18/08/2024
Lady Well Slane 15th August 2024
A very old tradition of celebrating Lady Well on the grounds of Slane Castle Estate was enjoyed by the huge numbers who came there on August 15th.
The reasons for honouring this age old tradition were as many as the people who visited. Some had returned as they did every year.Others travelling from Donegal to Carlow read a sign advertising Lady Well and enquired how to get there while others who had lost a loved one in recent years wanted to honour their memory as was done by generations before them.
Through social media, advertising and short press articles the recently formed Parish Pastoral Assembly got the message out that Lady Well is "a piece of heaven on earth'
The community got involved, the Men's Shed provided a beautiful garden bench and a mini library. Local undertaker Peadar Farrelly's gazebo provided valuable shelter when the rain came down.
Members of the PPA kept watch from dawn to after dusk as prayers were said, hymns sang, bottles of blessed water were filled among moments of quiet reflection while reading the psalms.
The night drew to a close as prayers were said for previous generations who had gone to their eternal reward or for health reasons could not attend.
On a quiet calm dry night that celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary that holy piece of ground on the banks of the Boyne left lasting memories of a deeply spiritual experience.
