What is recorded here

St. Columba's Well sits beside Lough Columbkille at the top of Cashelard Mountain, while a second holy well hides on a rock behind the local chapel. Children recorded the first in 1937, preserving the name and position when adult memory still held the shape of the hill. The water may have served prayers, healing or ordinary drinking, yet even an unlocated well becomes a landmark once people repeat its name and point to it.

Unlocated holy well dedicated to St. Coulmbkille within the townland of Cashelard. Described in the 1937/8 Schools Folklore Commission as 'There is a little well at the top of Caheland [Cashelard] Mountain just beside the lough - the well is called St. Columba's Well and the lough St. Columba's Lough or Lough Columbkille' (Reel 241 v1032 p476). 'There is another holy well on a rock behind Casheland [Cashelard] Chapel' (Reel 241 v1032 p477). Listed by Ó Muirgheasa in 1936 as well no. 9 (Ó Muirgheasa 1936, 145). Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 05 January 2012

Dedicated to St. Columba (sometimes anglicized as Coulmbkille), the well is associated with the early Christian missionary and monastic tradition in Ireland. Local tradition may have linked the site to healing or protection, as was common with many holy wells connected to saints.

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