Wells Blessed by Saint Patrick

transcribed at

Wells Blessed by Saint Patrick  [duchas:4738369]

Wells blessed by Saint Patrick.
It is recorded that when St. Patrick was brought for Baptism, the blind & aged Priest was unable to find the water essential for his purpose.
Illuminated, as it is held, as to the future sanctity of the Baby, the Priest signed with the infants hand a cross upon the ground. Immediately on contact being made between flesh and clay, a spring of water burst up in which the Baby was baptised and the sightless eyes of the Priest were washed & made to see.
       Baptising Converts
On coming to Ireland and commencing his journeys through the length & breadth of the land, the Saint stopped near a well or stream which he consecrated before baptising his converts. One such well is to be found at Ballintubber in Co. Sligo & it is renouned for centuries having given its name to the Parish in which it is situated.
Even in pagan times the people reverenced this well because they thought that there some magician living under the rock from which the water sprang. 
St. Patrick soon put an end to this Idolatry by taking down the stone slab which was

Wells Blessed by Saint Patrick  [duchas:4738370]

over the well, and thereby proving clearly that there was nothing beneath it save clay. Then he blessed the source of the spring & baptised Bainneach whom he put in charge of the Church erected there.
On the shores of Lough Gill is a lovely well.
Leaping from the rock, the water runs slowly at first under gorgeous foliage of the overhanging trees & then goes out of sight with musical murmurs of Lough Gill.
The Saint blessed this famous spring and with its waters baptised many of the neighbouring inhabitants. When the Penal laws forbade Priests to enter the town of Sligo under the pain of death it was there under the shadow of the trees that Mass was said & the water fro the holy well was used in the Holy Sacrifice. 
Demon Routed.
On one occasion an evil spirit was fleeing from Croagh Patrick during the Saint's sojourn on the mountain which he loved so well. Patrick had routed this Demon by ringing his holy bell but before turning tail the Demon defiled all

Wells Blessed by Saint Patrick  [duchas:4738371]

the wells on the mountainside.
Thirst was sorely afflicting the Saint so much that he cried to God for relief and at his prayer a well sprang up at his feet.
This well fills up and ebbs again just as does the sea from which, however, it is far distant.