St Gobnait. Early 6th cent. Descent - Connaught, Leinster or (laigin) southern. Venerated 'is name in seven places and rounds performed including Bruree in LImerick, South Kerry, Kilgobnait in Kerry (?). Ballyvourney is 8th place. Ballyvourney chosen for convent for here she found seven round tower in Ballyvourney near old chapel.
Two days at Ballyvourney - Febr 11th (Gobnats Natal Day and Whitsunday (tradition is silent of latter) 11th Febr 11th is finish holiday

2nd Version of Story.
About 1/2 a mile from the Castle is what is known as the 'Céim' or 'Céim Carraighe on the road between Ballyvourney and Macroom and some authors maintain that the castle was erected to defend the Céim as it's over this accumulation of rock the enemy would have to pass on there from Ballyvourney.
It is in this direction 'Sullivan Bere' came after spending a night in Ballyvourney. There is still a path or boithrín over the mountains from Ballyvourney and come out to Macroom.

St Abbie is the patron saint of Ballyvourney. She had a church there and it was named St Abbie's church. The remains of it are still to be seen. There is a field in Ballyvourney where the new college is and it is known as Pairc an Crochaire. It got this name because the people were going to put up a scaffold there. One day they started to build it and that night St Abbie knocked all they built that day with a bowl she kept in her church. She continued to do this for some time and the people could not erect the scaffold so they had to leave it alone and is not built to the present day.St Abbie's day comes on the eleventh of February and it is a big day in Ballyvourney. Everyone go to the holy well that day and they keep it as a holiday also. Anyone that showed disrespect to St Abbie some bad luck happened to them. There is a townland in Clondrohid known as Kilgobnait and local people say that the saint visited this place on her journey to Ballyvourney. There is also a well known as Killeen and people pay rounds there on St Abbie's day. This well

About twelve months ago I met a man from Grenagh, Co. Cork and in the course of conversation I inquired of him, how he was getting on, to which he replied that he was getting on very well now, but that he had suffered much for the past two or three years, and he proceeded to explain.
He said that his cattle, sheep etc. went completely 'against' him and that a beast would not live in his farm of about 100 acres, and that he was almost 'broken'. A young man from Ballyvourney bought a farm adjoining his and asked him to allow him put some sheep grazing on his farm. He told the man from Ballyvourney that it was no use putting his sheep grazing on his farm, as they would die like his own, and he proceeded to tell his tale of woe to his new neighbour from Ballyvourney, who there and then told Walsh the Grenagh man, to send his son up to him any evening and bring with him a half crown (silver) and that he would make matters right for him.
Walsh did as he was ordered and the half crown was given to the Ballyvourney man, who then provided a hazel rod, and set out for Walsh's farm accompanied by young Walsh. On reaching the farm

Communion, go on the feat of St. Gobonat[?] to the parish church of St. Gobnait, near Ballyvourney in the diocese of Cloynem and prat for concord amongst Christians, the extirpation of heresy and the exaltation of the Church of God. It is also recorded that on his famous march to Leitrim, Donnell O'Sullivan Bear left his encampment at the ruined church of Augheries, near Ballingeary, in the early morning of january 1st, 1605, and at midday reached the populous village of Ballyvourney, dedicated to St. Gobnata. There his soldiers said their vows, gave vent to their prayers and made offerings beseeching the sain for a happy journey. It is uncertain whether the roofless church now standing in Ballyvourney graveyard was erected at the time of the Nuncio's visit. Smith, who visited the place about a hundred years later, states :"The church is situated on a small green spot on the side of a hill from whence is a fine view

The only faction fights remembered here are the great fights between the Lynches and Twomeys in Ballyvourney. All their relatives, friends, and partisans took part, especially on Whitsunday, a pattern day in Ballyvourney village (Ballymakeery) in honour of Gobnait Naomhtha, whose church, holy well and grave are at Gortnatubrid, a mile or so to the west. The fighting ceased sixty years ago

