Well of the Holy Women

Dublin Core

Title

Well of the Holy Women

Description of Well Item Type Metadata

1 Name of well and saint

Well of the Holy Women, dedicated to three sisters that became nuns and blessed the well.

2 Townland, County, GPS

County -- Donegal
Townland -- Rannakilla

5 Pattern day

June 23 - 29

6 Offerings

Items such as rags, coins, beads, etc. may be left at the well.

7 Prayer rounds and stations

There is a nearby altar that an adherent must make a certain number of rounds around before extracting water from the well. Before water can be taken for personal use, three drops must be poured out in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Only then may the individual take a bottle of the water that can then be used for its miscellaneous curative properties. The bottle must also be corked with natural materials such as moss or grass found near the well.

8 Stories

Fishermen are said to have prayed at the well for protection before going out to sea.

9 Publications

Szövérffy, Joseph. 1955. "The Well of the Holy Women: Some St. Columba Traditions in the West of Ireland." The Journal of American Folklore 68 (268): 111-122.

Geolocation