St. Margarets Well

Marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as St. Margaret’s Well, with the additional information 'Site of' on the latter. It is situated at the bottom of a slight W-facing slope and on the N side of a NE-SW lane. The name is recorded by John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 who says that it had not been visited by pilgrims since c. 1820 (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 360). A land-drain has its source at this point. The site of Rathumney church (WX040-029001-) is c. 480m to the SE. Compiled by: Micahel Moore Date of upload: 21 February, 2013

Linked to St. Margaret, a popular medieval saint venerated for her miraculous healings and protection, the well was likely a site of pilgrimage and water cures. Traditionally, such wells were visited for ailments of the stomach and skin, with rituals often performed at dawn or on saint's days.