Holy well in Gardens (kilkenny City By., St. Mary’s Par.)

At the rear of Kyteler’s Inn, uncovered during archaeological excavations carried out during the restoration of Kyteler’s Inn. Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 103) relates how St Kieran’s Well, ‘appears in ancient documents as “Keverocke’s Well’ or Keurocke’s Well, “Kenerock’s Well,” “Kerock’s Well” and “Kyran’s Well.” Its original Irish name was evidently, Tobar-Chiaróg, which is exactly the same thing as Tobar-Chiarain, viz. St. Kieran’s Well. This well was the southern boundary of the Diocesan See-lands at Kilkenny, till the time of Bishop Hugh de Rous, who granted to Earl William Marshall’. The grant, dated 31st of December 1269, states that, ‘Hugh Rufus, formerly Bishop of Ossory, and his successors, were wont yearly to receive an ounce of gold, sometimes from the provostship of Kilkenny by the hands of the provosts there, and sometimes from the exchequer of the castle of Kilkenny by the hands of the treasurer and bailiffs of the castle, for a portion of land extending from Keverocke’s well to the water called Bregath’ running under Coterel bridge. The said Bishop Hugh had granted this land in fee for this gold to William Earl Marshall to enlarge his vill [town]’ (Sweetman 1877, 140 (861)). Hogan (1884, 254) cites several historical references to St Kieran’s Well, including in 1688, when William Jackson was mentioned as ‘tenant at 10s. per annum for “a waster in St. Kyran’s Well.”’, in 1745, ‘a lease was executed to Nicholas Ronan, for thirty-one years, at £1 5s. per annum, of “St. Kyran’s Well.” And so late as the year 1811 a lease was made by the Corporation to Nathaniel Alcock, for ever, at 6d. per annum, of “St. Kyran’s Well.” One of the conditions on which this ground was made over to Alcock bound him to establish on it a public fish market. This market or fish-stall came down to our own time. It occupied part of the present public market [between the Dunnes Stores car park and St Kieran’s Street], which forms the opening into King-street [St Kieran’s Street], which enables us to fix on that locality as being identical with the place anciently called “St. Kyran’s Well.”’.   Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

This holy well is associated with St. Kieran, a 6th-century Irish abbot and patron saint of Kilkenny, and was historically known for its healing properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin. The well's connection to St. Kieran reflects broader medieval traditions linking saints to curative water sources across Ireland.