Holy well in Palmerstown Lower

The site of St. Laurence's Well in the townland of Palmerstown Lower, in the parish of Palmerstown has not been identified. The well was located on Mill Lane to the S of Palmerstown church (DU017-026001-) and graveyard (DU017-026002-). In 1757 Dr. Rutty tested the water from the well of 'St. Lawrence Palmerstown' (Rutty 1757, Table 1 CC). In 2003, O'Connor recorded the following details about this well; 'At a short distance from the old churchyard in Mill Lane was a Holy Well. Palmerstowne Well is recorded by Dr. Rutty in 1757. Dr Rutty also recorded St Laurence’s Well in the Palmerstown area at that time. The location is described 200 years later in the Holy Wells of County Dublin as a pool about eight feet in diameter surrounded by some bushes and overhung by an ash tree. It was then used for cattle drinking. One local informant said it was called St James’s Well' (O'Connor 2003, 27). O'Connor, N. 2003 Palmerstown: An Ancient Place. Environmental Publications. Dublin. Rutty, J. 1757 The Mineral Waters of Ireland. Dublin. This entry was classified as Holy Tree in the Dublin SMR, was not included in the Dublin RMP and the classification has been changed from holy tree to Holy Well. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 24 April 2023

St. Laurence's Well in Palmerstown Lower is traditionally associated with St. Laurence, a Christian martyr venerated in Ireland for his miracles and healing powers. Holy wells dedicated to him were often sites of pilgrimage and were believed to offer cures for ailments, particularly those related to the stomach and throat.