Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

St Catherine's Well is located in the W face of a field bank in a hollow under trees, in the grounds of Fieldstown House. St Bride's church (DU011-002001-) and graveyard (DU011-002002-) lies 75m to W. It is enclosed by a brick and stone arched structure with an iron lattice door. Known locally as a former holy well where an annual pattern was held. No longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 74, Healy 1975, 22). Folklore collected from Killossery School recorded the following tradition about this holy well; 'St. Catherine's Well is situated in the lawn of fieldstown House, Kilsallaghan. It is surrounded by a low stone wall and a small iron gate. It is covered by a stone roof. A pattern was formerly held at Fieldstown. Near St. Catherine's Well in Fieldstown is an ancient church yard now overgrown with trees. It contains many old rough head stones most of which are lying flat on the ground' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 259; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498542/4384984).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 12 April 2023

References

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.

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