St. Helens Well

Situated on the W side of a little N-S valley and at the base of an E-facing rock-outcrop (H c. 3m). According to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 this holy well was frequented for the cure of sore eyes, but he does not provide the date of a pattern (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 270-1). The well is a natural spring almost surrounded by furze and obscured by field stones. There is no evidence of veneration. The parish church of St. Helen’s (WX048-037001-) is c. 60m to the E. The saint is probably Helena, the mother of Constantine who was the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity in the early 4th century. She did not convert until late in life after Constantine, fighting under the sign of the ChiRho of Christ’s monogram, had defeated the Emperor Maxentius at the battle of Milvian Bridge on the river Tiber in AD 312. Helen devoted the rest of her days to church building in the Holy Land, and discovered the remains of the True Cross on Mount Calvary. She died in 326 or 328 AD. Her feast day is celebrated on August 18 (Butler 1883, 117). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 7 January, 2014

St. Helen's Well is associated with the cure of sore eyes and was visited as a holy well in the 19th century. The tradition of seeking healing at the site reflects a common practice linked to early Christian saints in Ireland.