Indicated

St. Marnock's Well situated in sand dunes, 60m SW of St. Marnock's Church (DU015-007001-) and graveyard (DU015-007001-). The Pattern day at the well was August 18th (Ó Danachair 1958, 78). A description in its heyday speaks of a large circular pool with 16 stone steps leading down to it. A horde of penny groats (four-penny pieces) dating from the reign of Henry V, VI and Edward IV were found at the site. The well was destroyed by the local landowner in 1854, an ogham stone (DU015-007003-) that stood beside it was broken into pieces and thrown into the fill of the well (Skyvova 2005, 60). Now a concreted circular area within wasteland that has been dug down about 1m. Folklore collected from Baldoyle Convent recorded the following details about this holy well; 'There is a holy well in Portmarnock which is in the parish of Baldoyle. It is situated in Saint Marnock's graveyard. It was founded by Saint Marnock in the fourteenth century. People in olden days visited and said prayers at the well. Many people were cured of very serious diseases by drinking the water or by bathing in it. Rounds of the stations at one time were performed at the well. It is said that long ago every night a branch of a tree which grew beside the well would bend over it and that at sunrise every morning it would rise again. People were only cured if the water touched the affected part or if they drank it immediately after the branch of the tree arose. I often visited this well but it is not used for curing diseases now' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0792, Pages 130-1; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498789/4385662). See attached photos taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F024.06.00064 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16629 and F024.06.00066 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31478. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 17 April 2023

St. Marnock's Well is associated with the early Irish saint Marnock, traditionally linked to the 6th century and known for founding monastic sites in the region. The well was visited on August 18th for its perceived healing properties, particularly for skin ailments and general well-being, as part of a local pilgrimage or "pattern" tradition.