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| Ballyfore is a townsland at the base of
the famous Croghan Hill. The Irish name for Ballyfore is Baile Fuar. This
could mean Cold Town or most likely the Town of the Springs. There are
many springs and wells in Ballyfore. Ballybeg is beside Ballyfore and in
Irish is Baile Bheag which means the Small Town. There are wells in Ballybeg.
The most notable well is St. Patrick's Well. This is a sacred or holy well.
The well is on the northeastern slope of the hill. People say that the
well sprung up where St. Patrick's horse landed. There is a stone at the
well with the hoof marks of his horse on it. It is said that the water
of the well cannot be boiled.
When the Pope came to Ireland in 1979 the helicopter taking him to Clonmacnois flew over the hill. Hundreds of people gathered on the hill that morning to wave to him as he passed. A plaque has been placed at the well to commemorate this. People still leave personal items there for cures. On St. Patrick's Day people from Croghan and surrounding places come to the well to say the rosary in honour of St. Patrick who brought the Christian faith to Ireland. People then climb the hill and burn the furze. This is an old tradition probably going back to Pagan times. The furze were burned and the cattle were driven through them. This was supposed to ward off evil for the year. This took place on May Day, the old Pagan feast of Bealtaine. In a field in Ballybeg stands a rock of great importance to our heritage. It is known as a mass rock. Mass was held in these places when Catholics were not allowed practice their religion freely during the Penal Laws in Ireland. Mass was said behind ditches and rocks were used as altars. The hole in the rock was said to be used for baptisms. The rock is now used to cure headaches, earaches and toothaches. John Delaney
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