Ritual site - holy well, Carrowmore or Glentogher, Co. Donegal
In the rolling grazing fields of Carrowmore Or Glentogher, County Donegal, a modernised holy well continues an ancient tradition of veneration to St. Patrick.
Ritual site - holy well, Carrowmore or Glentogher, Co. Donegal
The well sits in a field that slopes gently eastward, its waters still drawing occasional pilgrims and curious visitors to this rural corner of Ireland. While the structure itself has been updated over the years, likely with concrete surrounds or protective stonework common to many Irish holy wells, the site maintains its connection to centuries of folk religious practice.
Holy wells dedicated to St. Patrick are scattered throughout Ireland, each one marking a spot where local tradition holds that the saint either visited, prayed, or performed miracles during his fifth-century mission. This particular well in Donegal represents the enduring blend of pre-Christian and Christian beliefs that characterises much of Irish religious heritage; many such wells were originally pagan sacred springs that were later consecrated to Christian saints. The modernisation of the well structure, whilst perhaps lacking the romantic appeal of more weathered sites, actually demonstrates the continued relevance of these places in local spiritual life.
The Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, conducted in 1983, catalogued this site amongst hundreds of other field antiquities spanning from the Mesolithic period to the 17th century. Its inclusion in such a comprehensive survey underscores how these ritual sites, however humble they may appear, form an integral part of Ireland’s archaeological landscape. Today, the well stands as a quiet testament to the layers of belief and tradition that have shaped the Donegal countryside, where cattle graze around waters that have been considered sacred for generations.





