3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan notes that “Chapel Well was located in a pointed field at the edge of the Dodder and to the north of Old Bawn Bridge, Tallaght. The site is now within the Dodder Valley Linear Park” (Branigan 2012: 91).
4 Cure
Cures headaches and indigestion.
8 Stories
The well is “said to possess a supernatural trout, and was filled in by the landowner in 1820. It then moved to the other side of the field but the trout did not reappear in the new well. No trace now exists” (Branigan 2012: 91).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. Dublin: The History Press Ireland.
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 Mologa’s Well, St Malachy’s Well, Tobar Mhealaicí, or Tobermologa
2 Townland, County, GPS
Baile an Bhaoithín, Co. Kerry, grid reference: Q35768 03495.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The condition of St Mologa’s Well has declined in the last few centuries and now there is only dampy earth and scattered rocks where a prosperous well had been. The surrounding area consists of a damp field and a shallow spring (Clarke 2019). There is also a stone with writing that has not been deciphered and a faded symbol near the well (SFC: 445-447:0421).
4 Cure
Locals believe that this well can cure aches, pains and warts. Locals believed that performing the taurus at this site could cure headaches (Clarke 2019).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The School Folklores’ Collection mentions that people used to pay rounds here (SFC: 445-447:0421). Clarke explains that this practice fell out of use in the early 20th century (Clarke 2019).
8 Stories
There is a story about a pot that would not boil during a wedding because it had the trout from the well in it. When the blessed trout was returned to the well, the water boiled (Ballywiheen Church, Ballyneanig, County Kerry by RAS MacAlister, 1897. Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland).
There used to be a white eel and a “small white trout there with red spots on it” ( SFC: 445-447:0421). Locals believed that the presence of the trout or the eel during the rounds indicated that those who saw it would be healed (SFC: 445-447:0421). There used to be a tree next to the well, but it is gone now (Clarke 2019).