Kings Well — Sadleirswells

In pasture. Roughly centrally placed within Sadleirswells townland which, in the 17th century and probably earlier, was called Tobberbrien (Down Survey map (1655-6) Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin; Civil Survey (1654-5) Simington 1934 vol. 2, 38). The well is indicated on the 1st (1840) ed. OS 6-inch map as, ‘King’s Well’, located on the E side of a N-S flowing stream. Neither the well or the stream are indicated on the 1904 revision of the OS 6-inch map. According to Flynn (1913, 8), the well, 'is now closed up'. The well is named after Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (died 1014) who reputedly washed his wounds here after the battle of Sulcoit which was fought in 968 (Flynn 1913, 8-9). Another well (TS059-130----) in the S of the townland, named ‘Black Well’ on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map was previously considered to be that associated with Brian Boro as, being situated c. 500m NE of the Tipperaryhills motte (TS067-001----), it accorded with Flynn’s description of the location of the well, ‘some 200 yards from the mote on Tipperary Hills’ (ibid.). However, it is more likely that Flynn’s estimate of distance was erroneous and that the well is the ‘King’s Well’, situated c. 1km NNE of the motte. See attached: TS059-204----_01 Extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of Clanwilliam, Co. Tipperary (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 6 March 2023