Holy Well

In a narrow depression at the base of a W-facing slope of a hillock, on the W margins of a graveyard (MA015-031002-). There is a medieval church (MA015-031001-) 90m to SE on top of the hill. Indicated on the 1838 and 1922 OS 6-inch maps as ‘Holy Well’, the rectangular housing (int. dims. 1.05m E−W; 0.6m N−S; H 0.82m) of mortared stone captures a natural spring which flows from the base of the slope. The structure is built into the hill slope. The façade is well finished with regular-shaped blocks of stone, and is topped by a roughly triangular apex incorporating a small rectangular recess. There is a central rectangular opening into the interior which is roofed by a single horizontal slab. The outflow from the well extends to W, in a shallow, open channel which intersects with a stream flowing SE into the estuary. The well was dedicated to St. Brendan, and was traditionally visited on Garland Sunday (Bradley and Dunne 1989, 45). Attached image: MA015-031003-_01.JPG viewed from NW Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 24 October 2018

Linked to an unidentified early Christian saint, the well at Rathfran was traditionally associated with healing rituals, particularly for ailments of the eyes and general wellness. Its location near a medieval church and graveyard suggests its significance in local devotional practices, though specific folklore or saintly connections have not been recorded.