Lady Well

Situated on rock outcrop overlooking the N-S Finisk River, with the stream c. 200m to the E. This is an oval depression excavated from rock outcrop (dims. 2.2m E-W; 1.6m N-S; D 0.6-0.8m) which may be an ancient shrine. Patterns were formerly held here on August 15th. (Beary 1911; Forsayeth 1911b) Beary, M. (1911a) Miscellanea - 'Holy well at Modeligo,' JRSAI 41, 393-4. Forsayeth, G. W. (1911b) Miscellanea - 'Holy well near Modeligo, Co. Waterford' JRSAI 41, 186-7. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 23rd March, 2011. Compiled by: Michael Moore.

Linked to a local tradition of healing, the well may have been dedicated to the "Lady," a common medieval term for the Virgin Mary or a regional saint. The site's association with a rock-cut depression suggests a long history of ritual use, possibly pre-Christian in origin, later Christianized.