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
In a wooded area with a stone that is said to show the saint’s footprint. It also has an ash tree known locally as ‘The unusual tree’ and the saint's "stone bed." The well is protected by a well house.
4 Cure
The stone bed is where people lie down for a cure for backache. The well water is said to cure arthritis and headaches.
5 Pattern day
St. Flannan’s feast day is celebrated at the well on December 18th.
6 Offerings
Offerings include homemade shrines attached to trees at the site. The well house is ornamented with candles, lamps, religious gifts, and statues.
9 Publications
The Holy Wells of County Clare. 2015
https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/irl/munster/clare/10802_holywellofstflannan/
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
To get to the well visitors must cross a busy street and go around a bright blue wall. The wall has a slab sticking out from the middle on which a Latin cross has been inscribed on both sides. Behind this wall is the well, which is enclosed in a rectangular impoundment. (Amanda Clarke, https://holywellsofcork.com/2018/09/26/a-brief-encounter/)
4 Cure
Sore teeth and backs, rumored to help with baldness
5 Pattern day
September 29
6 Offerings
Pins, coins, medals, and rags/ribbons are tied in a nearby tree
7 Prayer rounds and stations
“Nine circuits of the well and the bridge were required, the pilgrim gathering nine small stones – releasing one by the well each time a round was completed” (Amanda Clarke)
8 Stories
“The well is dedicated to St Michael but Caoimhin (the keeper of the well) thinks the original dedication was to the Celtic goddess Mór, who has strong associations with this area. The townland is even called Baile Mór Thiar after her. Mór was eventually superseded by the masculine as Christian saints such as Michael and Brendan took hold but the feminine is carefully remembered in the choice of paint colours, reflecting the colours of Our Lady’s Mantle." (Amanda Clarke, https://holywellsofcork.com/2018/09/26/a-brief-encounter/)
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
St. Ciaran's (also seen as St. Kieran's) Holy Well is near both Castlekeeran and Carnaross townlands (approximately three miles). The well is of bedrock and is accessible by crossing one of two bridges across a river (Thunder, 1886; French, 2012). The main well is situated beside a large ash rag tree and has two steps descending into its gorge; two others are proximal and follow along the rock streambed. The smaller well southeast of the main well, referred to as the "chair," is known to offer pilgrims relief from back pain when sat in. The other small well east of this is called the "healing well" and is distinguished by the stream passing through and dispensing two different sides of the stone. This holy well has Celtic origins but was Christianized, which is can be recognized through the Christian shrine atop the hill near closest to the main well (Dempsey, 2012).
4 Cure
Water from one side of the "healing well" is meant to cure headaches and the other toothaches. The water in the narrow stream gets rid of warts. To reap headache relief pilgrims are understood to repeat "Our Fathers" and "Glory be to the fathers" three times each. No matter which well you visit, a visitor is expected to give a votive offering such as a pin or coin to demonstrate appreciation to the genius loci (French, 2012).
5 Pattern day
While there is a proper St. Ciaran's Day on June 14th, the pilgrimage to the well takes place separately on the first Sunday of the harvest or Autumn (French, 2012).
6 Offerings
Variety of rags left on ash tree just beside the main well. Small votives also left on Christian shrine (e.g. small figurines).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Historically people have turned up in large numbers—records indicate upwards of three to ten thousand pilgrims between 1913 and 1917—for the St. Ciaran's pattern. According to French people acknowledge the Five Stations of the Cross at five markers close to the well on the eve of the pilgrimage. Apparently pilgrims said prayers and circled each cross three times, concluding each station with a "drink" (French, 2012:39-40).
8 Stories
Sir William Wilde, in 1849, described St. Ciaran's Well as the most beautiful holy well in Ireland (Thunder, 1886:656). The well is said to contain several large trout (one story describing three with the names of Faith, Hope, and Charity that surface on the eve of the pattern). Pilgrims respected these trout, however a fisherman caught them unaware of their significance, but amid frying found that they were able flee the pan and speak "Leave us back where you got us" (French, 2012:40).
9 Publications
Dempsey, Jim. Megalithic Ireland. "St Ciaran's Well." http://megalithicireland.com/St%20Ciaran's%20Well,%20Castlekeeran.html?src=gpx; Thunder, John M. 1886. The Holy Wells of Meath. The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, Fourth Series, 7:68, pp. 656; French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. pp. 37-40; http://irelandssacredwater.com/holy-wells-in-ireland-map.html.