Holy well in Churchclara

In a marshy hollow, c. 33m E of stream running roughly N-S. Clara church (KK020-017001-) and graveyard (KK020-017002-) are located c. 65m to the SE. Described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 356) as, ‘a fine holy well, known as “St. Colman’s Well”’. The nearby church was also dedicated to St Colman whose feast day is on the 16th of October. A spring enclosed on three sides by stone walls (H 0.75m) and covered by a large flagstone (T 0.1m). Enclosing walls (area 1.2m x 0.95m) were repaired in the 1950s. Formerly dedicated to St. Colman and venerated on the 16th of October. When visited in 1994 the well, which was overgrown with vegetation, was being used for domestic purposes. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 18 November 2020

linked to Saint Clara, associated with healing and protection. The well was traditionally visited for its curative properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin, and was likely a site of seasonal rituals and pilgrimages in earlier times.