Holy wells, also known as healing wells or Clootie wells, can still be found in a number of different places all over Ireland. The thing that is especially interesting about these holy wells is that we know some of them were in use with essentially identical rituals in pagan times. The ancient Celtic peoples, including the ancestors of the modern Irish, venerated deities associated with healing springs. In many cases, the deity attached to a particular well or spring was simply renamed as a saint, while the actual practices performed at the well went on unchanged.

For example, one of the most important ancient Celtic deities was known as Brigantia or Brighid. To this day, many of the Irish healing wells are known as “St. Brigid's Well” or some similar local name.

The ritual to be performed at a holy well is usually specific to that particular well, but will share features in common with those found at other wells, such walking around the well clockwise a certain number of times before drinking the sacred water. Another common practice is to tie a rag or cloth known as a “clootie” to a nearby tree. This clootie is believed to contain the spiritual essence of whatever ailment you're seeking treatment for. As the clootie wears away over time, so will the disease. Often, one must also repeat a certain number of Catholic prayers, sometimes in a fixed order. Generally speaking, the prayers are only thought to be effective if they are spoken by one with a “pure heart,” in other words with complete sincerity.