3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Currently housed by a small blue and white stone structure, the well is also surrounded by a metal fence.
4 Cure
The water from this well cures sprains, cuts, bruises, rheumatism and sore eyes.
5 Pattern day
“Lady day” September 8th
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The original practice was for pilgrims to crawl on their hands and knees around the well. Prostrating themselves on the ground in front of the well head, they drank the well's waters.
8 Stories
Legends states that the well was once offended and moved across the road to the location where it currently stands. Another legend states that there are nine curses in the water, but no one knows what exactly they are.
9 Publications
Branigan, G. (2012). Ancient & holy wells of Dublin.
https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ivrla:10329
2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Dublin. Dublin: History Press.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan records that the well “is located on Church Road, south of the ruined church and graveyard…a large white-washed structure originally built in the fourteenth century improved on [some] of the occasions since. It resembles a miniature church and is open at both ends. There are [tunnels] at each end, one with a cross, and the other with a niche which holds a statue of […] Mary” (Branigan 2012: 74).
The well is engraved with:
“[…] ’I H S Holy Mary pray for us’
[…] ‘O blessed mother and ever virgin glorious queen of the world make intercession […to our Lord] Amen.’
[…] Vouchsafe that I may praise thee O sacred Virgin Obtain for me force against thy […]’”
(Branigan 2012: 74).
4 Cure
Cures sprains, cuts, bruises, and rheumatism.
5 Pattern day
“The practice was for the pilgrim to crawl on hands and knees around the well and, lying on their stomachs, put their head inside the well house and drink directly from the water. A large pattern was held here in times past on Lady Day, 8 September, and like at other wells, drunkenness and violence eventually crept in, culminating in the death of a man in 1760 during a fight at the well” (Branigan 2012: 77).
8 Stories
The well was “originally dedicated to St Cuthbert but rededicated in or around 1300” (Branigan 2012: 74).
The well was supported “by Henry VI in the fifteenth century and provided with a financial fund to maintain local Marian shrines, particularly Lady’s Well. During their guardianship numerous improvements were made to the well structure and subsequent to the Order being disbanded on the King’s death, care of the well was undertaken by members of the Gracedieu Nunnery who also built onto the previous structure” (Branigan 2012: 77).
“Legend has it that the well was offended and it moved from the other side of the road to where it is situated now. It is also held that there are nine cures in the water, but nobody knows what they all are” (Branigan 2012: 77).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. Dublin: The History Press Ireland.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
A rectangular well lined with slate slabs with a statue of the virgin Mary near it as well as two slate slabs above the well depicting a human figure and Tobar Fionnian
4 Cure
This well was meant to cure rheumatism by using the well on a Saturday.
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]
This well resides in Knockenagh South, County Kerry.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Saint Batt’s Well is a below ground well with a stone enclosure and steps, along with a large metal slab above it and a metal door blocking the entrance. When the door is opened, there are a few more steps that lead down to a circular pool of water.
4 Cure
This well serves as a cure for eye, throat, and back aches, along with rheumatism. To obtain the cure one is instructed to either drink the water or take some moss from the surrounding area, mix it with the well water, and apply to the affected areas.
5 Pattern day
The pattern day for Saint Bartholomew is August 24 but the well is visited often. According to one student from the folklore collection, "It is visited on the last Saturday in April, the Saturday before the twenty-fourth of June and the Saturday before the twenty-ninth of September." (SFC: 0406:086).
6 Offerings
Offerings range from holy figurines of saints and rosaries to money and ribbons. These offerings are left tied to surrounding trees or on top of the slab covering the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
In order "to pay rounds...[people] go around the well nine times and they say three rosaries..."(SFC: 0401:314).
8 Stories
On its healing properties: "Many people have been cured at this well. A woman had a very bad pain in her back. She went to the well in Coolard and did one round. When she reached home the pain went away." (SFC: 0406:087)
There is also said to be a trout that possesses some sort of magically quality who lives in the well. "...one day a woman took a gallon of water out the well to make tea. She took out the fish in the gallon and put the fish into the kettle with the water unknown to herself. She put it over a big fire to boil it and it was over the fire for hours and it did not boil. At last she looked into the kettle and she saw the fish. She took out the fish and took him to the well again and put him into it and so the kettle boiled."(SFC: 0407:084).
As mentioned in the provided local stories, the well is noted as being in Coolard. The well was moved after a woman washed clothing in the water to where it is today. The picture provided is from Clarke at holywellscorkandkerry.com
St Eóin's Well, also referred to Saint Senan's Well or St. Luke's Well.
2 Townland, County, GPS
Asdee, County Kerry
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
St. Eoin's well is a circular well filled with clear water located in a field with a small wooden fence around it. It is below ground, surrounded by stone and has a shrine with a Virgin Mary statue near it.
4 Cure
The well is said to hold a cure for sore eyes and rheumatism. The cure is obtained by "...drink[ing] the well-water. They never bathe in the well but they rub it to the affected part." (SFC, 0403:039)
5 Pattern day
The well is visited "the Saturday before May-day, the first Saturday in May and before St. John's day." (SFC, 0403:038) Mass is held yearly on June 24th.
