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Welcome to St. Cooey's Wells in this pictureseque and quiet part
of the Ards peninsula. A inscribed stone at the wells give a small
history:
"Founded in the 7th Century by St. Cooey from Knockinelder. He
died in 731 Abbot of Movilla, Ards. The Church was pillaged at
times by the Norse pirates. Rebuilt in the 12th Century it served
the district in the persecution and attracted pilgrims up to 1912
and 1928 to tthe Holy wells and Penance stone. Local gifts of land
and labour in 1977 preserve Temple Cooey. "
The site is well (forgive the pun) maintained and access isn't
too bad. Once you arrive at the car park you can either walk down
some steep steps or use the ramp.
At the foot of the hill you first encounter a small graveyard and a
modern altar. The alter stands within the foundations of a very
small and presumably very early church. To the east of the church
next to the path are three healing pools in a stream. These are
marked Wash, Eyes and Drink. I suppose
this must mean that each little station is known as a cure for
different ailments, similar to the holy wells at Struell Wells.
If you follow the path from these wells down to the shoreline
through the saltmarshes you reach two stones (if the tide is in as
it was on my visit you may have to risk leaving the path as it does
get covered by the sea.) I think these standing stones may be the
penance stones that are mentioned on the sign.
Beyond these stones there are lots of sea filled hollows and craggy
rocks in the sea. This is a place with a definite magic about
it.
Below is a link to a short radio segment which describes the
unique atmosphere of this special place. You will need
Real Player to listen to it. Also a poem which I found:
Radio Ulster's "This Place" January 2004
The Road to Cooey's Wells
There's a place that haunts my memory, that always seems to
stay,
Since I first sought St.Cooey's Wells, one holy Sabbath day,
I trudged the rugged pathway, through woodland hills and
dells,
To seek a cure from those waters pure, that flows from Cooey's
Wells.
As I try to pace this awful place, all sinking in
decay,
A lone skylark accompanied me that lovely summers day,
Where no brain of man had thought to plan, no human hands had made
it,
Like the endless sea t'was wild and free, as Mother Nature made
it.
I crossed the rusty bogland, and tramped through field and
fallow,
With many an unseen pitfall set, through water deep and
shallow,
Now twenty years have long since gone, since first I made my
way,
My footseps are unsteady now, my hair is turning grey.
Since I first sought this place divine, and crossed the hills
anddells,
And trudged that rugged pathway, to St Cooey's Holy Wells,
Today I've wandered back again, as I have often done before,
And again I stand on this barren land by the lonely windswept
shore.
This place still haunts my memory, since first I made my
way,
My footsteps are more feeble now, as here I stand today,
No rugged footpath have I crossed, nor climbed the hills and
dells,
For the new roadway I've trod to reach the Holy Wells.
Now I write this lay in tribute, this message to convey,
To those gallant men who toiled so hard, this new roadway to
lay,
So let us sing their praises high, they toiled but not to
gain,
And I believe what they achieved a symbol shall remain.
To the old and young, and everyone, that helped in any way,
We cannot thank them as we should, but we for them can pray,
At last not least our Parish Priests no effort did they spare,
In their devoted way they helped to lay that new made roadway
there.
Now I thank the Lord for every word he gifted me to pen,
Who gave light this day to write to praise those gentlemen,
When memories old our minds unfold throughout the coming
years,
Remember them of whom I pen, those gallant Volunteers.
William McCarthy
Directions:
Leave Portaferry by the Shore Road with the Strangford Narrows on
your right. Follow this road(Now the Barr Hall Road) for
approximately 4 Miles and you will see a small lane on your right
(N54 21.032 W005 30.288), there are also some small stone signs
indicating the wells at the entrance. Follow the lane which will
take you to the car park. Enjoy!
The Cache:
The cache is a medium sized
tab-lock tuperware container wraped in a black plastic
bag. |