St. Faelans Wells

In marshy grassland to the NE of a stream. Named ‘St. Fallan’s Wells’ on the 1933 edition of the OS 6-inch map and depicted as a small rectangular structure on the N side of a NE-SW running channel/stream, which flowed into a larger stream to the SW. On the 1838 edition of the map, the rectangular structure is shown but the name ‘St. Faelan’s Wells’ is c. 40m further to the SE, to the E of two spring wells, c. 15m apart, which flowed into a NW-SE stretch of a small stream. It is possible that the placement of the name on the latter map is incorrect. On inspection in August 1984 only one well was visible. It was defined by a collapsed square drystone wall (L 1.6m; Wth 1.6m; H 0.9m) opening to the SW and from where a partially roofed channel (L 1.8m) extended towards the larger stream to the SW. A large amount of rubble, consisting of limestone blocks and one large upright slab, surrounded a sycamore tree directly to the NW of the well. This material have come from a church (GA097-053----) located c. 140m to the NE, to which the well may have been associated. Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG and Olive Alcock Date of upload: 28 March 2023

St. Faelans Wells is associated with St. Fallan, an early Irish saint traditionally linked to the spread of Christianity in parts of Ireland and Scotland. The site may have been a place of pilgrimage and healing, with the waters of the well possibly used for ritual purification or to seek cures for ailments, as was common at many early Christian holy wells.