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At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
Dedicated to St Werburgh, the natural spring well was overgrown, situated beside a stream which forms the townland boundary between Crowscastle and Barrysparks. There was a local tradition that its water cures sore eyes but by the 1950s was no longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 81).
Full archaeological record 163 words
Dedicated to St Werburgh, the natural spring well was overgrown, situated beside a stream which forms the townland boundary between Crowscastle and Barrysparks. There was a local tradition that its water cures sore eyes but by the 1950s was no longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 81). Holy well described in 1975 as; 'Small concrete enclosure now dry and full of brambles. It is beside a stream, which has partly eroded one corner of the foundations' (Henry A. Wheeler 08/10/1975, SMR File). Folklore collected from Swords School recorded that; 'There is another holy well about three miles from Swords near a place called Feltrim. This is known as St. Werburgh's well. It is supposed to cure people with pains' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 152;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428188/4384894/4510754). In March 2011 the well was cleared and reconstructed. The well was redug in a different position, plastic piping inserted and stone removed. It is now signposted with an inscribed stone and described as an 'oasis of transformation'.
References
- Date of revised upload: 12 April 2023
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Geraldine Stout. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
There was a local tradition that its water cures sore eyes but by the 1950s was no longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 81).
Folklore collected from Swords School recorded that; 'There is another holy well about three miles from Swords near a place called Feltrim.
It is supposed to cure people with pains' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0789, Page 152;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428188/4384894/4510754).
More holy wells nearby

Townparks Holy Well
Ritual site - holy well · Townparks (Nethercross By.) · Dublin · 0.8 km away
Lady Well
Ritual site - holy well · Feltrim · Dublin · 2.1 km away

St Catherine's Well (Malahide)
Ritual site - holy well · Saintdoolaghs · Dublin · 4.5 km away
St Doolagh's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Saintdoolaghs · Dublin · 4.5 km away
St. Margaret's Well
Ritual site - holy well · St. Margaret'S · Dublin · 6.0 km away
St. Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Baldurgan · Dublin · 6.3 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St. Werburgh's WellRitual site - holy well · Commons East · 0.5 km · official record
Named on Duncan's map (1821) as 'St. Werburgh's Well'. There is however another St Werburgh's well to the southwest (DU011-045----). This well has been built over. No visible remains.
- Lady WellRitual site - holy well · Cloghran (Coolock By.) · 2.1 km · official record
In 1958 the well had dried up and showed only as a hollow in a field where it was marked by a whitethorn bush. The site is no longer venerated (Ó Danachair 1958, 77). Within a level field of pasture.
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Around St. Werburgh's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Belfry at St Columba'sAncient church · 1.0 km
- Swords Round TowerRound tower · 1.1 km
- Swords CastleCastle · 1.2 km
- Cloghran Parish ChurchAncient church · 1.9 km
- Malahide CastleCastle · 3.5 km
- Malahide ChurchAncient church · 3.6 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 11 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Royal Canal Greenway - Drumcondra - Ashtown - CastleknockGreenway · 8.9 km · nearest point 10.0 km
- Royal Canal Greenway - Drumcondra - Ashtown - CastleknockGreenway · 8.9 km · nearest point 10.0 km
- Royal Canal Greenway Cycling TrailGreenway · 121.4 km · nearest point 11 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Portmarnock, Velvet Strand BeachBeaches · 6.6 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Donabate, Balcarrick BeachBeaches · 7.4 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Baldoyle Estuary Nature ReserveNature reserves · 8.1 km
- Rogerstown Estuary Nature ReserveNature reserves · 8.3 km
- DublinWalled towns · 12 km
- Georgian TownhouseHistoric stays · 12 km
- Merrion MewsHistoric stays · 13 km
Other attractions nearby
- Swords Round Tower & BelfryAbbeys and Monastery · 1.1 km
- Swords CastleHistoric Houses and Castle · 1.2 km
- Casino Model Railway MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 3.9 km
- Lambay Nature Walking ToursWalking · 4.2 km
What's on nearby
- ON ICE Swords2026-11-05 · 0.6 km
- Scummy Mummies - Hot Mess2026-11-05 · 7.5 km
- Festive Afternoon Tea at the Old Music Shop2026-11-05 · 11 km
Excavations nearby
- 01E1074 Site 2 Lissenhall Little, County DublinRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 3.5 km
- 01E0831 Site 3 Staffordstown, County DublinRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 4.8 km

