St MacCullin’s Well (Tobar Mhic Chuilinn) It is also known as “St Michael’s Well and St Patrick’s Well.” (Branigan 2012:29).
2 Townland, County, GPS
This well is located in the Grallagh townland of County Dublin.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan states that “St MacCuillin’s Well is located within the Grallagh Graveyard. It is situated within a tall pitched stone structure and entered via a Gothic archway, with four steps leading down to the water; a shamrock is carved into the top step.” (Branigan 2012:29).
4 Cure
It is said to cure disorders of the eyes, rheumatism, and whooping cough. A holy stone outside the graveyard gate bears what were thought to be the imprints of the saint's fingers. Pressing one's back against the holy stone is thought to cure backaches.
5 Pattern day
Patterns held on the “first Sunday in August.” (Branigan 2012:29). MacNeill noted that "a patron" was still being held on the first Sunday of August in 1934 (2008 [19662]: 640).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Dublin.
Dublin: History Press.
MacNeill, Máire. 2008 [1962] The Festival of Lughnasa.
Dublin: Comhair le Bhéaloideas Éireann. [Pg. 640]
The well is located in the Crowscastle townland in County Dublin.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan states that the well “is located within a copse of trees at the edge of a stream beside Lakeshore Drive in Airside Business Park, Swords.” (Branigan 2012:25). The site is decorated and seems well-attended. A Buddha statue placed at the site evidences visitation by those with multiple spiritual perspectives.
4 Cure
The well is said to cure “disorders of the eyes.” (Branigan 2012:25).
5 Pattern day
Daughter of a Mercian king, this Anglo-Saxon saint died in 699 on the 3rd of February which remains her feast day. She was Abbess of Ely and her veneration came to Ireland with the Anglo-Normans. Her church in Dublin was built in 1178.
6 Offerings
There are many offerings from a variety of faiths surrounding the well.
8 Stories
The well was destroyed in the 21st century, but has been restored by locals who continue to watch over it.
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. Ancient and Holy Wells of Dublin. 2012> Dublin: History Press.
10 More
A link to a youtube video showing the well: https://youtu.be/Gdqude7t14M
This Holy Well is known colloquially as Biddy Boughy’s Well according to Gary Branigan. (Branigan 2012:17). The well is dedicated to St. Brighid.
2 Townland, County, GPS
It is located in the Balrothery townland of County Dublin.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan states that it “is located in a small field beside a bungalow named Fairfiellds on the Old Coach Road...an old mud pathway from the roadway led to it but it is now overgrown and fenced off so access was limited.” (Branigan 2012:17). Additionally “the spring is enclosed within a circle of mortared stones at the base of a wall.” (Branigan 2012:17).
4 Cure
This well is said to cure disorders of the eyes.
8 Stories
According to Branigan, “legend has it that a woman named Biddy Boughy washed clothes in the a holy well in Chapel lane… and that well dried up as a result of the offence, moving to this location.” (Branigan 2012:17).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. Ancient and Holy Wells of Dublin. 2012> Dublin: History Press.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is surrounded by a cover of old trees, which creates a natural grove. There are 4 grottos with religious figurines at the entrance to the well. One of the figurines is of St. Joseph. The main well is without water due to roadwork interfering with water flow. The site has been neglected since the local hospital closed and foot traffic decreased.
4 Cure
The well is said to offer cures for eyes and headaches.
5 Pattern day
On August 15, the well has a local cleanup followed by an annual Mass.
9 Publications
Houlihan, Michael. 2015. The Holy Wells of County Clare.
St Brigid’s well is located in Bohercom, Co. Galway.
GPS: 53.1999, -8.5605
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
St Brigid’s well is fenced in by a stone wall about four feet high. The stone fence can be entered through a metal gate. At the head of the well is a small painted statue of St Brigid.
4 Cure
The well is known for at least one eye cure.
6 Offerings
Ribbons are often tied to a nearby bush.
9 Publications
Galway Community Heritage Office, St Brigid’s Well, March 13, 2018. https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/places/loughrea-heritage-trail/5-st-brigids-well
County Dublin, Brideswell Commons; 53°18’55,82”N, 6°23’43.50”W
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well sits in a large enclosure that has been very well maintained through the years. The well is located on Lilliput Lane off of Boot Road in Clondalkin. The enclosure where the well is located contains a statue of Saint Bridghid and a “rag tree”. The stone structure around the well dates back to 1761 and the raining that is currently around the well was donated by workers from a paper mill in the 1940’s.
4 Cure
Cures eye disorders, particularly around February 1st, three visits to the well are needed for the cure to be successful and it is particularly effective for young girls.
8 Stories
During road work that took place in the 1990’s the water source connected to the well was severed and it dried up for the first time, the well was then connected to main water lines.
9 Publications
Branigan, G. (2012). Ancient & holy wells of Dublin.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
“Situated in a marshy hollow in an upland area with a nearby church to the Northwest. A circular well is enclosed by a drystone wall surviving three courses high with a small stream flowing out from the North face of the well” (Farrelly & O’Brien 275).
