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Ireland's Holy Wells County-by-County

Wells of County Cavan

St. Patrick's Well, Moybologue, Relaghbeg, Co. Cavan, October 12, 2017, Brian Callaghan.jpg

St Patrick's Well, Moybologue

St. Patricks Well, Moybologue, Relaghbeg, Co. Cavan, October 12, 2017, Brian Callaghan.jpg

St Patrick's Well, Moybologue 2

St. Patrick's Well Moybologue, Relaghbeg, Co. Cavan, October 12, 2017, Brian Callaghan.jpg

St Patrick's Well, Moybologue 3

St Patrick's Well, Moybologue

This well is situated inside the ruins of old St Patrick's Church, Moybologue, at Moybologue old graveyard, Relaghbeg, Co. Cavan. The well lies directly opposite the ruin of the north wall, along the wall between two recumbent slabs, and was formerly the font in the church in Medieval times. A bullaun stone, said to represent the imprint of St Patrick's knee when he hurled his holy water brush at the 'Cailleach Geargain" or 'Garrawog', is built into the road facing boundary wall. The stone is reputed to have a cure for ailments of the knee, or symptoms of arthritis.

The well is visited for cure of warts. The nearby rock is thought to cure ailments of the knee. Hands with warts are washed in the well, and the visitor must bless themselves with the water from the well while reciting the 3 "Glory Be to the Fathers."
An offering of a silver coin or medallion is thrown into the well or placed along the edge of it.
The prayer round consists of one "Our father", three "Hail Marys", three "Glory be to the Fathers", with the visitor to bless themselves with the water from the well during the 3 "Glory be to the Fathers"
If an offering, coin, or medal is removed from the well by another person, that person will be afflicted with warts.

St Ultan's Well

St Ultan's Holy Well, also known as Tober Ultan is situated on a gentle declivity in a secluded part of the townland of Corratiner; a short distance away is the ruins of the ancient parish church of St Ultan. Bushes and shrubbery surround the well , giving it an impressive background. Close by is a Mass-rock of the Penal times. The well is between a Mass Rock and Gallon ancient Graveyard, location of original church of St Ultan of Ardbraccan (an Cillin Ceir) which gives the parish of Killinkere its name.

Sadly the well of St Ultan is not now visited on a regular basis.

O'Donovan, in noting the fact that St. Ultan is the Patron of Killinkere adds that "there is a well dedicated to him in a townland to which it has given the name of Tober Ultan which was formerly visited by a great concourse of pilgrims." (Breifney Antiquarian Society Journal 1929-1930)

Wells of County Cavan