St. Finans Well

St Finan's Well/Tobar Fhionáin: This spring well is located on the N shore of St Finan's Bay, a short distance W of Killemlagh Medieval church (KE096-009----), which is also dedicated to St Finan. The well is covered by a low lintelled structure and is heavily overgrown. Rounds were formerly made here on the 16th of March (Crawford 1915, 155), and the well was one of those visited on the 29th of September on the Dungeagan-Coomanaspig turas or pilgrimage (KE097-029----). See attached photograph of 'St. Finan's Well', taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00270 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16872. See attached colour photographs of holy well courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1080. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 25 April 2022

St. Finan's Well is associated with St. Finan, a 7th-century Irish saint known for founding monastic sites in Donegal and Scotland. The well, located near a church also dedicated to him, was traditionally visited for healing and spiritual purposes, reflecting the widespread veneration of saints at holy water sites in early Christian Ireland.