St. Catherines Well

Marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering as St. Catherine’s Well on both. It is listed as a holy well by John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 335). It is situated on a gentle E-facing slope and at the end of and in the centre of an overgrown lane (Wth c. 8m; L c. 75m) that is known locally as the pilgrim’s lane running SW from a small NW-SE public road. The well, known locally as Tober the Crisceen (Cruiscín - Jug) (Murphy c. 1994, 17), is circular (diam. 0.8m; D 0.9m) and retained by granite stones. It was dry at the time of the visit and there is no evidence of veneration. The site of St. Catherine’s church (WX040-037----) is c. 430m to the WSW. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 February, 2013

Linked to St. Catherine of Alexandria, the well is traditionally associated with cures for skin ailments and female infertility. Local folklore suggests that water from the well was used in rituals involving nine rounds around the site, often on the saint’s feast day of November 25th.