St. Patricks Well

Situated In a fold on a gentle S-facing slope, with a NNW-SSE stream c. 6m to the E. This well is dedicated to St. Patrick and is described as such on the 1835 and 1907 editions of the OS 6-inch map. It was described in 1991 (SMR file) as an overgrown rectangular stone-lined trough (dims 1m x 0.8m) and there was local knowledge of veneration and a rag bush. In 2000 it was conserved as a circular stone-lined well (diam. 1.1m; D 0.6m) with a patio to the E, and the well is approached by steps from the S. An overflow channel emerges from under the patio and debouches into a circular stone basin or trough (ext. diam. 0.54m; H 0.35m), from where it continues SE to the stream. The conserved well is within a D-shaped enclosure (dims 13m E-W; 12m N-S) which is defined by the stream at E, a field bank at N and a slightly curving stone wall S-W. A path leads to the public road c. 110m to the W. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 14 October 2019

St. Patrick's Well is associated with the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, and is traditionally believed to have curative properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and general health. The dedication to St. Patrick suggests a Christianisation of an earlier pagan holy site, a common practice in early medieval Ireland.