Ladys Well

Marked on the 1839 and the 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described as Lady’s Well in gothic lettering on both, with the addition of 'Site of' on the later map. John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 says it was then concealed in shrubbery (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 357). It is situated in a fold on a gentle W-facing slope in the valley of the N-S Owenduff River, with the stream c. 70m to the W. It is not visible in reclaimed pasture. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 19 February, 2013

Linked to a local tradition of healing and pilgrimage, Lady’s Well is associated with a female saint or local heroine, common in Celtic Christian folklore where such wells were believed to have curative properties, particularly for women’s ailments. The concealment noted by O’Donovan may reflect local efforts to protect or preserve the site during periods of religious change.