anticipated however the team were committed and passionate at this stage having done their research and creative work. It is fair to say that this project came to life smoothly through the belief in local initiative and support of Vincent Corcoran for offering the shed space in the village and together with the expert work of Ger Slevin bringing this space to artist pallet standard. The weather did not co-operate always and yet by mid-June 2024, Ute Rutter-Duggan, local artist had created this beautiful village mural which brings to life the importance of this local area amenity and place of historical significance for Rathcabbin Village.
The group are amazed at Ute’s stunning creation based on discussions with the members of the committee and are pleased to have captured a local fox of current times to feature along side St Ciaran at this mural.
St Ciaran was known for his love of animals, a shared love of many Rathcabbin locals. During her work on the mural, Ute was able to relay that she has had a first occurrence of meeting two badgers herself over the weeks while also in recent weeks, a fox and two cubs have been sighted in the village.

This is a true example of a project that started with little knowledge or insight from the outset and grew to become a great community initiative with superb teamwork after starting from a black canvas and began planning. There was also great learning along the way for the participants. The stories shared locally of people still present in memories has been a heartwarming bonus to the project completion.