Why this matters
Linked to Saint Bernard (Bern), the well is associated with the nearby Clonbern Church, traditionally founded by the 7th-century Irish monk and hermit Saint Bernard of Clonbern. The site was historically visited for healing and purification rituals, with water believed to have curative properties, particularly for skin ailments and general well-being.
What is recorded here
Beside a stream, 220m S of Clonbern Church (GA031-016----). Marked on 1st ed. of OS 6-inch map. A concrete-lined well of modern construction now occupies the site and no trace of any earlier structure survives. (O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 101-2; Melvin c. 1971, 12)
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
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