3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Surroundings: Located within the ecclesiastical site of Gartan and is 2 km northwest of Church Hill. It is located near a graveyard, which has a structure known as the ‘Abbey’. There is badly preserved cross remains which are 20 m south of the graveyard. At the south base of the cross, there is a pile of loose stones that are used in the turas and pilgrimage at the holy well site. The holy well is northwest of the cross. Southwest of the graveyard is St. Columbkilles Chapel. There are views that overlook Gartan lough, Lough Nacally, and Lough Akibban on the east, southeast, and south. The well is surrounded by a modern rubblestone wall and has a modern cast-iron gate. The area is paved with large, flat flagstones and this enclosed area has the well and a low flagstone altar. There are modern stone markings that mark the well itself and the stops of the turas.
Well: The well has an opening which is a small square aperture on the northern side of the enclosing wall. The water is clear.
4 Cure
Cure: Loneliness
Obtained: Visiting St. Colmcille’s natal stone (Cronin et al., 2012).
5 Pattern day
Pattern Day: No pattern due is known to take place, but a celebration may take place on St. Colmcille’s birth, December 7th. His feast day is June 9.
6 Offerings
Offerings: There is a donation box for coins (Cronin et al., 2012).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Prayer Rounds: There are modern stone marking the different stops along the turas, which are still followed. Loose stones at the southern base of the cross are connected and used with the turas performed at this holy well site (Cronin et al., 2012).
8 Stories
Local Story: Gartan, which is the ecclesiastical site in which the holy well is located, is reputed to be the birthplace of St. Colmcille. This saint is said to be the greatest of all of the Donegal saints (Cronin et al., 2012).
The well is described by Ó Muirgheasa (1936) as:
“Gartan Holy Well. See Reeves’ Adamnan, page Ixviii. It is in Gartan, the birthplace of Colmcille, and near the graveyard. The turus is still made. A visit to Colmcille’s natal stone also cures loneliness” (Cronin et al., 2012).
9 Publications
"Survey of the Heritage of Holy Wells in County Donegal" - John Cronin & Associates.
“The Birthplace of St. Colmcille” - https://pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/2016/06/09/t-he-birthplace-of-st-colmcille-gartan-co-donegal/
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Located 700' above sea level, within that Gap in the Uris mountains that separates Desertegney from Uris, the well is situated in the townland of Uris Mana. It is a small well in the midst of rocks a few yards from the Gap road. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1112, Page 387)
5 Pattern day
ndividuals pray at the site on a daily basis, expecially when communting. Public gatherings for services still happen. Long ago, it was the custom for people to go there to make the "turas" from the fifteenth of August, to the eighth of September, and some people still keep up that custom. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1112, Page 387)
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The turas was composed of going round seven heaps of stones, and saying any prayers you like, and you are saying any prayers you like, and you are supposed to throw a stone into every heap, when you are making the turas. The people take a drink of water in the well, and they say a prayer for the person that made the well, and they also say a prayer for the person that blessed the well. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1112, Page 387)
8 Stories
Who exactly blessed the well is debated. Some say that St. Egney (Eigne) blessed it (after whom Desertegney is named). Others say that when St. Columba was in sorrow he went to the Gap of Mamore to seek advice from Naom Muirseslac - who had a place of prayer there, and that maybe it was he who blessed the Well. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1112, Page 387)
St. Colmcille’s Well
also known as St. Colmcille or St. Columba.
2 Townland, County, GPS
Tullyarvan, County Donegal
This townland is slightly north of Buncrana. The well’s location is also known as Slavary to the local people (Cronin et al., 2012).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Surroundings: The well is heavily grown over with plants, brushes, and other flora (Cronin et al., 2012).
Description: The well is square. The eastern side has a bullaun stone, which is a depression on a stone that is filled with water. Both the north and south sides have low rubblestone walls. The western side has a vertical sloping natural rock outcrop. The water is crystal clear (Cronin et al., 2012).
