Holy well in Streamstown (fore By.)

Possible holy well located inside chapel (WM012-206---) dedicated to St. Eyen, situated on SW facing slope of Knockeyon the summit of which lies 245m to the NNE and overlooks Lough Derravaragh 65m to the SW. Described in 1682 by Sir Henry Piers of Tristernagh as following; 'This hill hath on that side which hangeth over the water, and about midway from it to the top, an ancient chapel dedicated to a saint, called Eyen or Keyon. This chapel is cut out of the natural rock, for all one side of it appears to be the natural stone instead of a wall. It is now, and long hath been, without a roof: it hath in it a curious purling brook of crystal water, which issuing out of the rock side of the chapel, traverseth it, and falling thro' the opposite side wall, hasteneth down to the waters below' (Vallancey 1786, 12-14). Pilgrimage to this chapel and well was described in 1682 as following; 'To this chapel, on first Sunday in harvest, the natives pay their devotions in pilgrimages, which for certain stages they undertake barefoot; but when they come to a certain noted place in the way, they hold on the remainder of their devotion on their bare knees, all along to the chapel, on stone and gravel, intermixed and overgrown with heath and grass. Their devotions performed, they return merry and shod, no longer concerned for those sins that were the cause of this so severe a penance; but as if, having now paid off the old score, they longed to go on in the new again, they return in all haste to a green spot of ground on the east side of the hill towards the land, and here men and women fall a dancing and carousing the rest of the day; for ale sellers in great numbers on these days have their booths here as in a fair, and to be sure the merry bag-pipers fail not to pay their attendance' (Vallancey 1786, 12-14). In the late 19th century Reverend Cogan (1867, 440) recorded that 'A holy well is here, one much frequented. The people made pilgrimages to this place on the first Sunday of August, and performed a variety of penitential exercises. Stations were held here, and the neighbouring priests attended to hear confessions, and to prepare the pilgrims for the sacrament of the Eucharist'. This well was known locally as 'Cabhra Well' and the following folklore about the well was recorded in the late1930s from Carley School in Crooked Wood which stated that on Knockeyon there was 'A "wishing" well on the alter stone of St Eyon's Chapel. This well was visited on 1st Sunday in August. This custom has ceased. Pins, hairpins, garters, coppers are left at the well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0738, Page 324). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 February 2017