St. Columbs Well

In marshy grassland overlooking bogland to N. A small natural spring well; some large slabs and traces of concrete rubble in the vicinity suggest that it may formerly have been enclosed. According to local information, about 802 years ago, the well originally lay in a churchyard (see GA007-076----) 800m to NE but dried up and reappeared at its present location after a woman washed some clothes in it. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

linked to St. Columba (Columbkille), a 6th-century Irish monk and missionary associated with the spread of Christianity in Scotland and northern Ireland. The well is traditionally believed to have curative properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin, and may have been a site of pilgrimage or seasonal ritual.