St Catherine's Well-Leixlip,Co.Dublin, Ireland

St. Catherines Wells Not much is known of the history of the wells but Weston St. John Joyce in The Neighbourhood of Dublin (1912) wrote:“The wells of St. Catherines are situated along a lane known as the Black Avenue, which forms the county boundary. These wells are protected by stone canopies. The larger well was provided with a wooden door and adorned with a head of modern appearance. It was used for drinking purposes. While the smaller well has for generations enjoyed a reputation for a cure for sore eyes, it is said that neither well has ever been known to run dry.” As a regular visitor to the Black Avenue in the late 50s/early 60s, (While visiting Granny in The Mill Lane in Leixlip, us children got sent for walks up there while the grown-ups talked!), I don’t recall the wooden door still being present, and I think that the lady’s head was broken, but there was a metal cup attached to the wall by a chain, and from this the passer-by could sate his thirst. Upload in Low Resolution:500kFaces,Original 1000k