Holy well in Kilnamanagh

Site of St. Kevin's Well in the parish of Tallaght was a natural spring well located beside Kilnamanagh Castle (DU022-005001-) (Ó Danachair 1958, 86). According to Ó Danachair; 'There is no memory of devotions; the water is used for domestic purposes only. The well is said to have sprung up at the place where Kathleen, St. Kevin's temptress, did penance' (ibid.). The holy well was described by Ua Broin (1944, 195) as follows; 'Nearly 60 years ago a mound was pointed out to the present writer, between the shed and the passage to St. Kevin's Well. Saint Kevin's well beside the castle commemorates that saint's sojourn here for early training. Another well quite near, N. 21.2 cms., W. 2.5 cms., O.S. 22 is marked Holy Well on map 30 but tradition does not claim that it was a holy well'. This well was located SW of Kilnamanagh Castle and accessed from steps. It was still present in 1975. There has been considerable development in the area since with the construction of housing over this ecclesiastical site (DU022-005005-) leaving no surface remains visible of St. Kevin's Well. Folklore collected from St Mary's School, Tallaght recorded the following details about St Kevin's Well; 'It was in Kilnamanagh that St Kevin spent his novitiate, and it was while reading his "office" that "Kathleen" first saw him. She returned again and again to see him, and in the end tried to speak to him. But Kevin would have none of her and taking a handful of nettles struck her in the face telling her to be gone. Immediately Kathleen fell on her knees begging his forgiveness, and on the spot a well sprang up. This well is still known as St. Kevin's Well, though the water has been changed, through a shore, to the other side of the castle' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0795, Page 039; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428219/4386863/4456593). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 20 April 2023

linked to St. Kevin, a 6th-century Irish monk and founder of Glendalough, was traditionally believed to have healing properties. While specific devotional practices at the Kilnamanagh well are not recorded, St. Kevin's wells across Ireland are often associated with cures for ailments such as eye and skin diseases, reflecting his patronage of healing and nature in Irish hagiography.