- Saint Kevin’s Well (Glendalough): Pattern day: June 3 (Saint Kevin’s feast day, or the Sunday within its octave). Located in the Glendalough monastic complex, this well is dedicated to Saint Kevin, founder of the 6th-century monastery. Known for general healing, particularly for eye ailments, pilgrims perform rounds at the well and nearby crosses, leaving clooties or rosaries on trees. The well, near the cathedral and round tower, is a focal point of Glendalough’s pilgrimage tradition, attracting visitors during the annual pattern, though modern devotion is less intense.
- Saint Patrick’s Well (Glendalough): Pattern day: March 17 (Saint Patrick’s feast day, though not actively observed). Also in Glendalough, this well is attributed to Saint Patrick and associated with baptisms and general healing. Pilgrims performed rounds, leaving coins or rags, seeking cures for sore limbs or chronic ailments. Its proximity to the monastic site suggests early Christian use, possibly pre-Christian origins. Noted in the Archaeological Inventory, it’s less visited today but remains significant in local folklore.
- Saint Brigid’s Well (Bray): Pattern day: February 1 (Saint Brigid’s feast day, though not actively observed). Located near Bray, this well is dedicated to Saint Brigid and known for healing skin ailments and general health. Pilgrims performed rounds and left clooties or medals on a nearby hawthorn tree. Documented in the Schools’ Collection, its urban proximity and Brigid’s veneration make it notable, though active devotion has waned due to declining traditions.
- Saint James’s Well (Kilmacanoge): Pattern day: July 25 (Saint James’s feast day, though not actively observed). Situated in Kilmacanoge, this well is linked to Saint James and associated with general healing, particularly for pilgrims traveling to Glendalough. Pilgrims performed rounds, reciting prayers and leaving rosaries or rags. Its rural setting and early Christian context suggest baptismal use, but it’s less frequented now, noted in local heritage records.
- Tobar na Súl (Eye Well, near Rathdrum): Pattern day: Not specifically recorded, possibly August 1 (Lughnasa). Named for its reputed ability to cure eye ailments, this well near Rathdrum reflects Wicklow’s tradition of specialized healing wells. Pilgrims performed rounds, applied water to eyes, and left clooties or coins. Likely pre-Christian in origin, it’s documented in the Schools’ Collection but less visited today, with sparse modern records.
- Saint Mary’s Well (Wicklow Town): Pattern day: August 15 (Feast of the Assumption, though not actively observed). Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, this well in Wicklow Town was associated with women’s health and general blessings. Pilgrims performed rounds, reciting rosaries and leaving rosaries or rags. Its urban setting and Marian devotion made it significant, but active pilgrimage has declined, with details from the Archaeological Inventory.
- Saint Colmcille’s Well (near Baltinglass): Pattern day: June 9 (Saint Colmcille’s feast day, though not actively observed). Linked to Saint Colmcille, this well near Baltinglass is associated with curing general ailments and eye issues. Pilgrims performed rounds and left offerings like medals or clooties. Its proximity to Baltinglass Abbey suggests early Christian use, possibly for baptisms, but it’s less visited now, noted in local folklore.
- Saint Anne’s Well (near Enniskerry): Pattern day: July 26 (Saint Anne’s feast day, though not actively observed). Dedicated to Saint Anne, this well near Enniskerry is known for fertility and general healing. Pilgrims performed rounds, leaving rosaries or rags on nearby trees. Its scenic setting near the Powerscourt estate enhances its appeal, but active devotion has waned, with details from the Schools’ Collection.
- Saint Ciaran’s Well (near Blessington): Pattern day: September 9 (Saint Ciaran’s feast day, though not actively observed). Dedicated to Saint Ciaran, this well near Blessington is linked to curing stomach ailments and general health. Pilgrims performed rounds and left rags or coins on nearby trees. Its rural setting and early Christian associations suggest pre-Christian origins, but it’s less frequented today, noted in local heritage records.
- Tobar na nGealt (Well of the Insane, near Arklow): Pattern day: Not specifically recorded, possibly August 1 (Lughnasa). Named for its association with curing mental illness, this well near Arklow was visited by pilgrims seeking mental clarity or relief from psychological ailments. They performed rounds, applied water, and left clooties or medals. Likely pre-Christian, it’s now largely forgotten but documented in the Schools’ Collection.
- Saint David’s Well (near Shillelagh): Pattern day: March 1 (Saint David’s feast day, though not actively observed). Dedicated to Saint David, patron of Wales, this well near Shillelagh is associated with general healing. Pilgrims performed rounds and left offerings like coins or rags, as noted in local folklore. Its rural setting and cross-border saintly connection make it unique, but active devotion has declined.
- Saint Laurence’s Well (near Greystones): Pattern day: August 10 (Saint Laurence’s feast day, though not actively observed). Linked to Saint Laurence, this well near Greystones is known for curing general ailments, particularly for coastal communities. Pilgrims performed rounds and left rosaries or clooties. Its proximity to the sea and early Christian context suggest baptismal use, but it’s less visited today, noted in the Schools’ Collection.
Wicklow’s holy wells often predate Christianity, with Celtic water worship adapted by early saints for baptisms, lending them sacred status. Many are near monastic sites like Glendalough or churches, reflecting early Christian use.
Pattern days typically involve deiseal (clockwise) rounds, reciting rosaries, drinking or applying water, and leaving offerings like clooties, coins, or rosaries, believed to transfer ailments to the offering. These peaked during the Penal Laws (1695–1829) as covert worship sites but declined post-Catholic Emancipation due to church reforms, the Famine, and social changes. August 15 (Assumption) and Lughnasa (August 1) are common pattern days, reflecting Celtic-Christian syncretism.
Wicklow’s wells are documented in the Archaeological Inventory and dúchas.ie, but many are unrecorded or neglected. The Wicklow Heritage Project encourages community input to preserve these sites.
Always approach these sites respectfully, as they remain culturally and spiritually significant. Avoid drinking water due to contamination risks, as noted at some wells.
For further exploration, consult dúchas.ie for folklore, pilgrimagemedievalireland.com for Glendalough’s wells, or wicklowheritage.org for local survey details. The Holy Wells of Ireland by Patrick Logan provides broader context.
Holy Wells
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Sacred Places
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Wicklow:
Ireland’s county Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland for its lush landscapes, with Glendalough’s monastic ruins and round tower set amidst serene lakes and valleys. The Wicklow Mountains National Park offers hiking trails with stunning views, while Powerscourt Estate’s manicured gardens and waterfall add natural elegance. Other attractions include the coastal paths of Bray. Wicklow is Ireland’s 17th largest county by size (,025 sq km) and 16th largest by population (155,851). Population peaked at 126,143 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 57,591 in 1926. In terms of hospitality, Wicklow is Ireland’s twelfth most visited tourist county with around 204,000 international visitors per year.
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