Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Holy well dedicated to St. Patrick was described in the Ordnance Survey Letters as following; 'Tradition says that there was a well on the hill of Uisneach called St. Patrick's' (OSL 1837, 14/G/13/12 (19)).
Holy well described by Schot (2016) as; 'Shown as a spring with a SW-flowing stream on the 1838 Ordnance Survey map, the name ‘St Patrick’s Well’ was recorded by John O’Donovan (OSL 1837, I, 42) but does not appear on Ordnance Survey maps. The spring formerly supplied water to Lunestown House and was described in the 1920s as ‘a copious supply of good water, but not apparently possessing any especial sanctity at present’ (Macalister and Praeger 1928, 78). It is one of a number of springs and bodies of water on Uisneach which may have been imbued with ritual significance in antiquity (Schot 2011). Today, the well is surrounded by a stone pavement and enclosed within a modern wall of rectangular plan, with iron railings. Next to the well on the NW is a squat, upright stone, which may be of archaeological significance. It is roughly D-shaped in section, with a rounded top, and appears to be composed of locally derived limestone. The stone is oriented E/W and its broad, S face is vertical and smooth'.

See attached photo provided by Dr. Roseanne Schot

Compiled by: Dr. Roseanne Schot

Date of upload: 07 May 2019

References

Schot, R. et. al. 2016 Conservation Plan for the Hill of Uisneach, Co. Westmeath – Part 1: Assessment of Cultural Significance, with contributions by D. Drew and R. Sherlock.

Schot, R. 2011 From cult centre to royal centre: monuments, myths and other revelations at Uisneach. In R. Schot, C. Newman and E. Bhreathnach (eds), Landscapes of cult and kingship, 87–113. Dublin.

Macalister, R.A.S. and Praeger, R.L. 1928 Report on the Excavation of Uisneach. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 38C, 69-127.

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.