St Finans Well — Kenmare Old

At the foot of a steep N-facing slope, on the S shore of Kenmare Bay. The well, which is dedicated to St Finan, lies outside the NE corner of a graveyard (KE093-035002-) in which are the ruins of a church (KE093-035001-) associated with St Finan. It is covered by a recently built stone structure with a rectangular lintelled opening (H 0.63m; Wth 0.65m) from which a small stream flows. A simple Latin cross has been repeatedly scratched on outcropping rock on the N side of the well. The well is still in use as evidenced by ribbons tied to an overhanging holly tree. Pilgrims pray 'for the cure of eye ailments, as the saint himself [St Finan] had a fault with his sight' (McCarthy 1993, 14). In the 1841 it was recorded that 'patterns' were annually held here on 3 May and 14 September 'until twenty years since when they were abolished' though it was also noted that stations continued to be performed and 'many diseases are cured by its sacred waters' (OSL, 183). See attached photographs of holy well courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. St. Finan's Well was described in 1841 as; 'At the distance of of one hundred paces east-north-east of this ruin [KE093-035001-] is Saint Finan's Well (at highwater mark and in spring tides the salt water gets into it) at which 'patterns' were annually held on 3 May and 14 September until twenty years since when they were shed; but stations are nevertheless still performed at Saint Finan's Well and many diseases are cured by its sacred waters' (O'Donovan 1983, 233). Holy well described in 1898 as ; 'holy well on the shore itself with the sea ebbing in and out of it, so that it can only be approached at low tide. This well is much frequented, and many votive offerings are placed around; on the top of a slab over the well crosses are marked by the worshippers with a pebble, the same as at Feaghna [KE102-038004-], the stone being quite worn with the custom' (Bigger 1898, 323). The Marquis of Lansdowne recorded that the; 'Holy Well which has long enjoyed a great reputation for the healing quality of its waters. Hard by, and connected with the well by a well-worn path, stands the ruin of a tiny church (KE093-035001-), of unknown antiquity, of which little but the eastern lancet window now remains. The Well is called St. Finan's Well, and it seems reasonable to suppose that both it and the church owed their origin to that Saint. To distinguish him from others of the same name, he is known as 'St. Finan Lobhar' the Leper, for he is said to have suffered from leprosy which he had 'taken upon himself' in order to save the life of another. The story goes on that he was ultimately cured by drinking the water of a well to which he had been divinely directed and that in gratitude for this miracle he founded the Religious House on the island of Inisfallen (KE066-072001-) at Killarney. The records show that up to the Dissolution, the church and well of Kenmare Old were an appurtenance of the abbey in question, and it is difficult to resist the conclusion that it must have been the Holy Well of Kenmare which cured St. Finan Lobhar' (Petty-Fitzmaurice 1937, 142). Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 26 September 2022