Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

'Rag Well', situated at the side of the road, beside a cul-de-sac. The well is covered over but the site of the holy well is indicated by a wall tablet which identifies it as the 'Rag Well'. It was formerly visited on May Eve, when candles were lit at the well. There is a tradition that the water cured sore eyes. The cloth used in bathing the eyes was hung on a bush, hence the name. Now covered over with a pump (Ó Danachair 1958, 75-6).

Folklore collected from Blanchardstown School recorded the following details about 'The Rag Well'; 'There is an old well which is called the Rag Well on Darby's hill overlooking Blanchardstown. The man that owned the hill was Darby where the Rag Well is now. That is how Darby's hill got its name. The people long ago said that there was a cure at the Rag Well and if you go to the well nine times you have to tie a piece of rag each time to the bushes and then you drink the water and you will be cured' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0791, Page 79; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498682/4385602/4509857).
Folklore collected from St. Brigid's School, Castleknock recorded that; 'There was a well near the Sandpitts called the Rag Well. Long ago people with sore eyes came to the well and washed their eyes in the water with a piece of cloth and then hung it up on a bush over the well. When all the pumps in Castleknock went dry it was the only well that had water and the people came with their buckets for water. I am sorry to say it is now a pump' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0790, Page 159; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498641/4385215/5311781).
Folklore collected from Castleknock School recorded that; 'Rag well , Sandpitts Castleknock. In olden days people visited this well on May eve. They carried lighted candles and recited prayers while going around the well. There was a bush near the well and people left a remnant on this bush. The water was supposed to cure sore eyes' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0791, Page 20; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498681/4385501/4509815).

See attached photos taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F024.06.00286 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/46715 and F024.06.00284 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16707.

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.