St. Patricks Well — Knockpatrick

On the W slope of Knockpatrick Hill, overlooked by church and graveyard (LI010-058001-/002-) on summit of hill. Roughly oval-shaped well (diam. c. 1m) enclosed by uncoursed limestone with a flagged base (water c. 0.4m deep). This is surrounded by a concrete shrine, with an opening facing S, topped by a large statue of St Patrick. Area in front of well/shrine is paved, and encircling it is path for those making rounds. All this is enclosed by a low wall: bonded stonework to S but elsewhere concrete. According to Ó Danachair (1955, 215) 'formerly large crowds came on 17th March'. The following folklore was recorded from Foynes National School about St. Patrick's Well; 'There are two Holy Wells in this parish, Barrigone well and Knockpatrick well. Every St. Patrick's day there is a procession to the well on the top of Knockpatrick hill. At the well at Knockpatrick offerings of money are made. There is no fish in the well. There is a bush near it' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0483, Pages 150-1; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921944/4912175). A second story about this well was recorded from Foynes National School which recorded the following; 'There is a tree around the well in Knockpatrick. It is a Blackthorn tree. There is a story told about the well in Knockpatrick. Hundreds of years ago, it is said that Saint Patrick visited Knockpatrick. It is said that he lost his prayer book, and it is said that a Raven found it. There is another story told about Knockpatrick. Long ago it is said that some man put up a mony box at the well at Knockpatrick one end was for silver and the other end for pennies. He made a lot of mony. The box was painted green and yellow. Someone told the Priest that there was a mony box up at the well, and he sent someone up for it, but when he got up, it was gone. The mans name was never found out' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0483, Pages 134-5; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921944/4912159). The following folklore about Knockpatrick Well was collected from Shanagolden National School; 'Knockpatrick is a hill about a mile and a half to the west of Shanagolden. During his missionary tours through Ireland, St. Patrick stopped for some time at the top of this hill, and founded a Church there. The ruins of this Church are still to be seen there, and beside them is a Holy well, the waters of which (according to a local tradition) were blessed by St. Patrick. According to this tradition also, the well sprung up in a miraculous way. It says that after having built the Church he was searching the summit of the hill for a spring, so that he might found a holy well. Failing to find one, he was very disappointed, and knelt down to pray to God for guidance. After spending some time praying, he stood up, and water sprung up from the spot on which he knelt. St. Patrick's day is 'rounds' day at this well. A great crowd gathers there to perform the 'rounds'. Each person takes up seven small stones. The 'rounds' are done by walking round the well seven times. During such rounds the pilgrim says a Pater, Ave, and Gloria, and when he comes in front of the well at the end of each circuit, he throws one of the pebbles on the ground. Therefore the reason for using the pebbles is to ensure the correct number of circuits is made. Prayers are also said in the ruins of the old church. Generally a decade of the Rosary. At one time people also visited Knockpatrick on the eve of St. Patrick's day, and performed the rounds there, but the custom has gone out of use for a long time. Many of the old people in the locality consider that the most efficacious form of devotion at this well. was to make the rounds, both on the eve of St. Patrick's day. and on the feast day itself. Pilgrims also leave tokens near the well, such as medals, ribbons, bandages, articles of clothing, crutches, etc. For the past few years the priests of the parish have organised a pilgrimage of parishoners to Knockpatrick on St. Patrick's day. The crowd gathers in the afternoon at a spot about 300 yards from the summit of the hill. They march in a procession to the ruined church, and then in a circle round it, singing hymns all the time. They then gather round the well and a priest recites the Rosary' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0483, Pages 165-7; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921945/4912191). See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00402 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/24512 and F025.21.00401 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/17064. Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 1 October 2020