St John’s Well, Newhall, Clare

St. John’s Well, adjacent to the ruins of Killone Abbey, sits on the bank of Killone Lake. The well seems to have been linked to eye cures, being originally attributed to giving sight to a blind man. The main pattern day was 24th June; this would make sense as it is near the feast of St John (and the summer solstice). A old route from Ennis to the well, called the Rocky Road or the Pilgrim’s Road, was used by devotees – sections of it still remain.

Further reading

1937/38 Ennis N.S. Folklore Collection posting on St John’s Well

Clare County Library, information on the St John’s Well

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  1. Great photographs. I like that the original limestone well house is left as is and not plastered or painted.

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