It was at a place now known as Ballyvourney that she eventually came upon the sleeping deer, and there she consecrated her life to God and became renowned for heroic penances. The monastery she caused to be erected by St. Abban, of Slievemargy, who made her its abbess in recognition of her extraordinary piety. Tradition says that St. Abban died at Ballyvourney, and that, at the moment of his death one of the nuns of St. Gobnait happened to be so ill that the holy abbess was afraid the "keen" or death-wail raised at his funeral might disturb the poor invalid. As usual, in any difficulty, she had recourse to prayer, so that, wonderful to relate, not one sound of all the crying and wailing outside penetrated the sick-room. The stone St. Gobnait knelt on as she prayed is still pointed out by the good folk of Ballyvourney who stoutly maintain that anyone standing upon it would not hear even the loudest clap of thunder were it ever so near. Another miracle of St. Gobnait relates to Gurteen-na-Plagha, in the parish of Ballyvourney. The literal meaning of the name is the

Though called after Cuimín we believe that it was in reality even after his time the district was properly converted. The huge extent of the ancient parish of Cill Cuimín is on reason for saying this. The old Irish parishes were as a rule very small, a modern parish sometimes containing as many as 5 or 6 of them. But the old parish of Cill Cuimín contained not merely all the present parish of that name but also three fourths of the modern parish of Rath Mhór. The reason of this we submit is not that the place was uninhabited (which is patently false as we will see elsewhere) but that the greater part of the district was still pagan. At a later date a legend was invented to cover up this unpleasant memory. It was in the parish of Firies and not here I heard it. The ancient parish of Kilcredane or Kilhinedon (part of Ballyhar the outparish of Firies) borders on Cill Cuimín and is exceedingly small. The legend is, that Cuimín and Credane were offered all the land they could walk round in a day. When the day came Cuimin was up before down but Credane slept almost till evening with corresponding results in their parishes.
(3) The "patron" at Ballyvourney seems to have been got up by the Christians as a counter attraction to the City Festival. Our reason for that statement is that the Ballyvourney feast was not primarily a saint's feast at all arising naturally at the shrine of some holy person after death. The Ballyvourney festival is held every years on Pentecost Sunday proving that the Church put her right foot forward in setting up her greatest feast in opposition to the great Pagan festival at the City. Ballyvourney lies at the other side of the mountian being only about ___ miles from the City. The rivalry between these two shrines was truly epic. When we consider the great part played by Ireland in upholding Christianity in the past, the part she plays in this noble work today and the still greater part she seems

Ballyvourney. These wells are to the public on special days and on these days people come from all parts to visit them. The well in Killarney is visited on March 25th, August 15th and on December 8th. The well at the "Two Paps" is visited on Monday and the well at Ballyvourney is visited on Whit - Sunday. There lives in our district a man who makes a plaster which is used for drawing and healing cuts.

it is called "The field of Plague".
The Statue of St AbbyIt is made of oak and it is very old. It is to be seen in the sacristy in the church of Ballyvourney. It is from that statue that St Abby's measure is taken from, which people wear around their necks.
The Two Prisoners in JailThere were two prisoners in Cork Jail one time. One of them was from Ballyvourney. They were going to be hanged for some crime. The Ballyvourney man was always praying to St Abby, and the prayer he used to say which was in Irish was:-"A Gobnet mhúinte ó Baile Mhuirne, tár-se chugham-sa le' chabhair is led' congnamhwhich means in English"O learned St Abby from Ballyvourney come to me with help".The other man used to say to the man from Ballyvourney when he used to hear him praying "She will be in the care of you".The night before they were to be hanged the prison gates were open, and a man stood at

