Well, Dawros, Co. Donegal
Tucked away in the rugged landscape of Dawros in County Donegal, a pair of spa wells appear on the 1907 Ordnance Survey map, marking spots where locals once sought the healing properties of mineral-rich waters.
Well, Dawros, Co. Donegal
These wells were part of Ireland’s widespread tradition of holy and curative springs, which drew visitors seeking relief from various ailments well into the early 20th century. The notation on the OS map suggests these were considered significant enough to merit official documentation, indicating their importance to the local community at the time.
The wells at Dawros would have been typical of Irish spa wells; natural springs where the water emerged with distinctive mineral content, often giving it a particular taste or smell that locals associated with therapeutic benefits. People would travel considerable distances to take the waters, believing in their power to cure everything from rheumatism to digestive troubles. The practice combined elements of folk medicine, religious devotion, and social custom, with visits to such wells often coinciding with pattern days or religious festivals.
Today, whilst the exact location of these wells can still be traced using the old OS maps, they’ve largely fallen out of use as medical understanding evolved and modern healthcare became more accessible. However, they remain fascinating markers of how communities once interacted with their landscape, finding healing in the natural springs that dotted the Irish countryside. The wells at Dawros stand as quiet reminders of a time when the line between faith, folklore, and medicine was considerably more blurred than it is today.