Holy Well (destroyed): OS Grid Reference – T 2481 8173
Archaeology & History
Highlighted on the 1838 OS-map, Grogan and Kilfeather (1997) report that there are “no visible remains” to be seen of this holy well. The cult of St Patrick is still celebrated in Ireland every year on 17 March.
References:
- Grogan, Eion & Kilfeather, Annaba, Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow, Stationery Office: Dublin 1997.
- Lynch, Geraldine, “The Holy Wells of County Wicklow,” in Wicklow History and Society (edited by K. Hannigan & W. Noland), Dublin 1994.
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian
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The well described may be either incorrectly placed on the map, or it refers to another well with the same name, now gone. (Folklore is replete with holy wells blessed by St. Patrick and taking his name.)
On 8 September 2023 I visited a very well kept and fairly well signposted “St. Patrick’s Well” near Ballymoyle Forest, not far away. A plaque says there was a church there, destroyed during the 1798 Rebellion. Approx coords
52.860352
6.128877
JEM