6 Offerings
Offerings: No votive offerings were found on the site (Cronin et al., 2012).
8 Stories
Local Story: Local Folklore speaks on how the two depressions within the bullaun stone are the prints of St. Cholmcille’s knees. The story speaks on how he stopped at the well while travelling to Stroove, Inishowen Head, when departing for Iona (Cronin et al., 2012).
9 Publications
"Survey of the Heritage of Holy Wells in County Donegal" - John Cronin & Associates.
10 More
Bibliography
Cronin, John and Associates. 2012. Survey of the Heritage of Holy Wells in County Donegal. Donegal County Council.
Tobar Cholmcille (St Columba’s Well), dedicated to St. Colmcille
2 Townland, County, GPS
Affane parish in Curraghroche townland, county Waterford
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is situated in the Blackwater area of County Waterford, and is considered to be a more well-known well in the county. Nearby there was once a bullaun stone and a carved head in a canopy, but these are considered to be no longer visible to visitors (Broderick, 2016: 46-47).
.
4 Cure
This well is said to cure sore eyes and poor eyesight. Many who make pilgrimage to the site will apply the water to the eyes, or take it back home for its curative properties.
5 Pattern day
It notes that the saint’s feast day is June 9, but it is unclear as to whether the pattern day is observed on that date currently.
6 Offerings
It is noted that you must pay visits, but there is no information as to whether offerings are deposited.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
According to Broderick, you must pay nine visits to the site if a person desires a cure before sunrise. If one sees a trout the morning of the ninth visit, it is a sign that the visitor will be cured of their ailments (Broderick,2016: 46-47).
8 Stories
A local man who worked in the area verified the sanctity of the well. He took the water home to boil and it did not get hot, but he saw the trout in the legend. When he went to return it and came back with more water, it boiled. There was no harm done to the man, the legend notes, because this encounter was accidental.
9 Publications
Broderick, Eugene. 2016. Patterns and Patrons: The Holy Wells of Waterford.
Colmcille is considered a great early Irish saint and is considered the reason Christianity was brought to Scotland and founded the abbey at Iona. He died in 597.
Saint Dedication: Contested dedication to St. Colmcille or another saint (Cronin et al., 2012). However, the well is attributed to St. Colmcille in a 16th century source by Manus O'Donnell.
2 Townland, County, GPS
Doocashel Glebe., Donegal
However, the location was previously believed to be in the townland of Cashelmore, just west of Doocashel Glebe (Cronin et al., 2012).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Surroundings : Located in a woody area, and is 2.5 km north of Creeshlough. The well is accessible through a narrow gravel path which is labelled with a signpost, just off the main forest path (Cronin et al., 2012).
Description: The well has an irregular shaped opening, around a naturally-formed spring, and has flat stones, a drystone altar to the west and a cross made of concrete that surrounds the well (Cronin et al., 2012).
4 Cure
Cure: Loneliness
When people would emigrate, they would go to this well in order to get a bottle of water to ward off loneliness in their new living area (Cronin et al., 2012).
6 Offerings
Offerings: Coins, flowers, prayers, and rosary beads
The well is venerated still, as proven by the offerings that were recently left at the well (Cronin et al., 2012).
8 Stories
Local Story: The well never runs dry (Cronin et al., 2012).
9 Publications
"Survey of the Heritage of Holy Wells in County Donegal" - John Cronin & Associates.
