What is recorded here

Friars Well is a lost holy well on the northwest slope of Mount Mary in County Galway, marked only on a 1931 map and absent from the land today. It may have given clean water to travellers, friars or nearby families, while also serving prayer and ritual. The well disappeared from human memory and surface trace, but it still belongs to the hill, waiting beneath grass, stone and rain.

In pastureland on NW-facing slope of Mount Mary. Marked on 3rd ed. of OS 6-inch map (1931). No visible surface trace survives. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

Linked to Saint Mary, the well was traditionally visited for healing and protection, particularly for ailments of the eyes and livestock. Though no physical structure remains, local folklore recalls the site as sacred, with historical associations to early Christian pilgrimage practices in the region.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.