Draft:Trinity Well, Ballyrafton
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Trinity Well is a holy well in the townland of Ballyrafton, parish of Dunmore, in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is included in the index of Canon William Carrigan's History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory (1905) where he lists it as "Trinity Well [...] in Ballyraftin, Parish of St. John's".[1] It is marked on the 25inch Ordnance Survey map (1888-1913) as a "Well".[2]
The well, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is situated in an overgrown area West of the N78.[citation needed] The 6 inch 1st edition Ordnance Survey map shows a footpath leading from the Castlecomer Road down the slope to the well and the River Dinan.[3][failed verification] The well consists of a pool of water which runs off in a small stream to join the River Dinan c.100m to the West.[4][better source needed] There are several stones which show red spots resembling blood stains which resembles the descriptions of Lady's Well in Danesfort parish.[5][failed verification]
Trinity Well is in the parish of Dunmore, and the parish church of Dunmore is also dedicated to the Holy Trinity.[6] There have been churches dedicated to the Holy Trinity in the area of Dunmore since the 12th century,[7][full citation needed] so the veneration of the Holy Trinity in this area is dating back to at least the Norman invasion.[original research?]
Folklore
[edit]A pattern at the holy well and location of the well are described in an entry from Dunmore School in the Dúchas.ie "Schools' Collection" as follows: "There is a pattern held in this district called the pattern of the Dinan. It is always held in the Sumer time. Our pattern was first held at Trinity Well. This well is near the river away from the road. It is a small well with three trees growing around it. The people used to go there and pray. They would come two or three times a day and drink three mouthfuls of water. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".[8][failed verification]
The three trees, which are a reference to the Trinity, are also referenced in another account in the Schools' Collection: "Trinity well is a little well situated slightly off the main road to Castlecomer from Kilkenny. [...] Near this well is a cave running right under Jenkinstown wood. It is said that the friars used this cave for a retreat from the English soldiers. [...] A friar was pursued one day by soldiers he ran into the cave and other soldiers followed him into it. He hid his gold chalice and other things in the well. He was bending down when a thorn stuck in his neck. Three drops of blood fell around the well. Three trees grew up where the blood fell and from that day to this it has been called the well of the Holy Trinity or Trinity Well".[9]
Gallery
[edit]-
Hawthorn tree marking the spot -
"Bloody" stones (reddened by iron oxide) -
Access point through barbed wire
References
[edit]- ^ Carrigan, William (1905). The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, vol. IV. p. 432.
- ^ "25 inch MapGenie (ITM) layer". Historic Environment Viewer. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "6 Inch First Edition Black & White". Historic Environment Viewer. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ OpenStreetMap
- ^ Comerford, John. "Holy wells". duchas.ie. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "Catholic Church of the Most Holy Trinity". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ Carrigan, William (1905). The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory. p. 269f.
- ^ "Patterns". duchas.ie.
- ^ "Trinity Well". duchas.ie. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
External links
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