Country Ireland Time zone WET (UTC+0) Local time Wednesday 8:18 PM | County County Tipperary Province Munster | |
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Weather 12°C, Wind S at 14 km/h, 87% Humidity | ||
Terryglass (Irish: Tír Dhá Ghlas, meaning "land of the two streams") is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe,. Terryglass won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 1983 and 1997.
Contents
Map of Terryglass, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
History
In the early Middle Ages, the place was known as Tír dá glass. A monastery (abbey) was founded there by Columba of Terryglass (d. 13 December 552) in 549. He was the son of Colum mac Crimthainn and a disciple of St. Finnian of Clonard. He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. The monastery became a centre of learning and produced (about 1160) the Book of Leinster, which is now housed in Trinity College Dublin. The Book is an important collection of history, tales and poems written in Middle Irish and is believed to be the work of Áed Ua Crimthainn, a 12th-century abbot of Terryglass.
The Vikings frequently raided the abbey. In 843 an expedition led by Turgesius raided Terryglass and neighbouring Lorrha and in 1164 the abbey was burnt. A remaining wall from this abbey can be seen at the back of Paddy’s pub in the village.
Wells
Terryglass has two holy wells: St. Augh's Eye Well and St. Columba's Headache Well. St. Augh's Eye Well is located on the quay and is dedicated to the 9th century Christian saint named Augh. Local legend holds that Augh lost his eyes to a Danish chieftain who lived in Slevoir. Augh is reputed to have regained his sight thanks to water from the eye well. Believers visit the well on Saturdays during the month of May between sunrise and sunset in search of cures for eye problems. The ritual begins on the flagstone facing the rising sun and continues with attendees reciting a creed, 5 Our Fathers and 5 Hail Marys on each side of the well. When the prayers are completed their eyes are washed with water from the well. Small offerings such as flowers are left on a nearby bush. The well's source is a nearby stream. Legend claims that Saint Patrick baptised people in the well when he visited the area. St. Columba's Headache Well is located in the village of Terryglass. It is named after Columba and is alleged to cure headaches and migraines.