St. John's Well

Dublin Core

Title

St. John's Well

Description of Well Item Type Metadata

1 Name of well and saint

St John’s Well

2 Townland, County, GPS

Warrenstown, Meath

3 Physical description of well and its surroundings

Destroyed by landowners in 2018.

John Thunder described it in the 19th century as "covered by an arch; a front wall conceals it from view; a stone conductor lets out the water; under the spout is a stone flag four feet in length, by one foot six inches in breadth. On the front wall there are two images, now all but defaced, representing, probably, St Mary and St John" (Thunder 1886: 658). Noel French noted that the Salesian Fathers erected a railing around the well when they founded an agricultural college in Warrenstown in 1923. A well surround was constructed in 1944. This structure, along with stone surrounds, and even the trees and landscape undulations were all leveled
flat by new landowners in 2018. They also eradicated the stream leading from the well and
covered the well itself. Two early medieval stone heads, discovered in a 1944 well restoration and incorporated into the superstructure, were planted in the dirt on either side of the covered well.

4 Cure

Thunder states “the strong faith of the country people in the miraculous power of this well to cure maladies was proved by the crowds who frequented it in days gone by” (Thunder 1886: 657). Furthermore, “a popular belief is that the water – which is largely impregnated with iron – comes from Jordan!” (Thunder 1886: 658).

5 Pattern day

“Pilgrims assembled there, from districts far and wide, on the vigil of St John (23rd June)…many people still go there” (Thunder 1886: 657). “Many years ago, a girl having been killed in a faction fight, the people were advised not to assemble at the well, and from that time the Pilgrimage was discouraged” (Thunder 1886: 657). Additionally, “many of the people who visit this well on St John’s Eve remain until 12 o’clock at night, making the stations” (Thunder 1886: 658). Lastly, “there is a field quite near, where Masses used to be offered on St John’s Day; the two faces carved on the wall are believed to represent SS. Peter and Paul” (Thunder 1886: 658).

In 2017, the year prior to the well's destruction, close to 150 pilgrims attended the pattern day.

8 Stories

In 1708, the Irish House of Commons unsuccessfully enacted legislation to prohibit pilgrimages to the well (French, 2012:57). Pattern events continued to encourage large crowds whose behavior was not always seemly and the roman Catholic bishops of the Province of Armagh banned pilgrimages there from their dioceses (French, 2012:57).

French also notes that a fete was held in Warrenstown on 1 July, 1934 in honor of the canonisation of St. John Bosco (founder of the Salesian Order) which featured a procession to the well (2012:59).

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. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.

Geolocation