What is recorded here

Holy well in Finnan is a ritual site in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Tubber-Finnawn, also called the Monastery Well, stood within the ancient enclosure where a church and graveyard once stood before Mr. Hendricken levelled them around 1850. Pilgrimages continued there until about 1800, after which the well faded from local memory and even the landowner who called it the monastery field no longer knew its sacred name.

In a small valley surrounded by gently rising land, in pasture. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 101), there was a church (KK005-063001-) enclosed by a graveyard (KK005-063003-) within Finnan townland, which were levelled c. 1850 by a Mr. Hendricken. He goes on to write that, “Tubber-Finnawn,” Saint Finnan’s holy well, now better known as the “Monastery Well,” is at the north side of the fence made by Mr. Hendricken, but within the circuit of the ancient enclosure. Pilgrimages were made at it till about 1800, when they were discontinued’. The holy well is not indicated on the 6-inch or 25-inch editions of the OS maps. The landowner, who referred to the field as the 'monastery field', was not aware of the tradition that this was a holy well. The well, which is visible as a circular pool, has fenced off. Contrary to Carrigan's description the well is SW of the field boundary which runs roughly NW-SE through the 'monastery'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 30 April 2018

Linked to Saint Fionnán, the well is associated with healing traditions and may have been a site of pilgrimage. Local folklore suggests that the water was used to cure ailments, particularly those affecting the eyes.

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