St. Scire's Well

St. Scire's Well

St. Scire's Well

Kilskyre, Meath

The well beside the Kilskyre-Clonmellon road. One of three wells in Kilskyre, the well of St Scire is to the south of the graveyard and a well called Tobar na hFeact, the well of the churchyard. In 1836 John O’Donovan wrote that Scire’s Well lay about five perches south of the old graveyard in the townland of Kilskyre (French 2012: 93).

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A pattern was held on 24 March, “in a church named after her” (Thunder 1886: 657).

According to French, “St Scire flourished in the latter half of the sixth century and met with St Colmcille in the year 580. Her festival according to tradition, was celebrated on the 28 of September, but this does not agree with the Calendar of Cashel and other ancient Festilogies which place her festival on 24 March. In the Irish calendar under 24 March she is mentioned as Scire, Virgin, of Cill Scire in Meath” (French 2012: 93-94).

“According to Dr. P Branagan writing in Riocht na Midhe in 1970 there were a number of wells in the area which were considered to be Skeer’s Well. One at Milltown Road right opposite the old monastery had the strongest claim. Another well on the lands of Mr. Tom Murphy was also called St Scire’s Well but it had disappeared prior to 1970. It was said that someone washed their dirty clothes in the well and it disappeared overnight to spring up again at Boltown. According to Branagan another claimant for the saint’s well was at Clonabraney which is opposite the graveyard there but this is better known as St Kevin’s Well” (French 2012: 94).

Thunder, John M. “The Holy Wells of Meath.” The Journal of the Royal Historical and
Archaeological Association of Ireland. Oct 1886-Jan 1887, pp 655-658.

French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.