St Doulagh’s Well and St Catherine’s Pond

St Doulagh’s Well and St Catherine’s Pond

St Doulagh’s Well and St Catherine’s Pond

Located in the Saintdoolaghs townland of County Dublin.

The well and pond “are located adjacent to the stone church of Doughlagh, near Balgriffin. They are considered to be two wells, but it is likely that St Catherine’s pond is only filled via an overflow from St Doulagh’s Well. St Doulagh’s Well is a cut-stone circular well, approximately three feet deep, located within a stone-built octagonal baptistery, the only free-standing baptistery remaining in Ireland. It was [built] for the baptism of boys” (Branigan 2012: 50). The girls were baptized in St Catherine’s Pond. Additionally, Branigan states that the interior of the well house “once held plaster frescoes on each of the four walls, with images of St Patrick, St Brighid, St Colmcille, and St Doulagh, with a further fresco on the ceiling depicting the descending Holy Spirit. In addition, it held a marble plaque with an inscription in Latin” (Branigan 2012: 50).

The wells cure disorders of the eyes.

Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. Dublin: The History Press Ireland.

Branigan notes that the level of water in both well is much reduced and the widening of a road in the vicinity is blamed for this” (Branigan 2012: 50).