St Nicholas's Well

St Nicholas's Well

St Nicholas's Well

Tullaghanogue, Meath

Tullaghanogue Church is located near the well, the well is “to the east of the church… dedicated to St Nicholas” (French 2012: 73-74). French states that “this well appears to be located at the centre of a circular earthwork feature and is located off the farmyard entrance to Tullaghanogue House, formerly called Shamrock Hill” (French 2012: 74).

Cures nervous diseases, headaches, vomiting.

“Stations were preformed at the start of the harvest on the first Sunday in August” (French 2012: 74).

French gives additional information on St Nicholas: “the parish of Castlerickard is dedicated to St Nicholas and the National School in Longwood is named after St Nicholas. St Nicholas was the patron saint of Dunsany and of Greenogue parish. Near the castle at Dunsany stands the church of St Nicholas. The feast of St Nicholas falls on 6 December. The first Anglo-Norman church at Skyrne was dedicated to St Nicholas. The remains of the saint, who inspired the legend of Santa Claus, is said to have been buried in Newtown Jerpoint in Kilkenny in medieval times” (French 2012: 74).

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

French notes that the well is also called Tobernuaglas or new green well” (French 2012: 74). An inscription on the well reads “Pray for the soule of Robert Lord Baron Trimlestowne 1687” another inscription reads “Pray for ye soule of Mrs. Alice Griffin; her husband Mr. J. Griffin. Erected by her family – 1764” (French 2012: 74).