Holy well in Ballynageragh

This is marked on the 1841-42 and 1916 OS maps as 'St Michael's Well' (Tobar Mhichíl). Situation and Description: This well is about 2m deep and is often empty in dry weather. A short flight of steps leads down to the water. A statue of St Michael was erected in 1923. Mounds near by are said to be the remains of an ancient church. Rounds/Offerings: This well is still visited on the eve of Michaelmas. In days gone by, huge numbers would turn up for this feast, and there would be games and sports as well as rounds. Rounds consist of nine circuits of the well while reciting three rosaries. The well is said to cure toothache, sore eyes, rheumatism and nervous disorders. Legends: (a) The well water will not boil, (b) A woman saw a strange bird alighting at the well and was drawn there. She went to do some rounds and was cured. Folklore collected from Lixnaw School recorded the following tradition about this well; ‘There is a blessed well in the townland of Ballingeragh. It is in a field owned by Mr Thomas O Brien. This well is dedicated to St. Michael the patron saint of the parish. The people of the parish and the surrounding districts pay visits to the well on the eve of the twenty ninth of September, which is the feast of St. Michael. Many diseases of the eyes have been cured there. There is a tree growing near the well and the people hang medals and ribbons on to it. There is also the ruins of an old church near the well. This church was dedicated to St. Michael and was once the parish church of Lixnaw. The field where the church is situated is known as the "Church field" at the present day. There is a statue of St. Michael near the well. It was erected by a woman from Lixnaw in the year 1928. The woman was once suffering from a nervous disease. She could not bear to go to town, or do her work. One day as she was standing at her front door, she saw a curious kind of bird flying from her own house and it alighted near St. Michael Well. The next day she went to the well and prayed. After a few weeks she was cured. On the 19th of September 1928 the statue was placed near the well in thanksgiving for her recovery. The statue is now in a bad condition, the two hands have been broken off' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0410, Pages 287-8;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4626325/4613574 ). Ó Danachair (1958, 158) recorded the following details about this well; 'A well, about six feet deep, which is often empty in dry weather; a short flight of steps leads down to the water. A plaster statue of Saint Michael the Archangel was put up in 1923 but is now broken. Mounds close by are said to be the remains of an ancient church. The well is still visited occasionally, but in former times a pattern held at Michaelmas brought large numbers of people; there were games, sports, dancing and so on in addition to the rounds at the well. Rounds consist of nine circuits of the well while reciting three rosaries. The water cures toothache, sore eyes, rheumatism and nervous disorders. The water is drunk and applied to afflicted members. Rags are tied to the bushes as offerings. Legends: The water will not boil. A lady, whose attention was drawn to the well by a strange bird alighting there, performed the rounds and was cured'. See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 909. Revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 18 May 2022