The traditional Lady Well Fete is being revived at Slane Castle in Meath.
Celebrated until the 1960s, the Lady Well Fete at Slane Castle in County Meath was a centuries old tradition. Traditionally the Fete marked the day the water in the Lady Well in the castle grounds was deemed to be holy.
Pilgrims made their way to drink from the well before enjoying the side shows in the village.
The Lady Well Fete would involve entertainment, street singing and dancing with local characters such as,
Sling the Pan, Mary Blue Ribbon, Dan the Man that had the dancing doll.
Lady Well Day has always been held on 15 August in Slane. The 2008 return was postponed due to bad weather when the well flooded for the first time in living memory.
The rescheduled Lady Well Fete will take place on 15 September. Then the grounds of Slane Castle will host a food fair, live music, a sports day and a duck derby. The event will raise funds for the local community.
Alex Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles is the son of Lord Henry Mount Charles, owner of Slane Castle. He remembers as a child being taken down to the holy well to drink the water and say a prayer. Even when he was out of the country his family would always keep a bit of water for him.
I would have a swig of it when I returned home.
It is hoped the Lady Well Fete will return to its traditional date in 2009.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 September 2008. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
