3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
There is a path that leads to the well and the well is surrounded by sally and blackthorn bushes, the site is embedded into a small hill in an open field. The well house is circular shaped and built from rough stones. The front of the monument has an opening in the middle for access to the water. Above the well, three statues (of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sacred Heart, and Mary of the Gael Saint Brigid), oversee the site. To the left is a painted depiction of St. Senan in black and white paint. A rusty donation box iaccepts contributions for the upkeep of the site.
4 Cure
The well's cure is for eyes. There was once a girl who went to the well and was cured of her blindness. She then forgot to pray and thank God and the next day she was blind again. (The Holy Wells of North Kerry. In Vol 88, No 2 p 158 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 1958)
5 Pattern day
The pattern day is celebrated on March 8th. A tradition of a match of football and a tug of war game was played with every able bodied man. Additionally, pilgrims can be found at the well on the days of Saturday before the 1st of May, the Saturday before Saint John’s day, the 24th June, and the Saturday before Michaelmas the 29th of September.
6 Offerings
Strings, tassels of shawls, and things of the like are left on the bushes next to the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The path of the rounds is treaded in a circle around the well. One rosary is to be said per three rounds of the well. It takes 9 rounds around the well to complete 3 rosaries. "The round is started by kneeling in front of the well and beginning the Rosary there and after some time stand up and walk round the orbit 3 times completing the round of the Beads in front of the well. Then start the second Rosary and walk round orbit 3 times and complete Beads at front of well" (Schools' Folklore Collection: 039-041:0412)
8 Stories
The origin of the well is from St. Senan sleeping at this spot and praying. His head laid on a stone "pillow" and this stone shows the imprint of his face. The next morning, a well was sprung from the ground.
The Well of Sea-Gull. St. Connell is the one who blessed it. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1053, Page 213)
2 Townland, County, GPS
Kilkenny, Donegal
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This is one of two holy wells blessed by St. Conall in Kilkenny, Donegal.
4 Cure
Many people visit the well of sea-gull and get cured of tooth-ache. People are known to bring the water home with them. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1053, Page 213)
6 Offerings
Locals leave beads, prayer books, and medals on a flag which lays is over the well before they leave the site. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1053, Page 213)
7 Prayer rounds and stations
"Prayers said at the well are five Decades of the Rosary, Lord's prayer and Hail Mary for Father McCullagh. Lord's prayer and Hail Mary are said for the family that owns the land on which the well sits. The Lord's prayer is additionally employed for the intention of getting cured of teeth-ache [sic]. Friday is known to be the best day of the week to make the station. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1053, Page 213)
8 Stories
According to local legend, a seagull carried the stone which is at the bottom of the well and placed it there. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1053, Page 213)
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well lies on the estate of the Toberdoney House, in a soft grassy area under a big ash tree. According to the author, the well is best visited in the dormant season, "before the grass, the nettles, and other vigorous weeds take over." The roots of the tree form a beehive-like well-house. A large stone, inscribed with the letters "SH OC 1788" and "TH 1700," serves as a water stop. (Connolly and Moroney, 1998).
4 Cure
No specific cures are mentioned, but it is mentioned that pieces of cloth and clothing used to be tied to the tree, suggesting a hope for cures (Connolly and Moroney, 1998), (Conlon, 1999).
5 Pattern day
Though a thing of the past, it is said that in the early nineteenth century, large crowds gathered on the feast day of the patron saint (which is unclear, as the well used to be called "The Lord's Well" or "Sunday's Well"). Sporting events are said to have occurred (Moroney and Connolly, 1998).
6 Offerings
Pieces of cloth are mentioned; they were tied to the big ash tree (Connolly and Moroney, 1998), (Conlon, 1999).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
In 1835, the Townland Name Book records the well as "a place frequented for ablutions of Stations by the Vulgar" (Conlon, 1998).
