St. Michael (Archangel Michael)

St. Michael (Archangel Michael)

St. Michael's Well also called Lake of the Sallow (Loughsallagh)

Dunboyne, Meath

In 2012, French notes that “St Michael’s Well is located in the centre of Loughsallagh graveyard, on the Dublin road out of Dunboyne. The well was a little west of the church and was about 54 inches deep and 46 inches wide and surrounded by stonework. The water entered from the northside” (French 2012: 90-91).

The well cures toothache, and headache.

“About fifty years ago Stations were held there” (Thunder 1886: 657).

Those seeking a cure throw in pins. Noel French noted that in previous times, coffins would be covered with a sheet and the pins securing this sheet to the wood of the coffin were also thrown into the well when the coffin was carried into the churchyard (French, 2012:91).

Dean Cogan described the well in the 1860s (French, 2012:91). Stations took place at the well at least into the nineteenth century. The well dried when a man washed his stockings in the well's waters (the man himself acquired the 'falling sickness' and died as a result) (French, 2012:91).

Thunder notes that “the ‘Annals’ state that the lake at Loughsallow burst forth 1410 years before the birth of Christ” (Thunder 1886: 657).

the well was said to be warm from October through June and to be warmest at the coldest part of the winter (French, 2012:91).

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: Trim Heritage Centre.

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