Holy well in Killeighter

Located 6m to the S of a church (KD004-031002-) at the N end of a graveyard (KD004-031003-). Although not indicated on the 1st ed. (1838) of the OS 6-inch map its existence is mentioned in the OSL (Herity 2002, 30). According to Jackson (1979-80, 150) it was visited for headache cures but had no associated pattern, however O'Donoghue (1999, 171) records that it was visited traditionally on St Patricks day and was believed to cure eye ailments, and further, that it was 'refurbished' in 1993 using 'dressed stone' from the nearby church. The spring well occupies an oval area (int. diams. 2.8m E-W; 1.9m N-S; D 0.4m) defined by a mortared stone wall which does not rise above ground level, with three shallow steps leading down from the N. A culverted pipe runs N to feed a stock watering trough abutting the external face of the graveyard wall. A holy tree (KD004-031005-) stands immediately to the S. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

Linked to Saint Patrick, the well is traditionally associated with the cure of eye ailments and is visited on Saint Patrick’s Day for ritual water collection. Local folklore suggests the well was revealed by a herd of cows that refused to drink from any other source.