Saint Catherine's Well, Rathbeagh
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Saint Catherine's Well or Tubber Naev Kathaleen[1] was a holy well in the townland of Rathbeagh in County Kilkenny. The site is a protected monument with the Sites and Monuments record no. KK009-049----.[2]
It was already disused and possibly even destroyed by the time Eugene O'Curry wrote in 1839: "There was a well between the church and the Nore, called St. Catherine's Well, at which a patron was held till within the last 10 years, on the 24th day of June [ Midsummer Day ]; and the 6th of December [ Saint Nicholas Day ] was kept a holy day in the parish in honour of St. Catherine."[1]
As of 2024, there is no trace of the holy well.[3] Local resident James Walsh who was in his 80s in the 2010s, never saw or heard of the holy well in his lifetime.[4]
The holy well is c. 170m walking distance from St. Catherine's Graveyard and 150m distance from St. Catherine's church ruin as the crow flies.
Rathbeagh ringfort lies 140m Southeast of the holy well site.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Carrigan, William (1905). The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, vol. II. p. 325.
- ^ "KK009-049---- : Ritual site - holy well : RATHBEAGH". Historic Environment Viewer. National Monuments Service. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Personal visit June 24, 2024.
- ^ Ó Dálaigh, Pádraig. The holy wells of County Kilkenny in terms of documentary coverage, location, ritual practice and onomastic concept, vol. II (PDF). Limerick. p. 541.
