i8 93 -94.] 91 



In the early annals of Ireland there are many references to 

 wells, and their use in the baptism of early converts. In Dr. 

 Reeves's " Adamnani Vita St. Columbae" — " St. Columba strove 

 against the Magii (Druids) at a well in the country of the Picts. 

 He exorcised the heathen demon of the well, which thereafter, 

 as a holy fountain, cured many diseases." In the " Life of St. 

 Columbkille," preserved in the Leabhar Breae in the library of 

 the R.I. A., it is said — 



He blessed three hundred miraculous crosses, 



He blessed three hundred wells that were constant. 



At Durrow Abbey, King's County, there is a Celtic cross to 

 St. Columba, near which there is a holy well, with the following 

 inscription : — " St. Columba used this well when he preached 

 the Gospel, and built an abbey near it a.d. 550 — 



Here angels shall enjoy my sacred cell, 

 My sloe, my nut, my abbey, and my well. 



According to Colgan, St. Kieran studied at Rome, and met St. 

 Patrick in Italy, who desired him to go before him to Ireland, 

 and at the Well Fuaran, ' a living fountain,' about the centre 

 of the kingdom to built a monastery, where he (3t. Patrick) 

 would afterwards meet him. Whether such conversation took 

 place or not, it is certain that Birr, which is only a few miles 

 from the ruins of Seir Kyran, was long reputed to be the centre 

 of Ireland, while it is also true that a small stream, even yet, 

 called Fuaran, still purls away on the east side of the ruins at 

 Seir Kyran ; to the south of these ruins there is still likewise 

 to be seen the holy well, or ( living fountain,' supposed to have 

 been then alluded to by the Apostle of Ireland." Clonmacnoise 

 was known by many different names. " It was also known as 



I Artibra,' meaning ' of the wells,' of which there are two here, 

 the one dedicated to St. Kieran and the other to St. Fineen." 



II The Annals of Clonmacnoise," compiled by the Abbot Tiger- 

 nagh, informs us that a person named Torbaid was Comorban 

 of St. Patrick previous to the year 758, when his son Gorman 

 died on a pilgrimage at the Well of :rt. Fineen, at Clonmacnoise. 



