St. Patrick's well

St. Patrick's well

Saint Patrick's Well (Channonrock Townland)

Channonrock Townland, County Louth

The well lies along a path, through gates and two field (where you will find "curious cattle"). There appears to be a stone wall that visitors have to climb to get to the path that has been embedded with horseshoes. The well itself is round and shallow, in a marshy environment surrounded by tall trees. It lies in the corner of a field and there is evidence to suggest that the well might have been more "built up" in former times (Connolly and Moroney, 1998).

Most commonly headaches, but Saint Patrick himself is said to have told people to wash their sores in the water, and they will be cured. It is also mentioned that people take the water for other "cures" (Connolly and Moroney, 1998) (The Schools Collection).

The First Sundays of May and August, until around 1836 (Conlon, 2000). Additionally, a mass is always said in honor of Saint Patrick on March 17 at the well (The Schools Collection)

None are left, but the family who owns the field where the well is located decorates the path to the well every year on March 17th (Saint Patrick's Day).

Stations are mentioned but with no detail (Connolly and Moroney, 1998).

It is said that Saint Patrick's staff left a long unusual groove in a stone close to the marsh. A hidden, basin-like stone is said to have provided Saint Patrick with a bowl for drinking and shaving, with the razor "having been made at the forge down the road" (Connolly and Moroney, 1998). Additionally. Saint Patrick himself is said to have washed his hands in the well while he was teaching true faith. The mark of his knees, where he kneeled, is said to be visible along with the footprints of those listening to him (The Schools Collection).

The Schools Collection, Volume 0665, Page 360 (https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5008838/4960026)
"Stone and Tree Sheltering Water: An Exploration of Sacred and Secular Wells in County Louth," Susan Connolly and Anne-Marie Moroney (1998)
News article from The Argus: "Restoration Committee officially end term in office" (September 1, 2010) (https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/restoration-committee-officially-end-term-in-office-26946647.html)
"The Holy Wells of County Louth" by Larry Conlon (2000), (https://www.jstor.org/stable/27729874?seq=5#metadata_info_tab_contents)

A news article (from The Argus) stated that: "This coming Sunday (possibly the 11th or the 18th) the parishioners of Louth and Inniskeen will congregate at St. Patrick Well, Channonrock at 3pm. They have been doing this since the year 2000 and hopefully another good crowd will turn up."This indicates that perhaps the well is being used by local parishes as a holy site despite the lack of information about rites, Stations, and rounds.