Holy well in Grangefertagh

According to Lyng (1959,23-8), 'To the east [of Grangefertagh], at BLEST WELL (T.9) OF 'ST.ELEGAN' alias 'ST.ULEKAN' (10), at which you may cure a sore eye if you visit the well, before breakfast;on three consecutive mornings. You may tie a piece of rag on the nearby sceach to complete the ritual. The cure and the ritual were at some period tranferred from TOBAR-NA-SUL (T. 10), which is at the other side of the road in the adjoining townland of Monenamuck (11)'. On Lyng's accompanying map the location given for the holy well is in fact a lime kiln. The precise location of the holy well is unknown. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 5 October 2018

The holy well is associated with Saint Elegan (or St. Ulekan), a lesser-known early Irish saint, and is traditionally visited for the cure of sore eyes. The practice involved visiting the well before breakfast on three consecutive mornings, reflecting common early Christian and folk healing rituals in Ireland.