Dublin Core
Title
St. Patrick's Well
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
St Patrick’s Well
2 Townland, County, GPS
Oldcastle, Meath
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well “is situated in a secluded valley in the townland of Boolies. A nearby house is named Patrickswell House and is marked on the Ordnance Survey maps. The field in which the well is to be found is called the ‘Door field’. The adjoining field was called Church field and there was a local tradition that there was a church there but no traces remain. Sir William Petty’s map of Meath in the 1660’s shows the townland with the well indicated. An ancient roadway from Breifne to Sliabh na Caillighe passed close to St Patrick’s Well” (French 2012: 10).
4 Cure
Toothache, “cured by rubbing the stone against your face” (French 2012: 10). Stomach trouble or morning sickness is cured by drinking water from the well.
5 Pattern day
“On St Patrick’s Day people visit the well and recite the Rosary kneeling in the one position” (French 2012: 10).
8 Stories
“It is said that one night Patrick slept close to this well. While he was sleeping a man came and stole his shoes. The man had no luck during the rest of his life” (French 2012: 10).
“Another story provided by the School’s Folklore collection said that the day St Patrick was passing this well on his horse, the horse got thirsty so Patrick brought him over to the well, and the horse knelt down on one of the stones to take a drunk. The track of the horse’s knees is still to be seen on the stone” (French 2012: 10).
“Another story provided by the School’s Folklore collection said that the day St Patrick was passing this well on his horse, the horse got thirsty so Patrick brought him over to the well, and the horse knelt down on one of the stones to take a drunk. The track of the horse’s knees is still to be seen on the stone” (French 2012: 10).
9 Publications
French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.