What is recorded here

Two steps descend into Lanferas Well, where a natural spring still pushes through a mortared stone wall beside Kilconnell Abbey. The water escapes through a sluice into a nearby stream, while another well bearing the same name waits farther south-west. Local memory may have treated the clear flow as a gift from Lanfera, yet the stones and moving water remain unchanged beside the abbey.

Some 80m to the north-east of Kilconnell Abbey (GA086-001----). Two holy wells are named 'Lanfera's Wells' on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map. By the time of 3rd ed. (1947-8), the words 'Site of' were added to the north-west well. Both wells still survive, the south-eastern one has been covered by a pump-house. This well consists of a natural spring enclosed by a mortared stone wall with access at north-west. Two steps lead down to the water which flows out, via a sluice, at east-north-east to a stream. Another well with the same name (GA086-001003-) lies c. 140m to the south-west. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). Updated by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 18 September 2014

Lanferas Well is associated with Saint Lanferga, a lesser-known early Irish saint, and was traditionally visited for its supposed healing properties, particularly for eye ailments. The well’s name and location near Kilconnell Abbey suggest a possible monastic or ecclesiastical connection in the medieval period.

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