St. Columbs Well

Situated at the NW edge of a low-lying basin in a small D-shaped enclosure (dims c. 8m NE-SW; c. 5.75m NW-SE) defined by an earthen bank and hedge, c. 500m WSW of the site of the early church (ME017-044012-). It is accessed by a sign-posted path from the Lough Crew road (R 163). The well is one source of a stream that curves around the hill on which Kells is located, running under the streets in places. It curves to the E and N of the town, joining the NW-SE River Balckwater close to the mound (ME017-007----). The well is oval (int. dims 1.2m NW-SE; 0.8m NE-SW) with a masonry canopy that is open (Wth 0.55m; H 1.05m) to the SW. There is no evidence of veneration, but a pattern is held on June 9th since the well was conserved by a local group in 2009. (French 2012, 21-2) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 March, 2016

St. Columba's Well is associated with the early Christian saint St. Columba, who was a key figure in the spread of Christianity in Ireland and Scotland during the 6th century. Traditionally, such wells were believed to have curative properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin, and were often sites of pilgrimage and seasonal rituals.