St Cooey’s Wells

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ancient well adjoining equally ancient site of former church and graveyard set on a slope to the E of the Ballyquintin Road, SE of Portaferry on the southern tip of the Ards peninsula.

The well resembles a small stream (c.15m long) which is now flanked by concrete pavers to the south side and a short but steep bank now lined by a wall of rounded stones (from a beach) to the North. At certain points along the ‘well’ are slate ‘plaques’ set into the stone wall with the word ‘wash’, on the inscribed on plaque to the left, the word ‘eyes’ on the second plaque and the word ‘drink’ on that to the far right. Entire site ‘landscaped’ by local population c.1977. To the E is a small open structure over an alter which is occasionally used for open air services.

Car park further up slope with concrete steps to well/graveyard area.

Historical information

Local tradition has it that a seventh century cleric now known as St. Cooey performed penitential exercises and drank at these wells, however, as with many ‘holy’ wells in the British Isles, this site may have pre Christian origins. St. Cooey himself is, like many early Irish saints, a particularly elusive figure, however, a recent article has suggested that the name ‘Cooey’ may be a corruption of ‘Mochae’ the name of the founder of Nendrum, the most famous Ards saint. Mass was celebrated on the adjoining site of Templecooey right up until the eighteenth century, and the site was ‘landscaped’ by local residents in 1977.

References- Secondary sources
1 Rev. J. O’ Laverty, 'Diocese of Down and Connor Ancient and Modern' (1878, reprinted 1980), Vol.I p. 391
[O’Laverty’s
references to St. Cowey are confused and should be treated with caution.]
2 Gerard McCallum, "The Wells of St. Cooey", in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.2' (1978), p.10.
3 Rev. J. Smyth, "Notes on the place names of the Parish of Portaferry", in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.5'
(1981), pp. 22-24
4 Eilis Fitzsimons, "Who was St. Cooey", in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.17' (1993), p.10
5 'St. Patrick’s Church Ballyphilip 1762-1962' [Souvenir booklet] (Portaferry, 1962), p.92
6 G. Philip Bell, C.E.B. Brett, Sir Robert Matthew, 'Ulster Architectural Heritage Survey: Portaferry & Strangford'
(Belfast UAHS 1969), p. 22

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Holy wells of early Christian, and perhaps pre Christian, importance, now ‘landscaped’ and with adjoining open air chapel.