St. Columbs Well — Townparks (nethercross By.)

Annotated St Columb's Well on all editions of the OSi historic maps. This enclosed spring well is located off Well Road in Swords Village within view of St Columba's church (DU011-034004-). Traditionally associated with St. Columb\Columba\Colmcille. Formerly visited for the cure of sore eyes (Ó Danachair 1958, 81). Enclosed with steps (8) leading down from street level. Holy well described in 1958 as follows; ‘The well is at the bottom of a flight of steps; the well opening, which is vertical, is covered by a small iron door. The well is partly filled with stones and it appears to be dry. There are no signs of devotion. Formerly visited for the cure of sore eyes. Legends: The saint left the marks of his feet at the well. He cured lepers with the water’ (Ó Danachair 1958, 81). Holy well described in 1975 as; ‘ at bottom of flight of stone steps (7), with iron gate at top. About 6 ft. [1.8m] below ground level. Water flows through shallow basin in which are 4 concrete block the purpose of which is unknown to me. The we & its surroundings are whitewashed & in good repair. On the E side is a wall with a small square opening closed by an iron door. Inside this is a dark chamber, presumably the original well chamber but now dry. The water seems to flow from a point beside it rather than from the chamber. It is impossible to date the structure but it is probably not very old’ (Henry A. Wheeler 29/07/1975, SMR File). Plaque erected within gate by historical society 'in 590AD St Colmcille blessed the well of clear water thus naming 'Sord Cholmcille'. Waterpump located immediately N of well. The following folklore about this holy well was collected from Swords School; 'Not very far from the town itself on a by-road called Well Road stands another famous well, which dates back to the time of Colmcille, there still remains the print of his footsteps where he jumped from the monastery to the well. These wells are said to have cured numbers of poor invalids, who were suffering for years with different complaints' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0788, Page 110; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428186/4384664). The following folklore about St Colmcille and the well at Swords was collected from Swords School; 'In our little village of Swords, Saint Colmcille is highly honoured as our local patron Saint: We have many memories of this great Saint for his monastery and holy well naturally reminds us of him: Saint Colmcille was born at Gartan Donegal and founded his first monastery at Derry a neighbouring county to his native one: Many stories are connected with his stay in Swords, it is believed that he stepped from the church to a place where bubbling water gushed up, and the place is since known as "St Colmcille's Well" ' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0788, Pages 123-4; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428186/4384679). Another tradition about the origins of this well was collected from Swords School; 'There are about three Holy wells in the Parish of Swords, namely: St. Werburg's well in Feltrim, St. Colmcille's well in Swords and St. Joseph's well in Mooretown. St. Colmcille was building a church near the Round Tower when suddenly he took a large step towards the Main Street of Swords. Where his foot landed a well sprang up out of the ground. He blessed the well and it was called St. Colmcille's well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 150; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428188/4384892). Folklore about the curative power of the well recorded the following details; 'There are about three holy wells in the district of Swords. One of them is in the middle of the town. It is called Colm-cilles well. There steps down to it and on one of the steps is the footprint of St. Colmcille. There is a cure in this well. Anyone who washed sore eyes in it will get cured. On the top of the wall which goes round the well there are three holes, if you put your fingers into the holes and wish it will be granted' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 154; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428188/4384896). See attached photos (01/02/03) taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F024.06.00061 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16628; F024.06.00062 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/314791; F024.06.00063 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31480. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 12 April 2023