Ards Forest Park Donegal - https://www.donegalcottageholidays.com/blog/ards-forest-park/
Ards Forest Park - https://www.donegaldiaspora.ie/programme/ards-forest-park
Ards Forest Park - https://placeandsee.com/wiki/ards-forest-park
Ards Forest Park - http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/donegal/home-life-in-donegal/play-areas/ards-forest-park/
Ards Forest Park - https://www.thefullshilling.co.uk/blog/ards-forest-parkhttps://www.thefullshilling.co.uk/blog/ards-forest-park
Wonderful Day in Ards Forest Park - http://homepage.eircom.net/~ballyrainens/Archive/2005-2006/ards%20forest.html
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan states that “St Colmcille’s Well, also known as Tobar na Cluas (Well of the Ear), is located in a little field on the east side of the Ballycullen Road, a short distance from the entrance to the Augustinian Orlagh Retreat Centre…a spring of clear water flows over a worn bullaun stone (said to be the impression of the saint’s knee) and empties into a deep stone basin. Surmounting this is a statue of the saint, sculpted in Italy and erected in 1917…a tree overhung the well up until 1960, when it fell. It was the custom to hammer medals [into the] bark, so many were present that it gave the tree the appearance of having fish scales” (Branigan 2012: 91-94).
4 Cure
Cures disorders of the eyes, ears, and throats.
5 Pattern day
9 June.
8 Stories
“Legend states that this is the location where St Colmcille rested while travelling from Glasnevin to Glendalough and blessed the well, leaving the impression of his knee on a rock there” (Branigan 2012: 91).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. Dublin: The History Press Ireland.
10 More
“The well was rediscovered in 1914 by the local postman, Jimmy Murray. Students from the local Augustinian Novitiate then undertook to care for and develop the site, and it was during their watch that a number of improvements took place” (Branigan 2012: 91).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well, according to Branigan, “is located on Well Road in Swords, at the edge of the former village green. The well is located at the base of a flight of steps behind a locked gate, necessary due to so many incidents of vandalism. It can be visited by arrangement with Swords Historical Society” (Branigan 2012: 60).
4 Cure
Cures leprosy. Branigan records that “St Colmcille was known to have cured many people suffering from this affliction here” (Branigan 2012: 60).
8 Stories
“Local folklore states that the saint left the impressions of his feet at the well, but this is no longer to be seen” (Branigan 2012: 60).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. Dublin: The History Press Ireland.
10 More
The town of Swords translates from Irish as ‘Sord’ meaning ‘clear’. The town received its name in honour of this well, so clear were its waters” (Branigan 2012: 60).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located “at a distance of a mile from Drumconrath village, on the road leading to Carrickmacross,…named Tobar Columcille” (French 2012: 20). Additionally, “there was an old church in Drumbride townland called Teampull Chuilmcille. Just north of the old church there was a flag stone, called Leac na nglun, the flagstone of the knees. It had hollow in its surface which were said to have been made by St Colmcille’s knees as he knelt in prayer” (French 2012: 20-21).
5 Pattern day
"There was a pattern held at the well in the nineteenth century” (French 2012: 21).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
"Stations were formerly made from Colmcille’s Well to the old church” (French 2012: 21). French notes that “pilgrims were obliged to go on their knees from this well to Drumbride Church, such a long distance that only one person ever managed to complete the route” (French 2012: 21).
9 Publications
French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.
10 More
“A well appears in the townland of Newstone on the OS maps from about 1909” (French 2012: 21).
“The well was recorded by a schoolchild in the 1930s but no one visited the well at that time” (French 2012: 21).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located “in the parish of Collon, about two miles south of Collon and a quarter of a mile from the Slane-Collon Road. In Glasallen townland St Colmcille’s Well was situated in a beautiful valley and is marked as a spring on the OS maps” (French 2012: 18). Additionally, “the well was a deep spring well about five feet in diameter. The well was surrounded by white-thorn trees and stood a little way away from a field boundary…The well was covered by a large flagstone and flags formed steps down to the well” (French 2012: 19).
4 Cure
Cures sore feet and eyes, back ache, eye disorders. To cure sore feet or eyes, “people washed in the stream running from the well” (French 2012: 20). Also, “a bottle of water from the well protected a house particularly during thunderstorms” (French 2012: 20).
