What is recorded here

St. Francis' Well hides behind North Mall houses, its stone chamber marking 1688 on a wooden panel. People walked down to the cold water for sore eyes and consumption, trusting the crypt-like rock room to remove what medicine could not touch. The well still stands at the cliff foot, waiting for hands red in pain or hearts heavy with fear.

St. Francis' Well lies at foot of rock cliff, to rear of houses on North Mall, within stone-built well house. Entrance has wooden panel with date of 1688 in iron numbers; second room to W partially cut out of rock. Fitzgerald, in 1896 (O Coindealbháin 1946, 161), describes well (diam. 5ft; D 2ft) as surrounded by path leading to crypt-like room with rock forming end wall; used as cure for sore eyes, consumption and other ailments. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 Image provided by and copyright of Amanda Clarke 2016-2021 https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/

St. Francis' Well is associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and was historically visited for its supposed healing properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin. The well house, dated 1688, reflects a tradition of Catholic devotion in Cork during a period of religious persecution in Ireland.

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