Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Holy well known locally as 'Our Lady's Spout', located near the base of the retaining wall of St Mary's Abbey abbey (DU015-029001-) graveyard (DU015-029006-). Described by Ó Danachair (1958, 77) as; The Holy
Spout" or "The Eye Spout local. Not named on maps. A steady trickle of water issuing from a short length of three-inch iron pipe which projects at a height of about four feet from the retaining wall on the south side of Harbour Road, Howth, just outside Howth Abbey. It is said to come from a holy well, dedicated to Our Lady, in the abbey grounds, The water cures sore eyes'.
Folklore collected in 1934 from Howth School recorded the following tradition about 'Our Lady's Spout' ; 'This is a small stream of water which runs through an iron spout, and comes under the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, Howth, on to the Harbour Road. The spout is about 5 feet from ground, there is only a small trickle of water, but it is held to be a cure for sore eyes, and the people still use it for that purpose' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0792, Page 3; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498746/4385850/4498747?ChapterID=4498746).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 17 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.