School: Milltown (roll number 942)
- Location:
- Milltown, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Sean O'Casey
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0742, Page 018
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- St Patrick's Holy Well
St Patrick's Well is in a field owned by Thos TImbs in Kilpatrick adjacent to the hamlet of Rathconrath (Rath con nyre?)
St Patrick and his retinue were travelling on one of the five main roads from Tara on their way to the western province. They came to Kilpatrick. It was a warm day and there wasnt a drop of water to be had. (Water is a scarce commodity in the disctrict today)
St Patrick placed a stick upright in the ground, said some words and a "spring" started at once. That well has ever since been called "Holy Well" of Kilpatrick. During the centuries since St Patrick thousands have come and paid "rounds" at the well. There is an immense ash tree growing at the well. There are 14 branches to tree called 14 stations of the cross. The branches overhang the well. People continue to visit the well to drink its waters and to take it away in jars and bottles to give it to man and beasts to effect cures. They leave pieces of cloth on the branches after them as an offering . They leave them as tokens of gratitude for favours received or hoped to be obtained 20/9/34
