Dublin Core
Title
St. Seanachan’s Well
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
St. Seanachan's Well, also called St. Shanaghan’s Well and Tobar Seanachain (French 2012: 94).
2 Townland, County, GPS
Dowth, Meath
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Located about three quarters of a mile from the old church of Dowth. It had originally been situated within three perches of the church and there were three trees which then stood over it (French 2012: 94).
5 Pattern day
St Seanachan’s patron day is the 17 December
8 Stories
According to Thunder, “a woman is reputed to have washed clothes in it, owing to which pollution the well is said to have removed to a distance of nearly a mile to the south of the old church” (Thunder 1886: 657).
In 2012, French writes that “according to the School’s Folklore collection the well moved because a woman washed tripe in it. On the following midnight the well was seen moving down to the Boyne surrounded by twelve candles” (French 2012: 94).
In 2012, French writes that “according to the School’s Folklore collection the well moved because a woman washed tripe in it. On the following midnight the well was seen moving down to the Boyne surrounded by twelve candles” (French 2012: 94).
9 Publications
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.
French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.
10 More
French notes that “the well is named as ‘St Brendan’s Well’ on the OS maps” (French 2012: 94).