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Saint Joseph's Well

The original was located beside Mr. Patsy Cunningham's house .We have seen water from the site in recent times. The first well still exists. Inghid Buidhe was a historical figure from early Christian times. Buidhe had two daughters and both were nuns . One of the two was traditionally associated with this well. It appear that the construction of the new road to Galway(mid 1800's) gave rise to the concern of the respect of the well. You will have heard of the Tau Cross which is located on Roughan hill. Kilnaboy, beside Mr.Tony Kileen's house-Tony is a TD the former coach road to Galway is at the eastern side of the lake Girruaga (Ballycoree Lake) this road is still there. For leads look Mr. Jack Wall's house and you come at Corrovorin. Dan O'Connell M.P. for Clare (1828) came to Ennis over this road.

The present St. Joseph's Well was constructed in the mid 1800's by a man who was known as "Holy Tom" Donoghue . Holy Tom used to repair rosary beads and sell these beads outside the Ennis Friary. He used to repair money to develop St. Joseph's Well no. 2 . It was protected as a national monument . There is a right of way over privately owned land to the well.

More on Holy Tom. He died in St. Joeseph's hospital Ennis, towards the end of the 1800's.He told a then young man named Burke, who was dying in the bed beside him, that he had a vision or dream while in America and that he was asked in this vision/dream to return to Ireland and look after this holy place which was shown to him in this vision/dream.

This holy man raised the level of the holy well to protect it from the rising lake. Tom was regularly asked how he moved the heavy boulders single handed. He always replied-"Our Lady helped me".

Mass at St. Joseph's Well

......an excerpt from a letter from Mr. Joe Lynch to Mr. John Burns (Barefield Principal)

....I wish to mention that St. Joseph's Well is a National Monument. There is Right Of Way to the well outside the Northern Wall of Our Lady's Hospital. This allows the general public legal use of the Right Of Way.

I hold two sets of proof of this. I will pass one set to Canon Carroll and hold one which I will make available at any time . This is of vital importance in the light of changes that may occur......

Cures from the Well

  • Mrs Browne: still living at Clare Road Ennis was totally blind until the age of four years. She was given her sight back at the well.
  • Mr. M.J. Baker: publisher, in Lifford lost sight of one eye after a hurling injury-was cured.
  • A young lady was cured of cancer.