Seven Sisters/Seven Daughters

Seven Sisters/Seven Daughters

The Well of the Seven Daughters or Seven Sisters

Aillebrack, Galway

The Well of the Seven Daughters is situated in a valley in a field called "Pairc Geal" in Aillebrack, almost at the foot of Doon Hill. There is a white-thorn bush growing close to the well and there is a spring-well also very close to it. A little wall partly encloses the well. A new residential construction prevents easy access to the site.

The well is frequented for the cure of diseases, particularly headaches, sore eyes, sore hands, etc.

Pattern Day and/or Practices - discontinued; site rarely visited because of difficult access

On completion of the rounds, something is left beside the well, such as coins, medals, statues, buttons, hair pins, crosses, flowers, pieces of cloth tied on the bush.

The prayers said are:- seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and seven Glory be to the Fathers on each round of seven. There are seven stones used to count the rounds. If the Station is being performed for oneself, three sups of water are taken by the person. The water is also applied to the affected part and it is also brought home.

Tradition has it that the patrons of the well were the Seven sisters of St. Cailín, who were drowned while bathing in Lough Fada (Ballinaboy).

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0005, Page 157
Paul Gosling, Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Volume 1: West Galway, 117.
https://www.visitgalway.ie/explore/religious-and-spiritual/holy-wells/well-of-the-seven-daughters/
https://www.megalithicireland.com/Cashleen%20Church%20of%20the%20Seven%20Daughters.html (photo source, photos by Jim Dempsey)

It is said that the water of the well "boils up" and that a water-spider is seen when a request is granted.