The old church beside which the Ballintubber Abbey was built was a Patrician Church. In fact Ballintubber takes its name from St. Patrick-Baile tobair Phádraig - the townland of St Patrick's well. Before that the area was known as Bail Craobnach or Creevagh. Close by is the well where Patrick baptised his converts in the district, with a stone alongside bearing the supposed imprint of the saint's knee.