I travelled wide across the tide
And many a place I've been
There's many a place I've been
Switzerland, America and Africa I've been
There's not a spot throughout this world
When clothed in Summer bloom
Like dear old Ballyvourney near the town of sweet Macroom.I've been to Gougane Barrow and the Pass of Céim an Fhiadh
I've been down to Queenstown and back through Bantry Bay
To the hills of Conemara, Galtee mountains and Slieve Bloom
Agus b'fhearr liom Ballyvourney near the town of sweet Macroom.Famous Ballyvourney can boast of half a score
Captain of them was Patsie Quill from Inse Mór
He was a man of lofty intelect and nearest to the moon
That shines o'er Ballyvourney near the town of sweet Macroom.There's doctor Lynch who is loved by every Ballyvourneyite
He is working for the Gaelic cause
From morning until night
His heart it was as big as the biggest rock in Cúam
He was king of Ballyvourney near the town of sweet Macroom.Ballyvourney is a paradise for strangers going around

The name of St Gobnait is held sacred throughout the counties of Cork, Kerry and Limerick and mention of her name and fame may be heard in other adjoining counties. Her feast day is a public holiday, particularly in Ballyvourney.Another holy well dedicated to the memory of St Abban is situated close to Gortnabubrid. This saint was a contempory of St Gobnait, who travelled far and wide abiding for a time in Ballyvourney where he assisted Gobnait, and spending the evening of his years in Wexford where he died.It is said that Gobnait heard the tolling of his funeral bell in far away Wexford when he was being laid to this well-deserved rest. A few boulders surrounding St Abban's well in Ballyvourney marks the site of his church while some writing in the ancient Ogham script is also found inscribed on a nearby stone.

There is a beautiful holy well in Ballyvourney, it is nicely situated in a piece of ground owned by Meiberrys (Protestants) About ten yards from this well there is a grave yard. There is the ruins of an old church, and a protestant church in this grave yard.
The patron Saint of Ballyvourney district is Saint Abby, when Saint Abby was going to Ballyvourney she stopped, at Henmount to take a drink there, was a stone near the well, and she knelt on the stone to take the drink, and the print
of her hands and feet are still to be seen there.
People perform "rounds" there on Whit Sunday, and on Saint

St Abbey is the patron saint of Ballyvourney and the ruins of her church may still be seen with the mysterious "bowl" firmly embedded in its aperture on the western wall of the church because its curative properties were adused.Thomas Boyd wrote a lovely poem of some exile from Ballyvourney who died far from home:-
"He came from Ballyvourney, from the town set in the morningThat has caught the lights of dawn we have waited for so long,And he was Ballyvourney, the child of Erin's morning,In his hope that shone before him, in his speech more sweet than song.

standing on that same spot could never afterwards hear a violent sound - not even the sound of the loudest thunder-clap!Another wonder connected by popular tradition with the name of St Gobnait was her stemming of a tide of pestilence that spread desolation and death through a certain part of the neighbourhood. The afflicted people appealed to the Abbess of Ballyvourney to intercede with Almighty God to spare them further suffering. Therefore Gobnait, it is told proceeded in person to the stricken place, and marking it out as consecrated ground, forbade the plague extend beyond it on any side.The spot has been known since as "Gurt-na-Plaga", the field of the plague; and it is a well known fact that this district has for ages back enjoyed immunity from pestilential sickness or disease.Remarkable as is the devotion of the faithful hearts of West Muskerry in general, and Ballyvourney in particular, to the memory of St. Gobnait at the present day, it was still greater in times gone by. For example the saints festival was formerly observed in West Cork as a holyday of obligation. At the opening of the 17th century Pope Clement VIII granted a special indulgence to all who might visit, in a spirit of devotion, the church of Ballyvourney on the Feast of St Gobnait. A copy of this document is preserved in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.On an eminence in the little village of Ballyvourney may still be seen the ruins of a medieval church

