Santa Irene (A Coruña) (0)

Did you know that... Santa Irene

It is in the Jacobean route, after passing through O Empalme or Alto de Santa Irene. The village of Santa Irene belongs to the parish of Santa Eulalia or Santaia de Arca in the council of O Pino. There is historical documentation that makes reference to the War of Independence and to the plundering that the Napoleonic troops did in the place during their advance towards Santiago.

To discover What to see in Santa Irene?

The village of Santa Irene is immersed in a bucolic and beautiful landscape in which stands the hermitage dedicated to Saint Peter, from the seventeenth century, next to it, in the shade of the oak grove, a beautiful fountain that bears the name of Saint Irene but is known as the Fountain of Eternal Youth, invites you to quench your thirst and why not, to cure some ailment of the body or spirit. In the fountain there is an empty niche that once housed a granite image of the Portuguese saint that sadly disappeared at the end of the twentieth century, back in the eighties.

Festivities

In Santa Irene, Saint Peter is celebrated on June 29th and in December, together with the other villages of the parish of Santaia, Saint Eulalia is honoured. It also celebrates this festivity on the Sunday following Corpus Christi.

Traditions

The oak grove and the hermitage of Santa Irene are stages year after year of a traditional pilgrimage, on June 29, known as the Pilgrimage of San Pedro, which does not lack, in addition to the solemn mass, the luncheon and all accompanied by music and verbena. The tradition is that the festival is organized by the young people of the parish.

Curiosities

The village was many years ago the seat of the town hall of the council of O Pino.

The Legend

Various legends and myths have arisen around the Santa Irene fountain. One tells that the water of this spring was used by farmers in the area to benefit crops and prevent pests. Another says that if the children were passed under the mantle of the Virgin, which was in the niche, healed them of their ills and so their cries ceased. And the most curious and the one that attracts the most pilgrims is the one who says that whoever drinks from it will enjoy eternal youth.