Holy well in Rostyduff Lower

Unlocated well within the townland of Rostyduff Lower. According to Lynch (1994, 646) there is a holy well known as ‘St John’s Well’ in the townland of Rostyduff that is mentioned in the 1930s Irish Folklore Commission, Schools Manuscript Collection (IFC S 914: 559). The folklore recorded that ‘there are seven springs, and if a person suffering from a pain in the stomach rises water out of the seven springs, he will be cured’ (Lynch 1994, 646). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 22 January 2013

Linked to St John, the well was traditionally visited for healing and protection, with customs likely including the collection of water on St John’s Day (24 June) for ritual use. References in early 20th-century folklore collections suggest its continued use in rural devotional practices.