Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, in lowlying ground bordering the E bank of the Abbey River. The location is marked by a small stand of ash trees. This holy well is not indicated on the 1836 OS 6-inch map but is named as ‘St. Columbkille’s Well’ on the 25-inch plan and on the 1952-4 OS 6-inch map. It was recorded in the 1930's as: 'St. Colmcille's Holy Well, at the Three Ash Trees, beside the Washpool River, in the townland of Coolcholly, a mile north of Ballyshannon. The station was made there up till about 1890, but has ceased since' (Ó Muirgheasa 1936, 145). The well is no longer evident. Beneath the cluster of ash trees there are spreads and low heaps of loose, moss-covered stones, all engulfed in a thicket of brambles. At the roots of the middle tree at S, a small cavity (0.22m N–; 0.24m E–W; D 0.65-0.7m) is defined on its W side by an arc of small, low stones (max. dim. 0.15-0.2m). It is not clear if this relates to the well; at the time of inspection there was no water in the cavity. Post and wire fencing encloses a rectangular area (9m E–W; 5m N–S) around the stand of trees, and a fenced-off green path connects the site with the road (N15) at E.

Attached image:
DG107-041----_01.JPG viewed from E

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of revised upload: 6 May 2015

References

Ó Muirgheasa, E. 1936 The holy wells of: Donegal. Béaloideas 7, No. 2, 143-62. Corrigenda 7, No. 2, 247, 1937.