Finally I am almost finished the updated version of Michael’s book Behold Aherlow. Titled Behold Aherlow Revisited, this new edition features about 20% new content – most of it written by Michael. There are new photos and images and the addendum has been completely rewritten. I aim to publish a printed and digital copy (Google Books, Amazon Kindle) of the book. If you are interested in a copy and have not already been in contact, please send me an email. We will be having a small book launch event during the summer. Details will be posted here.
Referenced in his book Behold Aherlow, Michael writes about St. Pecan’s Well in Aherlow, a place of spiritual significance and historical importance. Located in the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary, Ireland, this well has been a site of pilgrimage for hundreds of years.
Legend has it that St. Pecan, an early Christian monk, built a monastery in the area during the 6th century. He was known for his healing powers, and many people came to him seeking his help. One day, a woman asked him to heal her sick child, and St. Pecan prayed and miraculously cured the child. The grateful mother brought water from a nearby spring and gave it to St. Pecan to drink. He blessed the water, and it became a source of healing for others. The well that emerged from the spring was named after St. Pecan, and it became a place of pilgrimage.
Over the centuries, St. Pecan’s Well has become a site of great spiritual importance. People from all over Ireland come to the well to pray for healing, guidance, and blessings. The water is believed to have healing properties, and many people have reported being cured of ailments after drinking from the well.
The well is also associated with many Irish myths and legends.
Today, St. Pecan’s Well is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The well is located in a beautiful, tranquil spot, surrounded by trees and wildflowers. Visitors can drink from the well, leave offerings, and pray for healing and blessings.
When Sarah O’Neill reached the summit of Mt.Kilimanjaro, Tanzania on 29th August 2011, she became the youngest girl from Bansha to do so, the youngest girl from Ireland to do so’ but glory of glories at eleven years of age, she became the youngest girl in the world to reach this unbelieveable goal. Having heard a talk in February of that year on the subject matter, Sarah and her mother Sinead decided they would have a go and immediately commenced a very tough training schedule.
Sarah, though involved in the usual National School activities, had never done any mountain climbing. All that had to change and the Spring and Summer months saw Sarah on the Galtees, the Commeraghs, Carrauntoohill and many others including Slievenamon in the dark to prepare her for the night ascent at Kilimanjaro. A very fit mother and daughter team commenced the climb on the 25th August.
The Mount of Kilimanjaro consists of three extinct volcanoes, one of which is Mount Kibo. The highest summit on Kebo’s crater rim is Uhuru Peak, it is the highest point in Africa and five days later, behold, Sinead and Sarah O’Neillfrom Bansha standing on the Peak and proudly waving the Tipperary flag.
To put their achievement into context, Uhuru Peak is 19,341 ft. high, almost six and a half times the height of Galteemore. In addition, a recent survey undertaken by the Kilimanjaro National Park, showed that only 30 per cent of trekkers reach the summit of Uhuru, but our brave, couragaous Sarah from the sixth class in Bansha’s National School made it. We salute her and her mother Sinead. The memory of their achievement will long live in Bansha and far beyond.
Behold Aherlow 