An ancient route taken by pilgrims to a sacred well near Kells in Co Meath will be cut off if the proposed route of the Kells bypass is not changed, according to local residents. Kells is on the N3, one of the busiest roads in the State, which the National Roads Authority wants to upgrade all the way from Clonee, a few miles north of Dublin, to the Border. However bypassing Kells will cut Ciaran's Road in two, making it a cul de sac from each side. At the moment the road is the only way of reaching the well, which is reputed to have healing powers. "This site dates to pre-Christian times. People come from all over Ireland and take a bottle of water away with them because of its healing powers," says Ms Betty Newman Maguire, secretary of the Carnaross Historical Association. The water from St Ciaran's well can cure warts, verrucas, headaches, and backache. There is a wishing tree beside it, which is based on pagan beliefs. Legend has it that the healing powers of the water are at their strongest between midnight and 1 a.m. on the first Saturday of August and each year dozens of people take the old pilgrim route there.
"Nobody should be denied access to this; as far back as AD 766 this site has been recorded," Ms Maguire added.
The "cure" for warts involves visiting the well and getting a sample of water. On the way home, the wart sufferer must not speak. Then, once a day for three weeks they must put the water on to the wart and it will be gone by the end of the third week. A short distance from the well is Castlekeeran graveyard which will also be affected according to local tour guide Oliver Usher.
"This is one of the most ancient sites in Ireland. It dates back to the rivalry between St Ciaran and St Columcille.
"The proposed road will block the old pilgrim ways here and we will have a high road with roaring traffic on it passing by". Professor of archaeology George Eoghan, who excavated the passage graves at Knowth, says the graveyard is part of the richness of the ecclesiastical history of Kells.
"We are in part of a very rich arch complex of early Christian period and it must be considered as part of the Kells complex. We must try and preserve the environment of the period and that involves keeping the roads away from the Castlekeeran area," Prof Eoghan said.
The Kells/Carnaross Bypass Concerned Residents' Association said the deadline for voicing concerns to the NRA is tomorrow. It is objecting to the route because of the impact it will have on local people, particularly farmers whose land will be divided by the road.
Local school principal Ms Maureen Brophy says the road could affect pupil numbers in the Carnaross National School, which has four teachers.
"Up to a fifth of our children could be affected by the road and we have told the NRA we fear the future of the school could also be seriously threatened by the proposed route."