4 Cure
The well possesses “curative properties for sore eyes and headaches. Cures were obtained by placing a stone on top of your head” (Farrelly & O’Brien 275).
5 Pattern day
A pilgrimage is made to the well on August 15th (Farrelly & O’Brien 275).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Prayer stations are performed on October 27th (Farrelly & O’Brien 275).
9 Publications
Farrelly, Jean and Caimin O’Brien. Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary -North Tipperary. Vol 1. PP 273- 278.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well is proximal to the land of Ardbraccan House, the house that was at once O'Conor's (Thunder, 1886:656). A visitor will find the well over nine feet in diameter with six steps down into its stone basin (French, 2012:60).
4 Cure
The well may hold cures for tooth aches and eye pain, which may be achieved by either drinking or washing the problem area, respectively. A pilgrim may also wash their fit in the well to cure sore feet (French, 2012:61).
5 Pattern day
Historical records indicate a range of patterns between the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Until 1850 pilgrims held stations on the eve of St Ultan's Day, September 4th. This tradition faded until the 1920s into the 1950s when there was a resurgence of pilgrims visiting the well. French (2012) writes, "In the 1930s there was a pilgrimage of St. Ultan's Well every year on the first Sunday in September and the Rosary was recited in Irish... today the well is dry" (French, 2012:61). Current gatherings at the well on the saint's feast day in the second decade of the 21st century range in attendance from 20 to 40 people. The well has dried in part due to zinc mining in the vicinity.
8 Stories
St Ultan is known to have been a devout humanitarian, offering food, clothes, and education to over 500 children orphaned by the yellow plague. Given this history, St Ultan's inspired the 1919 founding of Dublin City's St Ultan's Hospital for Infants (French, 2012:60-1; hospital closed in 1975).
9 Publications
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. 60-2.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well is said to be along the path of St Patrick's travels from Meath to Cavan and is situated within the Green at Carlanstown nearby the National School. The well is covered by a dome of granite blocks. There appears to be a cross represented in the stone formation and red colored flagstone inside the well (French, 2012:1-2).
4 Cure
The well has long been visited on St. Patrick's Day. As reported by French, people collect water for washing one's eyes to to cure any ailment, but not before "[saying] six 'Hail Marys." Additionally, is is believed that cooking with the water will ensure good health (French, 2012:3).
8 Stories
According to local folklore some features of the well reflect St Patrick's engagement with the landscape in his first journey. The red color in the flagstone within the well came by legend from his injured and bleeding toe. Two small holes are said to be the impressions of his toe and finger (water from them is thought to be healing) (French, 2012:2).
9 Publications
(Admonán, March 13, 2014) http://irelandsholywells.blogspot.com/2014/03/saint-patricks-well-carlanstown-county.html; French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. pp. 1-17; 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. 655.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is tucked into a field boundary and has a semi-circular basin full of fresh, clean water. The concave stone wall contains a slabbed shelf that is full of offerings.
4 Cure
The water is meant to be good for sore eyes and warts.
5 Pattern day
The Feast day of St Ruadhán (his name can be spelt in many different ways) is the 15th April.
6 Offerings
There are white pebbles, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a white rag hanging above the well, and a crucifix rests on stones just below the shelf.
9 Publications
Clarke, Amanda. "Gazetteer." Holy Wells of Cork. Accessed November 4th, 2018. https://holywellsofcork.com/gazeteer/
St Anne’s holy well is in the townland of Booleynanollagh (also referred to as Aughanass, sometimes spelled Ahanass) in the county Galway.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Located near a stream, St Anne’s holy well is sunken into the ground, with stone steps leading to the entrance to provide access. Positioned at the head of the well is a wooden shrine to St Anne which also contains a painted statue of St Anne. Near the well there is also a children’s burial ground marked by a large, white cross.
4 Cure
The well is known for curing illnesses, primarily sore eyes.
6 Offerings
The most common votive offering left at St Anne’s holy well are rages tied to nearby bushes.
9 Publications
“St Anne’s Holy Well.” Woodford Galway. http://www.woodfordgalway.com/index.php/holy-well-menu-item-2
Cunniffe, Christy. “St Anne’s Well.” Galway Community Archaeology. Last modified June 26, 2016. https://field-monuments.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/archaeology/holy-wells/st-annes-well
Photo by Christy Cunniffe
Lough Atalia (also called Loch an tSáile) on the eastern edge of County Galway.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
St. Augustine’s well was restored in 2000 by the Galway Civic Trust. It sits on the edge of the lake and is hexagonal in shape with a low wall around the edges. Additionally, the well becomes inundated by tides twice a day.
4 Cure
The well is famous among pilgrims for many cures, particularly regarding ailments of the eyes and ears.
5 Pattern day
The main days for devotion at the well are the last Sunday in July or the first Sunday in August. Máire MacNeill suggests the possibility that the well may have been associated with the Lughnasa festival.
6 Offerings
There are often small offerings of coins found in the bottom of the well (see Louise Nugent blog post).
