St. Catherines Well

A well is marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map which is described in gothic lettering on both as St. Catherine’s Well. It is located on a level landscape with a small NE-SW stream just to the E. It is not visible at ground level in an area that is overgrown in places with scrub. According to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was celebrated on 21 October, which is not associated with any particular saint, but the pattern was not being observed even then (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 268). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 21 March, 2014

St. Catherine’s Well is associated with the early Christian saint Catherine of Alexandria, venerated for her wisdom and martyrdom, and traditionally linked to cures for skin ailments and protection. The well’s long-standing presence on Ordnance Survey maps suggests a continuity of local veneration, though specific folklore or ritual practices connected to the site are not widely documented.