9 Publications
"The Holy Wells of County Louth" Larry Conlon (1999)
"Stone and Tree Sheltering Waters: An Exploration of Sacred and Secular Wells in County Louth" Susan Connolly and Anne-Maire Moroney (1998)
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Close to the sea, St. Dennis's Well is on a slope in a tall rectangular structure, and only holds water in the winter. There is a large slab covering the well, with initials and crosses carved carefully into the stone.. It is additionally described as "roughly 8 ft long, 3 ft 6 ins wide, and 2 ft 10 ins deep" (Corcoran et al., 1930).
The well is in a cove on a seashore, it is shallow and has a stone structure over it. There is a large stone a short distance from the well that is known as St. Dennis's stone, it is said to have an imprint of the saint's knees.
5 Pattern day
St. Dennis's Feast Day is on the 9th of October, and it is mentioned that "in times past there was an extended patterns which might have incorporated both dates." Connolly and Moroney also note that, "On the last day of the pattern, called 'Sheela's Monday,' the 'Mayor' of the area was paraded in ridiculous guise to the well where he was immersed. This custom came to an abrupt end when the last incumbent candidate nearly drowned!"
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Stations are mentioned, but it is unclear what they were (Connolly and Moroney, 1998) (Corcoran et al. 1930). It was also supposedly a pilgrimage destination (Corcoran et al., 1930).
8 Stories
It is said that when he was young, St. Dennis worked for a farmer in Clogherhead. He prayed at the well early every Sunday. Later, he was noticed by a priest, who sent word of him to the Pope, and eventually St. Dennis went to Rome. On his return voyage, he was shipwrecked and his body was swept into Clogher on a huge stone (St. Dennis's stone).
It is said that, in the last century, a sailor who lost his leg had it re-attached after making a pattern at the well (Connolly and Moroney, 1998).
9 Publications
The Schools' Collection", Volume 0675, pages 28-31: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008868/4962270
"The Holy Wells of County Louth" by Larry Conclon, (1999), pages 346-347: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27729850?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
The Schools' Collection", Volume 0675, pages 28-31: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008868/4962270
"The Holy Wells of County Louth" by Larry Conclon, (1999), pages 346-347: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27729850?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
"Walk to explore Clogherhead's great coastal history," Drogheda Independent, 2011: https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/walk-to-explore-clogherheads-great-coastal-history-27157612.html
"Townland Survey of County Louth" P. Corcoran, P. Ua Dubhda, S. Ua Mhairtin, and J.G. MacCooey (1930)
10 More
An article in the Drogheda Independent includes St. Dennis's Well in the Annagassan and District Historical Society walk around the coastline, and mentions "unusual carvings" in the stone (Drogheda Independent, 2011). Additionally, for more information about St. Dennis's colorful past, see The Schools Collection page here: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008868/4962269/5077003
Tobar Chuain is dedicated to Saint Cuan and Saint Brogan.
2 Townland, County, GPS
The well is located in the townland of Mothel in County Waterford.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located at a site of an old monastery said to be build by the saints. While the building no longer stands, there are small relics of the structure, near its location. There is also a large tree said to stand at the site of the original altar built in the monastery.
4 Cure
It is said that the well holds curative properties for many common ailments, specifically sore eyes.
5 Pattern day
In the past, the pattern day was held on July 10th. However, the day now falls on the Sunday closest to the 10th.
6 Offerings
Votive offerings of hair are tied to the tree next to the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Pilgrims are to make nine rounds around the well In doing this, they walk without shoes through a shallow stream that contains water from the well. Pilgrims will also carry a small stone with them and then place it on a heap of rocks once they had finished their rounds.
8 Stories
It is said that there were two small trout that lived in the well, and that these fish were the embodiment of Saints Cuan and Brogan. Once, a man from outside the village tried to steal the fish and was promptly chased by the villagers until he dropped the fish.
9 Publications
Broderick, Eugene. 2016. Patterns and Patrons: The Holy Wells of Waterford.
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0633, Page 374