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Double Take: Have you seen these 'Headache Well' signs in north Tipperary?

Here’s why they’re there. (And why we could all do with one.)

EVER WISH THERE was some magic way to get rid of your headache that didn’t involve popping a painkiller? You might be in luck.

Welcome to Terryglass, a picturesque village tucked away in north Tipperary. Situated on the shore of Lough Derg, it’s home to holiday homes, an annual arts festival and a beloved local pub in the form of Paddy’s Bar.

The village boasts a rich history with a monastery having been founded on the site in 549 AD by Columba of Terryglass, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Among the relics left behind from this time are two holy wells. Like many ancient holy wells in Ireland, both were once purported to have healing properties.

First of all, there is St Augh’s Eye Well. As the name suggests, its water is said to help those afflicted with ailments of the eye with rituals performed at the well every Saturday in May. More amusing, however, is St Columb’s Headache Well, signs for which are dotted around the village.

According to an old testimony preserved by UCD’s National Folklore Collection, the well is so-called because it is said that people had their headaches cured by praying at the well and washing their face in its water.

The holy well known as St Columb’s is situated within the monastic grounds. It is known locally as the headache well from the fact that when prayers are recited at it and the face or head then washed, cures were brought about. It is still treated with reverence, but few rounds if any are performed there at the present day.

It may not be in use anymore, but it nonetheless remains a local curiosity with the signs alone enough to pique the interest of visitors.

If only we all had our own little headache well, eh?

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    Mute Gerry with a J
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:49 PM

    Famous faces?

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:40 PM

    Yea I wondered that too.

    Also, the stupid councils put so many town events on today, that most were down on numbers, as they were all competing, for legs on the street. Care factor and communication displayed, zero.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:49 PM

    Linda Martin and some geezer from Tallaghtfornia, the paparazzi must have been swarming the place

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:55 PM

    What’s a tallaghtfornia?

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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:01 PM

    Cheers Paul, was just going to ask that

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:06 PM

    The council is great on events and short termism, but haven’t a clue when it comes to inner citty homelessness.

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:54 PM

    Was that the Tallafornia guy that was caught running his taxi with tractor diesel?

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    Mute David Murphey
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:49 AM

    Jayzuz, yiz are all very negative. I passed by and the kids seemed to be enjoying it.

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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:48 PM

    Thanks for the Linda Martin pictures. I’ll revisit them later when I need to keep the wolf from the door.

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    Mute EmmaQ@gmail.com
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:24 PM

    A radio station should not be allowed to shut down a busy city centre street for advertising

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    Mute Alien8
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:43 PM

    i wouldn’t mind if it was open to all, but it seems to be only for listeners to one station. a bit unfair to the majority of Dubliners who don’t.

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:10 PM

    If Linda (“I’m really only sixteen”) Martin and that other unknown are the famous people the rest of us might as well leave town!

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    Mute Vinny Clare
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:42 PM

    Should’ve diverted it to the Liffey for some of those “celebrities”
    Honestly I’d do a better job with a roll of polythene on a hill with a garden hose. It looks rubbish

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    Mute John Cusack
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:48 PM

    Why don’t you? Put your money where your mouth is.

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    Mute Aural Abuse
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:44 PM

    Linda martin, all lubed up, sliding towards the camera with her legs up in the air…. That’s my appetite shot for at least a century.

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    Mute Karl Haycock
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:12 PM

    They should have put more vaseline on the lens…

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    Mute WJH
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:09 PM

    I pissed in it earlier.

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:05 PM

    Animal cruelty having Linda Martin on it !

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    Mute Techbuzz Ireland
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:03 PM

    Famous. Hmmmmm. Ok.

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    Mute Jeanniejampots
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:11 PM

    It’s was traffic chaos today, merrion square closed off and then this too. All for a radio Station.

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    Mute Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:56 PM

    I went down it flying. It was MAGIC!!!

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:05 PM

    Flying? Sliding down was too fancy that you took to the air?

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    Mute Michael Kenny
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:51 AM

    Did you hear any kids crying to be on it on your way down. It’s not fair only a select few allowed to be on it from a radio station.

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    Mute kelcia mcnamara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:32 PM

    This was only open to celebrities and the rest of us plebs had to win a radio competition to partake?!?!! Should not have been allowed! Dublin City is for all, Shame !

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    Mute Apu Mohammed
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 7:47 PM

    They better reinforce that before the Irish heifer girls trundle down it

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    Mute Eimear Dawson
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:34 PM

    Who are you who dares to make a sexist remark like that? Your name does not identify you as having any Irish connection.so I would like to tell you that we do not welcome such comments . People must be treated with respect.

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    Mute ocJBI3Df
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    Jul 24th 2016, 7:44 AM

    How do you get a fat bird into bed? Piece of cake

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    Mute james Goodyear
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:57 PM

    Fantastic Street festival for the kids in swords today also. I think it Might be there tomorrow too. Great fun!

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    Mute Dotrice Altrium Hollohatch
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:00 PM

    swords!

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    Mute Graham McNamara
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:24 PM

    Yeah ok but does it have a 260 foot slide where people have to paddle themselves down??

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 11:08 PM

    What does snapchatter mean? Just someone off snapchat??

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:03 AM

    No flies on you.

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    Mute theedgeproductions
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 5:57 PM

    260 foot ???
    Who even in the civilised world even uses illogical US measurements

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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 6:05 PM

    I know, yeah. It’s 43.33 fathoms ffs.

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    Mute Kizzi Yeates
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 8:23 PM

    Hope they sterilised it after that Linda Martin ….

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    Mute Aimoo
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    Jul 24th 2016, 12:07 AM

    No famous faces in article. Liar!!

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    Mute Jason Moody
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    Jul 23rd 2016, 9:22 PM

    Few bottles babyoil

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    Mute Barra O Brien
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    Jul 24th 2016, 10:05 AM

    98fm is utter rubbish, up there beside dermot and Dave in the annoyance factors. Bray air fest was a much better place to be.

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    Mute Declan Gibney
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    Jul 24th 2016, 9:10 AM

    Not to worry, it will be burned out or stolen by now.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 24th 2016, 1:46 PM

    They have the weather for it ;0)

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