The Seven Wonders of Fore
Westmeath, Ireland
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Seeker of Seven
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225
XP
1 day
The Seven Wonders of Fore
225 XP
The village of Fore in County Westmeath holds seven miraculous impossibilities attributed to the 7th-century saint Féichín — a monastery on a bog, a mill without a race, water that flows uphill, water that will not boil, a tree that will not burn, a stone raised by prayer alone, and a hermit sealed inside a stone tower. The 3km looped trail connecting all seven takes about 90 minutes and passes through 1,400 years of Irish monastic history.
Required Activities
1
of 5
At the west doorway of St Féichín's church, built about AD 900, touch the massive lintel cut with a Greek cross in a circle — tradition says Féichín raised it by prayer after the workmen failed
2
of 5
Climb the Ankerland above the churches to the 15th-century anchorite's tower, and find the inscription to Patrick Beglin, sealed in the cell until he died in 1616
3
of 5
At Tobernacogany Well, find the Money Tree — pilgrims drove so many coins into the ash that it died, and the sapling replacing it carries rags and mementos
4
of 5
Walk the Benedictine priory on the valley floor, founded by the de Lacys as a daughter house of Saint-Taurin at Évreux, and raised on marsh that should never have held it
5
of 5
At the ruined mill, watch the stream that appears to run uphill — it rises underground from Lough Lene a mile away, and gives Fore its name, Fobhar Féichín
At the west doorway of St Féichín's church, built about AD 900, touch the massive lintel cut with a Greek cross in a circle — tradition says Féichín raised it by prayer after the workmen failed
Climb the Ankerland above the churches to the 15th-century anchorite's tower, and find the inscription to Patrick Beglin, sealed in the cell until he died in 1616
At Tobernacogany Well, find the Money Tree — pilgrims drove so many coins into the ash that it died, and the sapling replacing it carries rags and mementos
Walk the Benedictine priory on the valley floor, founded by the de Lacys as a daughter house of Saint-Taurin at Évreux, and raised on marsh that should never have held it
At the ruined mill, watch the stream that appears to run uphill — it rises underground from Lough Lene a mile away, and gives Fore its name, Fobhar Féichín
Before you go
The key to the anchorite's cell is kept in the village — ring ahead or ask locally before making a special trip for it.
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About Westmeath
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
225 XP
Potential total
225 XP
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