Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

On the E side of a crossroad in Aghagower village, 7m NW of a graveyard (MA088-063002-), which encloses a church (MA088-063001-) and round tower (MA088-063003-).
This holy well is named ‘Dabhach Patrick’ on the 1838 OS 6-inch map and ‘Dawach Patrick’ on the1929 edition. The name translates as Patrick’s vat or bath.
It is one of two holy wells at Aghagower; the other (MA088-065006-), named ‘Tobernandeochaun’ is located 7.5m to SSW. Both wells were stations or stopping points on the traditional ritual ‘pattern’ undertaken by pilgrims at Aghagower. It is interesting to note that the name Aghagower is derived from ‘Achaidh fobhair’ meaning 'field of the spring'. The name appears to be of great antiquity, already in use in the mid-late 7th century when it was mentioned by Tírechán in his Life of Patrick. Corlett (1914, 81) has suggested that the importance of the springs or wells at Aghagower had its roots in pre-Christian times, and this may be the reason why a church was established at this location.
The structural remains now evident date to modern era. The well consists of a roughly D-shaped sunken area (1.56m N−S; 1.45m E−W) defined on the straight side by at a mortared stone wall and on the curving side a series of stone steps, which lead down to the base of the well. The well is located within a small walled enclosure, which was built in the late 20th century. There is a sheela-na-gig (MA088-063009-) in the internal wall face on the E side of the enclosure.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 11 December 2020

References

Corlett, C. 2014 The early church in Umhall, west Mayo. In C. Corlett & M. Potterton (eds) The Church in Early Medieval Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations,39-92. Wordwell.