Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

St. Mochuda's Well also known locally as St. Cudget's Well stands on the Chapel Bank with site of R.C. Chapel (DU008-028----) also known locally as St Cudget's Church 130m to N. This is a natural spring with a rough stone setting located in reeds just above the high tide mark. Described by Ó Danachair (1958, 80) as; 'now a small depression filled with marshy growths and water; some high spring tides reach it. Not visited now, but was formerly the site of a large pattern held on Lammas Sunday. The water cured whooping cough. Tradition says that St Mochuda built a church close to the well'. Folklore collected from Donabate School recorded the following tradition; 'A well in the Burrow whose waters are supposed to cure is St Macuddies Well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 316;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498592/4385049/4511698). A second story collected from the same school recorded that; 'About 20 yards from where this church was, there is a well, and this well is covered when there is a high tide. The name of this well is St. Cudgets. People used to come to this well every year and put white stones around it. When the water is very clear, you can see white stones at the bottom of it. This water is not used for drinking, but is good drinking water, and cures the chincough. The well is neglected, it is often covered with sea-weed, but is perfectly pure, when tides are low, as it is pure fresh spring water' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Pages 263-4; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498569/4384991). Donabate School recorded the following details about this holy well; 'In the district of Donabate there are many wells. Nearly every farmhouse in the district has one or more, and often pumps are erected over these wells to supply the houses with water. Sometimes pumps are built in fields to supply the farmer's livestock with water. But none of these wells however have any historical interest in connection with them nor are there any ledgends recalled or told about them, with the exception of one or two. One of these wells is called St Cudget's Well. It is situated in the Salt Marsh ( The Burrow ) in front of Mr. Smart's house, about 60 yards from the chapel bank ( St Cudget's Church ) No one knows why it is called St Cudget's Well. Long ago patterns were held near this well and people from near and far used to attend them and visited the well. After the pattern the Rosary was recited and people placed white stones and numerous other objects of no considerable value as offerings around the well. In a house near by the well a serious disease set in, all doctors' efforts failed to cure it and it was becoming exceedingly dangerous. One day one of the children took a drink from the well and almost at once the disease was cured. As soon as the other people who had the disease drank from the well they were also cured. After this, the well became great in the eyes of the people' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Pages 307-8; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498569/4385040).
Folklore collected from Donabate School recorded details about the 'Pattern of Portrane' that was held at this well; 'A Great many of our old customs are being ousted from Irish hearts by the new and in many cases imported customs. One of these is the custom of holding a pattern. These patterns were held in a countrytown or village and almost every townland and particularly where a holy well was situated such as is at the Burrow Portrane. This holy well is known as St. Cudgets well and up to 30 or 40 years ago a pattern was held annually. Great crowds of people assembled, and the day was merrily spent singing Irish airs and dancing to Irish music.
Many people found new life at this once famous pattern. The old residents of the Burrow bewail the passing of the pattern even yet, and sigh regretfully when asked to describe it. The place in which the pattern was held is at the back of the brook house which is washed out by the tide now. Many people found enjoyment in playing football, wrestling and many other various games. It often occurred that men often took drink and caused fights with the people of Donabate and Portrane' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Pages 273-4; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498569/4385001/4498575).

See attached sketch map showing the location of 'The Pattern of Donabate' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 275;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498569/4385003)

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 12 April 2023

References

Skyvova, P. 2005 Fingallian Holy Wells. Fingal County Libraries.

Healy, P. 1975b Third report on monuments and sites of archaeological interest in county Dublin. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.

Ó Danachair, C. 1958 The holy wells of county Dublin. Reportorium Novum 2, 68-87; 2, No. 2 The holy wells of County Dublin: A supplementary list, 233-5.