1998, and the web-based Living Spring has had only two issues to date) but postings on websites such as The Megalithic Portal show that there is still much interest in this category of ancient site. Some works of fiction have added to this modern interest. One of the most well known being The Holy Well (2007) by novelist and contemporary folksinger Colin Macpherson, who also recorded a song by the same name in 2013. Preservation Often unmarked on maps and undistinguished by archaeological features, holy wells are a uniquely vulnerable category of ancient site. They continue to be lost to farming, drainage work, development or neglect. Recent instances include: the desecration of St Bridget's Well at Rosepark, Balrothery (County Dublin, Ireland), destroyed by building work in 2003 despite being a protected monument the destruction of a well at Rath Lugh during the construction of the M3 Motorway in the Tara-Skryne Valley in Ireland. Gallery See also Clootie well Holy water Nature worship Nuragic holy well Sacred waters Water deity Well dressing Well of Wyrd References Further reading Bord, J. & C. 1985. Sacred Waters. London: Granada. Dumézil, Georges. 1970. Archaic Roman Religion, I. Transl. by Krapp P. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Harte, J. 2000. Holey Wells and other Holey Places. Living Spring Journal 1. Lefèvre, Eckard. 1988. Plinius-Studien : IV : Die Naturauffassung in den Beschreibungen der Quelle am Lacus Larius (4,30), des Clitumnus (8,8) und des Lacus Vadimo (8,20). Gymnasium 95: 236–269. Macpherson, Colin R. 2007. The Holy Well. Yeppoon, Queensland: Mopoke Publishing. Ninck, M. 1960. Die Bedeutung des Wassers im Kult und Leben der Alten. Eine symbolgeschichtliche Untersuchung. Darmstadt : Wiss. Buchgesellschaft. Stoddart, John. 1800. Remarks on Local Scenery and Manners in Scotland. London: William Miller. Varner, Gary R. 2009. Sacred Wells: A Study in the History, Meaning, and Mythology of Holy Wells and Waters. 2nd ed. New York: Algora Publishing. . Wall, J. Charles. 1912. Porches & Fonts. London: Wells Gardner & Darton. External links Cornish ancient and holy wells Russian holy wells and sacred springs Full HD photos Source Magazine online archive The Living Spring Journal The Megalithic Portal The National Wells Index, dedicated to promoting information about and preservation of holy wells Wells and Spas, the online discussion list for wells and spas Types of monuments and memorials Earth mysteries Folklore Religious places Christian folklore Ritual purity in Christianity