| St Molua's Well
© St Molua's Well
Just beyond the cemetery and within a couple of hundred yards of the
parish church is the blessed well dedicated to St. Molua, patron saint
of Ardagh. This well is one of three wells dedicated to the saint, the
others being in the townland of Emlygrennan in the parish of Bulgaden/Martinstown
in east Limerick, and in Rathronan within the parish. Up to about eighty
years ago, rounds were paid to this well on the 3rd of August, the eve
of St Molua's feast day.
In 'The Weekly Observer' in Newcastle on Aug 5th 1916, the following
passage was written about St. Molua's Well: "…and doing on the
occasion and sports will be held. After the devotions, there will be exhibitions
in hurling and football, footracing and Irish stepdancing. The Newcastle
West and Castlemahon bands will attend."
The feast day itself (August 4th) was observed as a parish holiday. A
very large ash tree once stood by the well but has long since disappeared.
One parishioner, a Mrs. Flynn, claims to have had her sight restored at
the blessed well many years ago. At the moment no set tradition is in
place regarding devotions at the well but suggestions to re-establish
devotions there have been put forward and the idea is receiving much attention
at present.
Grotto
© Carrickerry Grotto
There is also a grotto in the village of Carrickerry.
 
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