Fr. O'Donnell's Well is known to locals and visitors alike, situated as it is in Dysert, at the termination of the section of cliff path which has been improved by the Co. Council. It is in a little hollow on the cliffs of the Culam, the Cup and Saucer Rock to the eastern side of the little bay and the "Castle" (Coastguards' Watch Tower) on the headland above.

The present edifice surmounting the well dates from 1928 when a Mr. J. P. Rahilly from Limerick spent some time in Ardmore and decided to make it the Irish Lourdes. Prior to that the well had been lined by stones (not the present ones), and a very low wall surrounded it with a semi-circular flat stone on top; this still remains.

Nobody knows now for certain who the Fr. O'Donnell was. Michael and Tommie Maloney of Main St. Ardmore discussed the subject with Patsy Burke who was a very old man when he died in 1969, and their general conclusion was, that he was a silenced priest who came and read his office there. Jack Crowley concurs with this story. However, no-one can be sure of that now. A Fr. John O'Donnell was Parish Priest in Ardmore from 1911 to 1914, but he had no association with the well.

Great curative properties were attributed to the waters specially in the case of eye ailments. There was never any tradition of pilgrimage, rounds or prayers; as often as not someone was sent out to Fr. O'Donnell's Well to bring the water home. A number of instances were cited to me of improvements or cures, after using the water. In at least one case where this occurred it was to the amazement of the local G. P. Dr. Foley who had forecast probable loss of vision.