wells historical ireland

Water has always played a major role in Irish history, first in pagan and later in Christian times. Galway city had many holy wells some of which were credited with curing various ailments.
One such sacred spot, St Augustine's Well can still be seen by Lough Atalia, on the east side of the city....

The patron day at this well near Carnaross, Kells, is held on the first Sunday of August. Legend is that the well was formed at St Kieran's command. Several pools there have supposed healing powers. It is likely that the well was a place of worship in pagan times....

The well of pure water consecrated by St. Colmcille in 560 A.D. marks the origin of Swords as it gives the town its name - "Sord" meaning "pure"....

St Columb's Well at the bottom of Fahan Street in the Bogside is one of three wells dating back to St Columb's period of residence in Derry. The original site of St Columb's monastic church at Long Tower is close by. Legend tells of St Columb praying here when a child was brought to him for baptism. No water could be found. St Columb was said to have blessed a nearby stone and from it water sprang forth. This is how the well originated and to this day the annual Feast of St Columb is celeb...

This well lies in a hollow within a small circle of trees and is possibly within the remains of an earthen ring-fort, of which there is some slight evidence.
Believed in the past to be effective against cholera, a story is told of a man who rested by the side of the well, suffering from the disease, and for three weeks took no nourishment but water from the well. According to local tradition, the man was cured and eventually went to America....

Associated with St Patrick who, says the story, struck the ground with his staff and feresh water bubbled up. The original source of the well is nearby.
The present well is surrounded by a lowstone well and reached by cut stone steps. The water is excellent....

Struell wells are hauntingly located in a rocky valley between Downpatrick and Saul, and since medieval times and probably before, they have been the resort of pilgrims who came here in search of cures which they believed the waters from the wells could provide. The buildings are grouped in and around a roughly triangular grassed area, in the centre of which is a small structure known as the Eye Well. At the north-eastern end is a rectangular church building of c. 1750, but probably never comp...

Open farm with farm museum, gardens, tea house, craft and antiques shop and farm animals. Building which represents a 12th century place of worship and a beautiful closed garden which is an ancient burial ground. Also a holy well which is used for its healing properties....

Continue the road to Mullingar, stopping at Killare to visit St. Brigid's well. Beside the well are the remains of an early medieval stone church, surrounded by a circular earthen bank which suggests a very early Christian foundation; history tell us that the founder was St. Hugh but tradition has linked the name of St. Brigid with the place....

It is one of the largest wells in Ireland, with a shimmering pool at its mouth and a 6th-7th century Cross mounted on a Plinth in the pool centre. In 1969, thanks to the efforts of the then Mayor of Los Angeles, Sam Yorty (whose mother was born in Clonmel) the Irish Israeli Society of South California and the St. Patrick's Day Society Clonmel much needed restoration and landscaping was carried out on the well site. It has now become as well known as a tourist attraction as a place of Pilgrimage...