St. Cormac was born on the mouth of the River Lee in Cork of a seafaring family.
It was he who built the first church on this site, thus giving it its name, Kilcormac.
He was St. Columcille’s friend, first at Durrow, then at Iona. He was given the title Cormac of the Sea because his skill with a boat on rough water was great. Unlike many hermits, he didn’t want to find a desert island and spend the rest of his days there. So Columcille sent him back to Ireland and there in a forest, near a beautiful waterfall on the Silver River, he built a round tower and a church.
One day upon looking out of the tower he saw two black snails crawling up the side of the tower slowly changing shape. Terrified at the sight he leaped off the tower and ran. He ran and ran followed by two wolves which by now had evolved from the snails. Finally they caught up with him and tore him to pieces. It is said everywhere a drop of blood fell, a spring of fresh water sprung up. These are still here to kneel and pray at, and are still called St, Cormac’s Wells.
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