Pilgrims mark feast day with trip to holy well

Hundreds of pilgrims flocked to the famous St Brigid's Well in Liscannor, Co Clare, to light candles to mark the saint's feast day.

The well is renowned for its healing qualities and attracts the faithful each year on February 1, which is traditionally regarded as the first day of spring.

Although meteorologists disagree, saying spring is still a month away, the belief that the first day of February marks the end of winter goes back to pagan times and was marked by the ancient festival of Imbolc.