St. Catherines Well

Annotated 'St. Catherine's Well' on 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map where it is shown on the demesne lands of Kenure Park which stands 400m to SSW. Castle (DU008-003----) 100m to N, medieval church ruins (DU008-004001-) and graveyard (DU008-004002-) 55m to E. Situated today in open space of St Catherine's housing estate S of a stream that runs through the former grounds of Kenure Park. Folklore collected from Rush School recorded the following details about this holy well; 'In the wood there was a well called St Catherine's Well. This well has long been closed and at present its site is unknown. A new well was opened some distance away and bears the same name' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0786, Page 39; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498364/4384260/4508857). A second story collected from the same school recorded that; 'Saint Catherines Well is situated on the North side of Kenure Park close to entrance gate on the Skerries Road. It is on the East side of the Avenue close to a small river which runs through the Park. Some people believe that the original St Catherines Well was on the West side of the Avenue opposite the present well. The well was attached to the old Monastery and it is on its ground. There is a drinking vessel at the well and people passing often stop and take a drink. There are steps of large flat stones leading down to it as it is down in a hollow. There is a door on the well made of wood and wire, and it can be opened by anyone desiring to have a drink' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0786, Pages 60-1; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498364/4384286). This natural spring well lies in a hollow in the field marked by a single tree. No longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 73). The well was enclosed by concrete breeze blocks for safety reasons in the 1980s. In 2013 several of the blocks were removed. The well once served as a domestic well for Kenure House (Skyvova 2005, 56). See attached photo taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F024.06.00152 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16660. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 12 April 2023

St. Catherine's Well is associated with the early Christian saint Catherine of Alexandria, venerated for her martyrdom and linked to cures for skin ailments and female infertility. The well's location near medieval church ruins suggests a long-standing tradition of pilgrimage and holy water use in the area.