Dublin Core
Title
St Fintan’s Well
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
St Fintan’s Well
2 Townland, County, GPS
Sutton South, Dublin
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Branigan records that “St Fintan’s Well is located on private grounds belonging to the house known as ‘Iniscara’ [by] the entrance to Howth Golf Club on the Carribrack Road… The present structure shows signs of subsidence, which must have occurred previous to the 1970s. The well housing now holds a supporting metal beam over the entrance on which [someone] previously painted the words ‘St Fintan pray for us’” (Branigan 2012: 55-56).
8 Stories
Branigan notes that “it was tradition to only drink the water from cupped hands” (Branigan 2012: 56).
“A local legend holds that a man was about to cut off some branches of the tree at the well to use for firewood when he saw in the distance that his house was on fire. He rushed off to [save] his house from the flames but on arriving he found that his house was in darkness, so he turned to the well to cut off the branches. He then saw his house was on fire again, and again he [went back] only to arrive and find his house in darkness. This same vision occurred on a third occasion and this time he decided to remain at the well and continue cutting the branches for firewood. However, on returning to the house with his firewood he discovered that it had indeed burned to the ground” (Branigan 2012: 56).
“Another legend also states that an angel was seen at this well” (Branigan 2012: 56).
“A local legend holds that a man was about to cut off some branches of the tree at the well to use for firewood when he saw in the distance that his house was on fire. He rushed off to [save] his house from the flames but on arriving he found that his house was in darkness, so he turned to the well to cut off the branches. He then saw his house was on fire again, and again he [went back] only to arrive and find his house in darkness. This same vision occurred on a third occasion and this time he decided to remain at the well and continue cutting the branches for firewood. However, on returning to the house with his firewood he discovered that it had indeed burned to the ground” (Branigan 2012: 56).
“Another legend also states that an angel was seen at this well” (Branigan 2012: 56).
9 Publications
Branigan, Gary. 2012. Ancient and Holy Wells of Ireland. Dublin: The History Press Ireland.
10 More
Visitors must obtain permission to visit this well from the residents of the house as it is on private property.