Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Possible holy well dedicated to a nun called St. Mobi, in the parish of Donnybrook. Situated at Eglinton Square Housing Estate which were formerly the grounds of Ballinguile House. A tower-like super-structure covers the well. It is accessible from steps. Associated with St. Mobhi the nun and not the male saint of Glasnevin (Ó Danachair 1958, 234; Daly 1957, 21). The well was described by White (1919, 151) as follows; 'There is a well on the premises which, when Mr White carne into occupation [1873], was reputed by some of the old people to be holy well, "St Brow's," and they often came for the water, which they said was a great cure. This well appears on the maps of the old lease, but in a slightly different locality. There is no authority for calling this a "holy well" except this tradition'.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 19 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.

Daly, M. 1957 Curative wells in old Dublin. Dublin Historical Record 17, 13-24.

White, H.B. 1920 An old house at Donnybrook. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 149-52.