I’d like to talk today about the Patron Saint of Baile Bhuirne, Naomh Gobnait. I am by no means a religious person, but this character is fascinating & i respect those that do venerate her.
Patron Saint = Éarlamh

This 6th century Saint is said to have been born in Co. Clare . Lore suggests she was visited by an Angel who told her to seek out a place where she will see 9 white deer grazing, and to settle there.

Along the way she spent time in Inis Oírr, Dún Chaoin & various other places before ending her quest upon finding 9 white deer (Fia Bán) in Baile Bhuirne (In my life i have seen many deer here, but no white Deer as yet, although they can be found at Mallow Castle Demesne)

Along with her brother St.Abán, she set up the Convent & church in Baile Bhuirne where the local Graveyard (Relig Ghobnatan)is now situated.
As a side note, the local National School & football team are named after Naomh Abán)

It is built close to the territorial boundaries between Múscraige Mittine and Eóganacht Locha Léin, two of the local kingdoms. I think this was good political practice for the time. Trying to stay in with both sides. pictured is one of the 2 Holy wells on site (Tobar Ghobnatan)

Her feast day is celebrated on 11th of February, & a ritual station, known as the Round or Turas Ghobnatan is performed at the Graveyard. The place has eventually thus become known colloquially as 'The Round' (Pictured is her supposed grave, one of the stops on the Round)

One practice on her feast day is to take 'The Measure' or 'Tomhas Ghobnatan'.An oak statue of Gobnait dated to approx 1200s is displayed. People bring lengths of ribbon to measure along the statue lengthwise,around her neck, waist & feet. The ribbon is then kept to cure illness

I remember being told my great grandmother demonstrated this for RTÉ in the 70s, but i've not been able to find footage
Dúradh liom go raibh mo shin-seanmháthair ar cheann do na daoine áitiúla a léirigh é seo do RTÉ sna 70idí, ach níor éirigh liom é a aimsiú

Bees were important in Medieval Ireland, so much so that there's a tract in the Brehon laws about them called 'Bechbretha'. Gobnait is also associated with bees. One story goes that she drove off an annoying neighbour who stole her cattle by releasing her swarm of bees at him.

Another story mentions a guy who tried to build nearby where Coláiste Iosagáin now stands. Gobnait wasn't happy about it. He would build every day & then every night she would throw a metal ball (similar to a cannon ball)knocking his work forcing him to begin again the next day.

Planning enforcement in the Middle ages eh?
Forfheidhmiú pleanála sna Meánaoiseanna, eh?
Nó b'fhéidir gníomhaiochtai ina choinne
That Ball is still visible in Reilig Ghobnatan, ensconced in the wall of the medieval church. It is said to have curative properties. (Pictured)

One of the most famous stories about her is Gobnait & an Gadaí Dubh. It tells of a robber coming to her convent and stealing in the middle of a dark foggy night. He made his getaway as quickly as he could by horse, (Pictured, the head of an Gadaí Dubh)

...but as it was so foggy he had no idea until morning that she had charmed his horse, and that it had spent hours just running around & around the church, so that she was able to catch the exhausted & bewildered man in the morning

The image of the Gadai Dubh's head (or so it's said) can be seen on the inside of the Medieval Church (the church that i previously mentioned had its roof removed to spite Cromwellian soldiers)
This same church has a small Sheela na Gig visible just above one of the windows

An archaeological Dig (Tochailt seandálaíochta) in the 1950's yielded many finds, particularly associated with industrious activities, not uncommon in Convents & Monasteries in the Middle Ages. A lot of evidence seems to link the site to Smithy works.

Indeed the structure we now call Gobnait's kitchen or Gobnait's House is thought to have been a place of minor industry most likely relating to ironworks, with evidence of a furnace being found nearby.

Interestingly, historian/Folklorist Ronald Hutton noted the similarities between the name Gobnait & Gobhniú - Tuatha de Dannan God of the forge. I'm not sure is the suggestion then that, she didn't exist, or her name was changed to suit this link, or that it was a coincidence?

In 1950, a statue by the famous Cork sculptor Séamus Murphy was erected. This beautiful statue is still there & features many little elements of her stories, the deer, the bees, the ball etc. It stands next to 'Gobnait's House'.

Whatever your beliefs, This in my opinion is one enduring lady, real or not. Her image appears beautifully in the windows of both Gúagán Barra Oratory and in the exquisite Harry Clarke stained glass windows (fuinneoga daite) of the Honan Chapel in @UCC_Official

Her legacy can be seen everywhere in the area. The Secondary School is Colaiste Ghobnatan, There's a local committee called Mná Ghobnatan, a hotel called Ostán Ghobnatan, a brewery called 9 White Deer which makes a beer called 'Fia Bán', a bookshop called 'an Gadai dubh' & more

Not to mention all the Gobnaits & Abbeys around the place.

The second holy well is a little down the road, and has a Wishing tree next to it. I love this place. Would like to have taken a better photo, but did not want to intrude too much on the offerings left by people, as this is such a personal thing.

Tá an tobar eile beagánin síos an bhóthar ón Relig freisin & crann beannaithe in aice leis. Is breá liom é