Irish "Healers"

Cotta

Good Morning,

Has anybody ever went to any of the so called Irish "faith healers" and if so what were your thoughts?

These people still seem to be very popular in rural Ireland in particular.

spendaholiceejit

They are still very popular in rural areas. I don't really buy into that, but where I live people still do. My Facebook newsfeed often has people asking "Does anyone have the cure of croup/sprain/shingles?"

Personally it would be a last act of desperation for me to contact a faith healer, but if that's what gives other people reassurance, then it's up to them.

qwert_yuiop

spendaholiceejit wrote: »

They are still very popular in rural areas. I don't really buy into that, but where I live people still do. My Facebook newsfeed often has people asking "Does anyone have the cure of croup/sprain/shingles?"

Personally it would be a last act of desperation for me to contact a faith healer, but if that's what gives other people reassurance, then it's up to them.

Load of dangerous nonsense.
Some charlatan in Wexford has "The Cure" for cancer. Among his patients, a 19 year old with tongue cancer who'd refused surgery and radiotherapy. She died in agony, choking, six months later.
Another huckster with the cure for shingles smears her own blood on the patient's lesions. HIV and Hepatitis B, anyone?

You're not looking for reassurance. You're looking for a result.

GlynD

I've heard of these. The big credential is to be the 7th son of a 7th son. There used to be a couple of them who did the rounds. They'd book into an hotel and advertise their presence in the local newspaper. People who wanted "hands laid on them" would just turn up at the man's hotel room then and wait their turn to be seen.

There was a fee for this. I don't remember how much but I think it may have been £20 the last time I saw an advert.

There's still at least one doing the rounds in NI, a guy called Danny Gallagher http://www.danny-gallagher.com/

Like most people I think it's bunkum but I don't scoff at anyone who has faith because I think if you believe in something it's a great comfort. I've also heard stories where individuals can actually heal themselves through the power of their own mind although they will attribute the cure to the person who laid hands on them.

My mother has gone to faith healers. She's obviously very old school and still has superstitions which us "youngsters" generally don't have. I can remember when I was a wean when traveller women (we called them gypsys then) would come round selling heather or clothes pegs, my mum would always buy to get the blessing that came with the purchase because she believed that a curse from a gypsy would be a terrible thing. Apparently if you didn't buy something they would curse you on your own doorstep.

EDIT: The big one I remember was Finbar Nolan. He's still about and even has his own website now. http://www.finbarrnolan.com/

This article suggests that business may not be as brisk as it once was and also points out the fee is now £7 whereas in days gone by the amount given would be donations of varying amounts. This article describes one client paying for his travel to the US and donating several thousand dollars for a "cure". http://www.answers.com/topic/finbarr-nolan

Nolan claims his power is in his right hand only and his success rate is 50%.

motorguy

Moved out to quite a rural area and they do seem quite common.

MIL has used them as does my wifes sister.

All seems very odd.

Cotta

motorguy wrote: »

Moved out to quite a rural area and they do seem quite common.

MIL has used them as does my wifes sister.

All seems very odd.

Were the treatments your MIL and SIL received successful.

qwert_yuiop

GlynD wrote: »

I've heard of these. The big credential is to be the 7th son of a 7th son. There used to be a couple of them who did the rounds. They'd book into an hotel and advertise their presence in the local newspaper. People who wanted "hands laid on them" would just turn up at the man's hotel room then and wait their turn to be seen.

There was a fee for this. I don't remember how much but I think it may have been £20 the last time I saw an advert.

There's still at least one doing the rounds in NI, a guy called Danny Gallagher http://www.danny-gallagher.com/



EDIT: The big one I remember was Finbar Nolan. He's still about and even has his own website now. http://www.finbarrnolan.com/

Likely to have a scarcity value in the age of the pill.
What a life - people just come and give you money.

Meanwhile, curable disease goes undiagnosed and untreated. I wonder how many avoidable tragedies occur.

motorguy

Cotta wrote: »

Were the treatments your MIL and SIL received successful.

No. It involved keeping some sort of nut in your pocket for a fortnight or something.

GlynD

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

Likely to have a scarcity value in the age of the pill.
What a life - people just come and give you money.

Meanwhile, curable disease goes undiagnosed and untreated. I wonder how many avoidable tragedies occur.

That was my view then and now. Can you blame these guys though? If you've got the qualification of being a 7th son of a 7th son and people just want to give you money for touching them on the napper with your right hand - would you?

From memory I think Nolan for sure is a multi-millionaire who lives in a substantial mansion. All paid for by people who believe he could cure them.

It's good work if you can get it.

motorguy wrote: »

No. It involved keeping some sort of nut in your pocket for a fortnight or something.

I've also heard you can bury something in the garden. Nuts or potatoes. Bizarre, but if you believe in it and you feel better what's the harm? Some people are really passionate about this and you can't argue with them. They'll be adamant that the faith healer cured them.

lazer

Ther eis no harm in them as long as they are not used as an alternative to conventional medicine.

I have family that have used them for serious execema and it worked, I have also had other family members use them and it didn't work.

Most don't charge at all or just a small voluntary donation asked for.

Cotta

lazer wrote: »

Ther eis no harm in them as long as they are not used as an alternative to conventional medicine.

I have family that have used them for serious execema and it worked, I have also had other family members use them and it didn't work.

Most don't charge at all or just a small voluntary donation asked for.

The big guns do charge, I know Aidan Wrynne does two home clinics per week from 18:00 - 21:00 and sees at least 50 people during this time. His fee is 30 euro or 25 sterling.