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
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).