5 Pattern day
Rounds were made at the well on the 9 June. The well was also visited on the eight days after the saint’s day, making it a nine day pattern" (French 2012: 19).
6 Offerings
“Strings and pieces of cloth were attached to the trees by visiting pilgrims. A mug was supplied at the well for drinking after completing the rounds” (French 2012: 19).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
"Usually the Rosary was said as the people went around the well and knelt for each decade. There were five bushes around the well and each of these was a station and a decade of the Rosary was recited at each station. After the first round pilgrims took three drinks of water from the well” (French 2012: 19-20).
8 Stories
“It is said that St Colmcille was travelling from Kells to Monasterboice when he became thirsty. He drank from the spring, rested and then blessed the well” (French 2012: 18-19).
“it was the usual custom of among old people in the parish to go to the well barefoot and not eat anything until they returned” (French 2012: 20).
“Isaac Butler visited the well in 1774 and said that thousands of country people assembled there. He wrote that after a solemn service performed by several priests in the attendance ate, drank, and made merry. Football was played and sometimes great quarrels arose with several people going home with broken and sore limbs” (French 2012: 20).
“In 1916 Fr. James Dolan C.C. Collon revived the custom of the rounds” (French 2012: 20).
“A school child in the 1930s said there was ‘no authentic’ cure mentioned in connection to the well. Another schoolchild recorded that abuses had crept in and mostly young people went there for amusement. The last pattern was held in the late 1950s or early 1960s. the land was sold and reclaimed. The well was filled and the bushes surrounding it were removed in 1965 but memories of the well and pattern survived. Celebration of the pattern has been revived by the Broomfield & District Resident Association in recent years” (French 2012: 20).
9 Publications
French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located “in Ministown, near Bettystown…mentioned in a deed from about 1290 in the Gormanston Register. It is not marked on the 1837 map but is marked on maps from about 1909…and ash or oak tree stood over the well… a stone wall and a concrete canopy was erected at the well by the owner, Mr. Brannigan…a pump house was erected over the well prior to 1987 and a farm building erected almost on top of the well. The well is now capped” (French 2012: 18).
4 Cure
Cures ague, toothache. To obtain a cure, “the people went around the well saying a decade of the Rosary as they went. The infected person drank water from the well” (French 2012: 18).
5 Pattern day
“People used to visit the well on the second Sunday of August” (French 2012: 18).
6 Offerings
The people would pray at the well and tie a rag on one of the nearby bushes” (French 2012: 18).
8 Stories
“The story is told that this well was originally situated in another field some distance away, whence it mysteriously removed itself to its present position on having its waters defiled by a young lady of doubtful character washing her clothes therein” (French 2012: 18).
“If anyone took timber from the tree for their fire the chimney would go on fire” (French 2012: 18).
9 Publications
French, Noel. Meath Holy Wells. Meath, Meath Heritage Centre, 2012.
10 More
“The nearby G.A.A club is called St Comcilles but this is named after the well at Shallon” (French 2012: 18).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located at the foot of the Bluestack Mountains close to the banks of the Eanybeg river, near a small graveyard that was used for unbaptised babies until the 1930's. The well is surrounded by a low fence and is covered by a trap door covering the shaft, lined with coarse stones, that leads to the well. This trapdoor must be opened to access the water.
4 Cure
The well is believed to cure toothaches.
5 Pattern day
June 9
6 Offerings
Pebbles are often placed on a cairn located next to the well
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Pilgrims would traditionally recite the Rosary as they walk barefoot around the well.
Carryblagh, Co. Donegal, which is near Portsalon, Fanad Peninsula
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The Well is surrounded within a dry stone square structure beneath a cliff. A stone structure is also to the left of the well that enshrines two tablets, one explaining who St. Colmcille is, and the other noting the rounds to be performed in the wellside turas with St. Colmcille's prayer.
4 Cure
This well is known to cure all. Some examples of issues that the well was known the cure were toothaches and aching limbs. If you slept beside the well, you would be cured of your need.
