St. Barbaras Well

In a marshy hollow, on the lower NE-facing slope of the Ox Mountains and just above Lough Talt River. This well is evident as a natural spring which forms a stream. There is no evidence of recent veneration here. In 1942-4 it was recorded that people prayed at the well 'asking St. Barbara to intercede for them in obtaining their request on visiting St. Attracta's well' after which they bless themselves with water from the well (ITA). Wood-Martin (1892, 358) noted that the 'stations' here were generally performed about the same date as those at St Attracta's well (SL036-009---) while O'Rorke ([1889], vol. 2, 152) states that it is supposed to have got its name from some companion of St Attracta. St. Attracta's well (SL036-009----) lies c. 190m to SE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008

St. Barbara is a Christian martyr venerated in both Eastern and Western traditions, often associated with protection from sudden death, lightning, and mining accidents. The well may reflect a later folk-Christian tradition linking her to healing waters, though specific local lore or historical accounts for this site are not well documented.