What is recorded here

St Finnians Well sits in a Cork pasture, marked by a stone slab bearing five crosses cut by pilgrims who walked a mile from a nearby burial ground to reach it. Each year on the thirteenth of December, people completed rounds at the old church ruins before visiting the well, turning a quiet field into a place of repeated devotion. The clear water and simple crosses suggest that ordinary people believed this spot could carry prayer further than words alone.

In pasture, towards E side of field. Open well with stone and concrete surround, overflow exits to SW. Stone slab set into NW side inscribed by pilgrims with five simple crosses: one large cross with smaller one in each of four angles; single cup beside well. Rounds paid on 13th December starting with burial ground (14612) c. 1 mile to S and finishing at well. According to Ó Driscéoil (1934, 24), 'a pattern is held annually for three days, viz.-11th, 12th and 13th December. The first two days being devoted to paying rounds at the ruins of the old church in Nohoval graveyard [14447], and the third day the well is visited'. Named 'Flugh Feigh' on 1842 OS 6-inch map (see 15283); and 'St Finnian's Well' on 1904 and 1938 OS 6-inch maps. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 Images provided by and copyright of Amanda Clarke 2016-2022 https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/

St Finnian's Well is associated with St Finnian, an early Irish Christian saint known for founding monasteries and promoting education in Ireland. The well, marked by pilgrim inscriptions of crosses, was traditionally visited for healing and spiritual purposes, reflecting a blend of Christian devotion and pre-Christian water cult practices.

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