9 Publications
MacNeill, M. 2007. The festival of Lughnasa: a study of the survival of the Celtic festival of the beginning of harvest. Dublin: Folklore of Ireland Council.
Nugent, Louise. “Miracles and Violence: St Augustine’s well in the 17th century,” Pilgrimage in Medieval Ireland (blog), May 26, 2012.
https://pilgrimagemedievalireland.com/2012/05/26/miracles-and-violence-st-augustines-well-in-the-17th-century/
O'DOWD, PEADAR. "HOLY WELLS OF GALWAY CITY." Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 60 (2008): 136-53. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20720184.
All photos by Louise Nugent
10 More
“Originally this well was one of a group of three, but the northern and southern wells no longer survive. The Galway Archaeological Inventory states all three wells were dedicated originally to St Augustine but Máire MacNeill refers to the northern and southern wells as being dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and John the Baptist” (Louise Nugent blog post).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Located adjacent to St. Doulagh's church near Balgriffin. The well has a 3 feet deep impoundment and is located within the only free-standing baptistery remaining in Ireland (Branigan, 2012:50-52). Branigan notes that the structure once held plaster frescoes on each of the four walls with images of St. Doulagh, St. Patrick, St. Brigid and St. Colmcille. A plaque also hung within with a Latin inscription comparing the holy well to Bethesda's sacred pool.
4 Cure
St. Catherine's Pond (enclosed with a stone impoundment and fed from the stream from St. Doulagh's well) was formerly visited to cure eye disorders.
8 Stories
Girls were baptized in the pond, while boys were baptized in the well (Branigan, 2012:50,51).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Dublin. Dublin: History Press.
Moss, Rachel. 2003. "St Doolagh's Church." Irish Arts Review, 20(2):122-125.
Swan, D. Leo. 1990. “ ‘St Doulagh’s’ Balgriffin.” In Excavations 1989: Summary Accounts of Archaeological Excavations in Ireland, Edited by Isabel Bennett, 18-19. Dublin: Wordwell.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Beside a stream in lush vegetation. Well access via a small bridge and gate. Well is lined and roofed with stones. A vibrant orange buoy marks it. (https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/04/18/st-barrahane-st-bridget/ by Amanda Clark)
4 Cure
eyes, stomach
5 Pattern day
3rd December
6 Offerings
"Offerings dangle from the surrounding bushes – rosaries, hankies, ribbons, tinsel and a pile of rusty coins." (https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/04/18/st-barrahane-st-bridget/ by Amanda Clark)
9 Publications
https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/04/18/st-barrahane-st-bridget/ by Amanda Clark
Photograph by Amanda Clark
Power, Denis et al. Archeological Inventory of Count Cork Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: The Stationery Office, 1994. PDF. 26 OCT. 2018.
The well is in the Old Graveyard in Kenmare town, Co Kerry.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well is on the shore below the graveyard and is dedicated to the 7th century St Finian.
4 Cure
The "cure" it has is for healing sore or infected eyes. A person puts some of the water on the affected eye or eyes and leaves it there for a certain amount of time and their eyes will be healed.
6 Offerings
Shells, rosary beads, rags, and small pebbles. A slate has been left on top of the well structure so that visitors may etch a cross in that rather than on the stones that form the impoundment/shelter.
St. Mary's Well (AKA Tobar Mhuire/Tober-Murry/Lady Well)
2 Townland, County, GPS
Townland of Rosserk, Co. Mayo (54.168827, -9.144540)
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is situated at the confluence of the Rosserk River and the River Moy (west bank), near Rosserk Abbey. The well is situated about 500m from a small carpark situated on the right hand side of the road, before Rosserk Abbey. It is accessed via a boreen, known as 'the Rosary Path'.
4 Cure
The waters from the well are credited with curative properties, particularity for eyes.
5 Pattern day
The Patron Day was 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but pilgrims visited from that day until 8 September.
6 Offerings
Mostly rosary beads, scapulars and religious statues, as well as rags or tissue paper. Mostly attached to a hawthorn tree, which grows from the roof of the stone structure over the well, but also on other hawthorn trees in the immediate vicinity and on nearby fencing.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
There are a several numbered spots at the site.
9 Publications
1. Monsignor O'Hara (1898) "Rosserk and Moyne, Co. Mayo". Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Fifth Series, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 258-263.
2. John O'Donovan/Michael O'Flanagan (1927) 'Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the County of Mayo: collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838'.
10 More
According to tradition, the well is situated at the site of an apparition of the Virgin Mary that took place c. 1680.
In 1798, a local landowner named John Lynott built a little stone-vaulted building over the well; an inscription reads: 'This chapel was built in honour of the Blessed Virgin in the year of Our Lord 1798, by John Lynott, of Rosserk.' Beneath this inscription is a large figure of a dove with the words 'Pax' (peace) and 'Amor' (Love). Beneath this are two other slabs with inscriptions in Latin, bearing the years 1684 and 1810.
See also: http://www.sacredlandscapes.ie/tobar-mhuire.html