6 Offerings
Offerings include string/pieces of cloth, pictures of saint john, and medals. The cloth is tied to a bush which grows close to the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
"You should go round the well three times and say a rosary while you are going around. This should be done three times." (SFC, 0403:038)
8 Stories
One story from the School Folklore Collection is as follows: "One day as St. Eóin was saying Mass by the well the priest hunters came along. The people got afraid but St. Eóin told them not to be afraid and when he had Mass finished he mounted his horse and the horse rose up into the air and came down on top of Cnoc an Áir." (SFC, 0403:038)
Another story also from the School Folklore Collection: "One day a man who was blind in one eye went to the well and started to do the rounds. When he had the rounds finished he washed his eye with the water from the well. After a while the eye was cured and when he opened his eye he saw the lump that was in it swimming in the water, and after a while a fish came to the top of he water and carried the lump away with him." (SFC, 0403:104)
And another from Dwelling, Place and Environment, written by Walter G Brenneman: "On the eve of her wedding she went to meditate at St Eoin’s well. She sat on the grass before the well, and out from out of a nearby bush there sprung a golden trout, moving on its tail as a salmon skims the across the surface of the water. The trout leapt into the water and disappeared. From the spot where he disappeared, there arose a continuous stream of bubbles. These are considered to be full of power and no doubt refer back to the na bolcca immaiss, or mystic bubble of inspiration of the Well of Segais." (ed David Saemon, Robert Mugerauer,1985)
9 Publications
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4666582?pageNum=038
https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2020/03/01/north-kerry-escapade-part-2/
David Saemon and Robert Mugerauer, Dwelling, Place, and Environment, 1985
10 More
Picture from Clarke at https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2020/03/01/north-kerry-escapade-part-2/
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well sits about one mile to the northwest of the village Carrigaline in Ballinrea district. St. John’s well can be found, “along a path between the Ballinrea Road and the Ballea Road (R613), adjacent to the Dun Eoin residential area. It is encased by a bee-hive shaped structure, with a small entrance from which water flows. A damaged cross tops the structure, while five pilgrim crosses are inscribed on the exterior walls” (Scriven, 2013: Liminalentwinings.com). The site is down in a glade and surrounded by trees (Clarke, 2016: holywellscorkandkerry.com).
4 Cure
Tobar Eoin Óg grants a general cure, but specifically the site has been said to cure lifelong blindness in adults, rheumatic pains and motor impairments. A believer may take the waters in order to obtain the spring’s healing benefits if they complete the prescribed rounds.
5 Pattern day
The pattern day is on St. John’s eve (June 23rd). The pattern day coincides with the pagan festival of midsummer. This explains the significance of lighting bonfires during St. John’s eve and particularly near the well site.
6 Offerings
The well enclosure itself is a votive offering from the old man who discovered the site and had his vision restored. There are two entries in the Schools’ Collection of folklore relating to votive offerings at St. John’s Well near Carrigaline. “The relics usually left are - medals, pictures, statues, scapulars, beads and other Holy Objects,” (SFC 0392: 62). “When people come to wash their sores in the well they leave a little holy picture or an Image and sometimes they leave rosary beads and medals… There are crosses on the stones outside of it and if you scratch your money on it you will have twice as much next year. From the people scratching their money the crosses have got six inches deep,” (SFC 0392: 220).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Amanda Clarke provides a description of the folk liturgy of the site: “The Rosary was led by the priest who circled the well clockwise, stopping at each of the five crosses, another man inscribing the stones. A Decade of the Rosary was said at each one. Later some pilgrims performed the same rounds,” (Clarke, 2016: holyswellscorkandkerry.com).
8 Stories
There are two detailed entries on St. John’s well from separate authors in the Schools’ Collection. The first details the well’s construction:
It is a common belief here that it was discovered by a blind old man - a resident in Ballea
who had a very strange dream in which he was ordered by a voice to make a journey - in what direction is not stated - and stop where he heard water trickling.
The following day he set out, and locating the water, stooped and dug with his fingers until water sprang up, bathing his eyes in the clear water his sight was instantly restored.
The next entry explains why the well carries its namesake:
The name of the well is St. John' s well. It got its name because St. John is supposed to appear there twice a year. There is a tree growing on top of the well an ash tree and the people living in the house near the well cracket a piece off the tree and put it in the fire and they said it would not burn.
9 Publications
Clarke, Amanda. 2016. "Tobar Eoin Óg, St John’s Well, Carrigaline" holywellscorkandkerry.com, June 24th. https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2016/06/24/tobar-eoin-og-st-johns-well-carrigaline/
Scriven, Richard. 2013. "St John’s Well Carrigaline" liminalentwinings.com, June 24th. http://liminalentwinings.com/st-johns-well-carrigaline/
Schools' Folklore Collection, 0392:62
Schools' Folklore Collection, 0392:220
St. Laserian's Well (known by hypocoristic St. Molaise's Well)
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
St. Laserian's Well, or Molaise Well
2 Townland, County, GPS
Kellistown, Co. Carlow
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located at the site of Saint Laserian's cathedral, and set in a small area with concrete steps around the well, which also features a prominent cross
4 Cure
Accounts found in the Irish National Folklore Collection (NFC SC 0907:30-31) tell us that the well was used to cure rheumatism and sore eyes.
5 Pattern day
18th April, on St. Laserian's feast day
6 Offerings
Historical accounts (NFC SC 0907:34-6) say that coins, crucifixes, handkerchiefs, and pieces of cloth were regular offerings.
9 Publications
For historical information on the nearby church, please see: http://trails.carlowtourism.com/12.html
For a modern accounting of the well and its status, please see: https://irelandsholywells.blogspot.com/2011/09/saint-laserians-well-old-leighlin.html
Duchas NFC SC contains accounts circa 1930's, in 0907: 30-31 & 34-36, as well as 0908:50
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Recent accounts are that the well is now dry, but people still visit to pray there.