u/Large_Anywhere3277

This might be a strange question that has more to do with folk traditions (and perhaps specifically traditions here in Ireland) but today my uncle was talking about how he was on a walk in a forest where there was a small chuch, nearby to which he found many, many socks that had been left for some reason. He said he thinks he heard this is some kind of Catholic tradition. This made me remember seeing a St Dymphna statue and her holy well, where (along with typical things like rosaries and devotional images) many socks have been left around her. Does anyone know why this is? Or where this tradition comes from?