5 Pattern day
The pattern Day is June 9th, St Colmcille's Day, but the turas also continues from June 9 through the 17th. Some people are said to have visited at least once during the 9 days, but some also said to have visited every single day of the 9 days.
6 Offerings
People now leave certain items such as candles, rosary beads, small religious statues, empty medication bottles, sports trophies, limpet shells, hair ornaments, and even children's toys in order to be cured by the well and leave their respect.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
On a slope of Carnaween in the Bluestack Mountains, the well is near an ecclesiastical enclosure and a graveyard which was used as a cillín (for buying unbaptised infants) into the 1930s. The beautiful situation of the well makes it easy to understand why it was chosen by those wishing to seek a religious life apart from the world (a dísert, named for the desert abodes sought by early Christian hermits). The site also has an altar called a Mass Rock.
4 Cure
The well water is thought to have had many cures, but more notably, the soil of the vicinity was thought to rid rodents and other pests from one's home and fields if sprinkled there.
5 Pattern day
St Colmcille's day, the ninth of June, was the main visitation day on which pilgrims also climbed Carnaween (also associated with the saint). By the later twentieth century, visitation shifted to the first Sunday in June.
10 More
This site is actively being researched by Dr. Fiona Beglane of the Sligo Institute of Technology.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is enclosed in a dry stone square structure beneath a cliff. During the twentieth century, hazel bushes grew around the well site and were recipients of votive offerings until recently. In a 2010 renovation, ten metres on either side of the well were cleared and additions were made to the site. The well and turas grounds are now separated from the road by a low stone wall. Another stone structure to the left of the well enshrines two tablets, one explaining who St Colmcille is and the other noting the rounds to be performed in the wellside turas with St. Colmcille's prayer. A small statue of the saint (under 12 inches in height) is behind glass in the same structure. The well structure now has a large cairn of stones behind and on top of it as it appeared in photos from 1900 (see Nic Chearáin, 2012:25).
4 Cure
The well is known as a cure-all. Cures particularly mentioned in the locality include toothache and aching limbs. Brídiín Nic Chearáin notes that if a petitioner slept beside the well, a cure was assured (2012:28).
5 Pattern day
The Pattern Day is June 9th (St Colmcille's Day), but the turas continues from June 9 through the 17th (a novena). Most people asked reported visiting during one of the nine days if they visited at all, but some came to the well on each of the nine days in 2017.
6 Offerings
Votives are now deposited on top of the well structure. These include candles, rosary beads, small religious statutes, empty medication bottles, sports trophies, limpet shells, hair ornaments, children's toys, and a water bottle brought from Lourdes.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The turas was punctuated by three cross-inscribed stones. At the first one says 5 Our Father's, 5 Hail Mary's and 5 Gloria's. This is repeated at the second station stone. At the 3rd station, the numbers of prayers are seven of each. When stations are completed, one says the Rosary at the well walking around the well cairn three times and leaving a stone on the cairn with each circumambulation. After the completion of prayers, one may access the well water to bless oneself
8 Stories
St Colmcille was to have mislaid some books on one of his journeys. He prayed to find them and then spotted a deer with his books on its back. The deer managed to slide the books down into an orderly pile beside the well
9 Publications
The digitized Schools Folklore Scheme has accounts of the well.
Nic Chearáin, Brídiín. 2012. The Holy Wells of Fanad. Gaeltacht Bheo Fhánada: Fanad, Co. Donegal.
Lacey, Brian, Eamon Cody and Claire Cotter 2013. Archaeological Survey of County Donegal : A Description of the Field Antiquities from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th Century A.D. Donegal Heritage Office.
In his Life of Colmcille, Manus O'Donnell (d. 1564) wrote about the book-returning deer (see Lacey, Brian. 1998. Manus O’Donnell’s life of Colum Cille. Dublin: The Four Courts Press.).