Knockanare
Well:
Knockanare Well is situated on the left
bank of the Awbeg river, about a half-mile
east of Buttevant, S.E. of
the
Ballyhoura mountains. On the
mountains Flonn Mac Cumhail and his men
spent many- a day hunting wild animals. One
day one of Fionn's men strayed from his
companies and compelled to seek the local
hospitability. He was entertained by a
local chieftain and fell in love with his
daughter. He asked her hand in marriage but
was refused. The two lovers agreed to
elope. The Chieftain hearing of this was
very angry and called his soldiers
together. The young warrior, to prove his
worth, met them at Ballyhoura, where, after
fighting heroicly, he was seriously
wounded. On the advice of the people
in the neighbourhood he bathed himself in
Knockanare well and was instantly cured.
The well is now covered up with all kinds
of bushes etc. other stories are also
recited about this well. The water from it
will not boil. Two trout are seen in it at
certain times of the year. Another
story is told about golden gates which are
supposed to be hidden at Knockanare. Fierce
fighting took place here at one time.
During the battle the wounded Irish were
taken to Knockanare well and were instantly
cured. An English general being told of the
miracles refused to believe in them.
However, his son was wounded and was taken
by some of the Irish soldiers to the
well where he was cured. Tradition has it
that the father erected golden gates near
the well because
of the great joy at the sudden recovery of
his son. The gates were taken down some
years later and hidden
in the
locality. Many attempts have been made
to get them.
