Saint Deirbhile’s Twist
Having been to the very edge of the Belmullet Peninsula, I think I am ready to move on. I went to the furthest end of the peninsula so I would slowly make my way back. There are some side trips on the way back and I hope to be able to see them. From Blacksod, I took a left and followed the signs to something called Deirbhile’s Twist. I wasn’t sure what this is but it seems to be an interesting place. So who is this Deirbhile in the first place? Apparently, she is a saint and she has an interesting story.
Going to Saint Deirbhile’s Twist
In the 6th century, Deirbhile who was born in county Meath which is far away in the time before cars and bicycles. She was a very beautiful woman and she had a lot of suitors. She was noted for her very beautiful eyes. Alas for these suitors, she had no interest in men and she decided to devote her life to God. She traveled all the way to the Belmullet Peninsula in county Mayo. Where she ran into one of her most persistent suitors. Because of this, she ripped out her eyes from their sockets to keep the suitor away once and for all. The waters in Belmullet were supposedly miraculous and by washing the sockets with the water, her vision returned. Yes, that last part is a bit far fetched but that is the story behind Saint Deirbhile.
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