Féile Ghobnatan
The great local saint is Gobnait Naomhtha, who built her church at Gortnatubrid, Ballyvourney, having seen there the nine white deer she was seeking as a sign to build her church. There also she is buried near the gate of the graveyard adjoining the old church. Our parish, Clondrohid, is also connected with the Saint. She is its patron saint, and the parish church at Clondrohid is under her protection, being called Saint Gobnet's Church. At Kilgobnet, in this parish, she saw three white deer together, and six white deer further on. Full particulars have been published of the legends connected with St. Gobnait of Ballyvourney, miracles, pilgrimages, Pope's indulgence to pilgrims St Gobnait's Measure, and the miraculous bowl.
St Gobnait's Day is the 11th of February, a general holiday in Ballyvourney. On Whitsunday (Cingcís) pattern day large crowds throng the village and perform rounds at the Blessed Well and the grave of the Saint. This parish of Clondrohid sends many pilgrims on that day, and even on the following Sunday, to perform rounds and to ask the help of Saint Gobnait.
Anyone who ever saw a trout in St. Gobnait's Well was cured of complaints, and people often did, especially children.

the prison door, and he told the Ballyvourney man to come out, and go home, and he closed the prison door on the other man and said "She will be in the care of you". He was hanged next morning.
Those are all the stories I ever heard to of St Abby.
There is a well too, near the Church in Ballyvourney and it is known as St Abby's Well. Some Protestants tried to boil the water a few years ago but it failed them. It is very deep. If a person wants a request from St Abby, and go twenty-one mornings fasting to Ballyvourney, and to sleep one night in the old Church, and empty out the well in the morning, and if they would get their request they would see a trout in the well when it would be nearly empty.
St Abby's bowl is to be seen at the site of the old Church. A few years ago a person could take it out in their hand, but one cannot take it out now without tearing down the wall.

which the girl, when alone one day, was divinely admonished to flee the company of her wicked parent and prepare herself for a nobler life.Later she was directed in a vision to travel over the hills of Muskerry until a spot was reached where nine white deer lay asleep, and there to erect her cell. It was at Ballyvourney she passed the remainder of her life.Whether this picturesque account of Gobnaits early career contains even the germ of truth, it is impossible now to say, but we know that when St. Abban of Slievemargy made a tour of west Muskerry, he met Gobnait at Ballyvourney. Forming a high opinion of her virtues and good sense he assisted her to found a nunnery there, over which he had her placed as abbess. The association of Abban and Gobnait is borne out in a curious tradition still related by the people of Ballyvourney.They tell how, on one occasion, a member of Gobnait's community fell ill of a fever. At the same time and place occurred the death of St. Abban and those living in the vicinity of the convent having foregathered to "caoine" the passing of the man of God. St. Gobnait dropped on her knees and prayed that their weird lamentations might not reach the ears of the sick nun in her cell inside. Her prayer was granted, and, according to the popular belief, a person

Not so well known perhaps as Saint Gobnait, the Patron Saint of Ballyvourney, but still revered by the people, is another Ballyvourney Saint, namely, St. Aban.This Saint lived in the sixth century, and is said by some to have been a brother of St. Gobnait's. About half a mile to the south-west of the village of Ballymakeera lie the ruins of St. Aban's church. There are now no traces of the walls of the church but the

they both set out to walk round by the boundary fence. They had not gone far when the Ballyvourney man halted and remarked that some one had gone round the boundary fence some short time previously and Walsh added that was so, as his wife and himself had sprinkled holy water round by the boundary fence a short time before.
However the two continued on round by the boundary fence, till they came to a three - bound's water - (a junction of three streams separating three town lands), where the Ballyvourney man again halted, remarking that it was there the damage was being done. He then said that he would stick the hazel rod in the ground at the three bound's water and that while it remained there no further harm could come on cattle, sheep etc.
Before doing so however he inquired of young Walsh whether he would like to know who it was that was responsible for the loss of cattle etc. on his father's farm. Young Walsh said he would and there and then the Ballyvourney man split the hazel stick a rod lengthwise to within an inch or two of the far end. He then requested young Walsh to look along the hazel rod and on doing so, to his surprise he saw the image of a woman - a next door neighbour of his. She it was who was apparently responsible