Feltrim Hill: The Cursed Canine and the Enigmatic Well

Feltrim Hill: The Cursed Canine and the Enigmatic Well

9 Min Read

On the slopes where the final wolves of Ireland once roamed, spectral figures have been sighted on Feltrim Hill, perpetually journeying towards the sacred spring believed to possess healing abilities.

Quietly rising above Malahide, Feltrim Hill occupies a mysterious position in the ancient lore of Ireland. Long before homes and buildings emerged, this land was wild and untamed, a habitat for wolves, with tales of the Otherworld woven into every stone, in a place once known as The Hill of the Wolves. Here, the atmosphere feels ancient and weighty, as if it holds memories of what the living have long forgotten.

Read More: Explore all ghost stories from Ireland

It is also said that Feltrim was the final refuge for wolves in Ireland, with the last known specimen of the species hunted down in the 18th century. Nestled among the undulating fields lies a holy well, originally dedicated to a Saxon princess believed to have healing gifts, although contemporary tales often revolve around the supernatural.

On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
Feltrim Quarry Gates: Source

Feltrim Hill Quarry and Well

Once, there was a historic settlement named Feltrim Hill. Nearby, a sacred spring was transformed into a well revered by the locals. However, due to limestone quarrying that commenced in the 1880s, both the spring and a significant portion of the hill have vanished, yet the legends surrounding this site endure.

As previously mentioned, a Saxon princess who reigned over this area around 689 C.E. was honored with the well. In ancient times, a line of 14 beech trees once guided pilgrims to the well for mass, and although the well is believed to be destroyed, the waters are thought to remain. In 1947, an archaeological dig atop Feltrim Hill revealed over 500 artifacts, including Roman coins and bronze tins from the 4th century C.E.

On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
St. Werburgh: Meaning “true city” from c. AD 650 – 3 February 700, was an Anglo-Saxon princess who became the patron saint of the city of Chester in Cheshire. She was the daughter of King Wulfhere of Mercia. Her feast day is 3 February. Following Werburgh’s death, her brother Coenred became king of Mercia. In 708 he decided to move his sister’s remains to a more conspicuous place within the church at Hanbury. When the tomb was opened, her body was found to be miraculously intact. This preservation was taken as a sign of divine favour.

The remnants of Fagan’s Castle are also located on Feltrim Hill. Constructed in 1427 by the Fagan family, a once influential Catholic clan whose power dwindled significantly after the Battle of the Boyne, only small portions of the ruins remain visible today. Following 1560, Richard Fagan erected a manor house at Feltrim. His descendants became known as the Fagans of Feltrim. Presently, this too lies in ruin, enveloped by woodland growth.

Some believe the well still exists, though it is sealed off from public access by Feltrim Quarry, which owns the land.

The Hellhound of Feltrim Hill

The residents of Malahide recount tales of a hellhound that prowls the slopes after dusk. Its eyes are said to glow an eerie, unnatural red, resembling embers in the dark. Those who happen to meet its gaze are often overwhelmed by a profound dread, their hearts racing as the creature silently observes from the shadows. Some believe it serves as a guardian of the hill, while others think it is a tormented soul cursed to wander eternally. Its low, mournful howl can be heard during stormy nights, resonating across the fields like a cautionary signal to keep away.

On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
Picture from the 1930s, illustrating the holy well, now reportedly destroyed and sealed with concrete. Source

However, the hellhound is not alone. A ghostly horse, as pale as fog, is said to race across the summit, its hooves making no sound against the earth. Riders have attempted to chase it, only for the apparition to vanish into thin air as it approaches the holy well.

At that same well, when the mist thickens, the silhouette of an elderly woman has been observed laboring her way up the hill, burdened with a heavy load on her back. Her face obscured, her movements slow and purposeful, she heads towards the sacred spring before dissipating like smoke in the morning light.

Feltrim Hill is a realm where the barrier between worlds is thin and where Irish heritage lurks just behind the restricted areas. The healing waters may still bestow blessings upon those who approach with pure intentions, yet the hill also conceals darker mysteries, making Feltrim Hill one of the most haunted locales around.

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  • References:

    Dublin: 30 Most Haunted Places To Visit

    Feltrim Hill and Well

    The Fagans of Feltrim

    Feltrim Hill – a place of peace, intrigue and great tradition | Irish Independent

    Werburgh – Wikipedia

    Murder of fairy changeling and wild dogs with burning eyes… | Irish Independent

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