When Christianity arrived in Ireland it used many sites associated with pagan worship. Holy wells were probably sacred places in pre-Christian Ireland. Most are associated with a particular saint, such as St Patrick's Well in Mullahoran which people visited on March 17th and for the following two days.

We go to holy wells in the summer and in the winter. We go to pray for other people and for ourselves. Holy wells are very special. Some wells are very important to other people too. The names of the some of the wells we visit are St. Ann’s Well in Killanne in Wexford and Our Lady’s Well up the Half-Way Road outside Bunclody, St. Kevin’s Well in Wicklow, St. Patrick’s Well in Rathvilly County Carlow, St. Bridget’s Well in Myshall County Carlow and St. David’s Well in Oylegate in County Wexford.

God blesses Holy Wells. Sometimes you can see visions in the well. Lots of people go to visit them a lot of time. We don’t have special prayers for each well, we just go to pray if something is gone wrong. Holy wells are called holy wells because Saints are seen there. And some people go to pray when things go wrong for them.

The holy water from some of the wells cures people. My sister’s hair began to fall out. She went to St. Kevin’s Well and now her hair is all grown back. My aunt had a problem. She went to Mt. Mellary and her problem was solved. (Maureen Berry 6th Class)

In many places, rags, handkerchiefs or clothes are tied to the trees above or around the well. The idea about this custom is that as the rag rots away, so does your illness.

Travellers visit holy wells all over Ireland. Travellers also visit St. Patrick's Purgatory which is situated on an island of Lough Dergh, a lake lying in the southern part of the County of Donegal, near the borders of Fermanagh and Tyrone. It is nearly six miles in length, and four in breadth, surrounded on every side by bleak barren hills, covered with heath from base to summit. This is also a very popular place of pilgrimage to people all over Ireland.

Another popular place of pilgrimage is Croagh Patrick in County Mayo. Croagh Patrick is a very high and beautiful mountain in the most western part of the County of Mayo. This mountain is considered to be one of the most holy places of pilgrimage in Ireland. It is holy because this is the place where St. Patrick drove all the snakes our of Ireland. You begin your station at the sign of St. Patrick’s knee, and there say seven paters, seven aves, and a creed; and go on your knees over rocks, until you get to a little altar, where you say fifteen paters, fifteen aves, and a creed; they you return, but still on your knees, and say seven paters, seven aves, and a creed.