Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Covered site of St. Catherine's Well located on the main walk through Griffith Park, c. 70m N of the footbridge across the Tolka. This well was formerly within an enclosed yard of a house at Millbourne Avenue. It was a natural spring under the kitchen floor and led by a short culvert to the outside where it was accessible under a pointed arched superstructure. The water was used to cure sore eyes and toothache (Anon. 1928, 159-161; Ó Danachair 1958, 233). This house was demolished and the well is preserved in an ornamental shrubbery.
St. Catherine's Well was described in 1928 as follows; 'in parish of Clonturk, townland of Drishogue, lies on the north bank of the river Tolka. Until recently it was enclosed in Millbourne Avenue, being supplied from a spring that rose under the kitchen floor of the house and was led by a sort of culvert to the outside, where it was accessible under a rude pointed arch. The house has now been demolished, but the municipal authorities have been careful to preserve the well with its covering in an ornamental shrubbery. It has been in traditional repute for the cure of sore eyes, toothache and chincough; but has had no annual celebration or pattern day within living memory' (anon. 1928, 159-60).

Compiled by : Geraldine Stout

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 18 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.

Anon. 1928 St Catherine's Well, Drumcondra, Co. Dublin. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 58, 159-61.