St Cormicks Well

Described in gothic script as St. Cormick's Well on the 1839 and 1924 eds of the OS 6-inch map and located towards the bottom of a S-facing slope with an E-W stream c. 50m to the S and a N-S road c. 20m to the W. A pattern was held at the well on 22nd June, according to John O'Donovan writing c. 1840 (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 94). The pattern date confirms that the saint is Cormac of Durrow, Co. Offaly (OF009-005----), who was probably an abbot of the early monastery that was founded by St. Colum Cille of Iona (Ó Riain 2011, 226). Nothing of the holy well is visible in pasture. Kilcormick parish church (WX021-010001-) is c. 500m to the NW. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 15 June, 2012

St Cormick's Well is associated with the early Christian saint Cormick, whose name derives from the Gaelic "Cormac," meaning "bold protector." The well was traditionally visited for healing purposes, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin, and was likely a site of pilgrimage and seasonal rituals before the Reformation.