St. Patrick's Well

St. Patrick's Well

St Colmcille’s Well

Bettystown, Meath

The well is located “in Ministown, near Bettystown…mentioned in a deed from about 1290 in the Gormanston Register. It is not marked on the 1837 map but is marked on maps from about 1909…and ash or oak tree stood over the well… a stone wall and a concrete canopy was erected at the well by the owner, Mr. Brannigan…a pump house was erected over the well prior to 1987 and a farm building erected almost on top of the well. The well is now capped” (French 2012: 18).

Cures ague, toothache. To obtain a cure, “the people went around the well saying a decade of the Rosary as they went. The infected person drank water from the well” (French 2012: 18).

“People used to visit the well on the second Sunday of August” (French 2012: 18).

The people would pray at the well and tie a rag on one of the nearby bushes” (French 2012: 18).

“The story is told that this well was originally situated in another field some distance away, whence it mysteriously removed itself to its present position on having its waters defiled by a young lady of doubtful character washing her clothes therein” (French 2012: 18).

“If anyone took timber from the tree for their fire the chimney would go on fire” (French 2012: 18).

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

“The nearby G.A.A club is called St Comcilles but this is named after the well at Shallon” (French 2012: 18).