Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked on the 1839 and 1925 Eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in Gothic lettering on both as St. Peter’s Well. According to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on St. Peter’s day, the 29th June, until c. 1800 (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 211-2). St. Peter, the chief of the Apostles, was called Simon, but Christ gave him the name Cephas meaning a rock, which in Greek is Petra - hence Peter. His frailty was revealed during Christ’s Passion when he denied Him thrice. Nevertheless, after the Resurrection Christ appeared to him first, and entrusted the care of His flock to Peter, identifying him as the leader of the Church. Peter suffered martyrdom as the first bishop of Rome in AD 65 and his feast is celebrated on June 29 (Butler 1883, 92). The well is located at the bottom of a slight N-facing slope. A spring is now covered by a concrete slab and is marked by a bush. There is no local knowledge that it was ever venerated. Ballymitty church (WX041-023001-) is c. 100m to the E.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 19 March, 2013
Amended: 24 January, 2014

References

Butler, Rev. A. 1883 Lives of the Saints. J. S. Virtue London and Dublin, Reprint (1990) London. Studio Editions (Abridged)