St. Helens Well

Marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as St. Helen’s Well. It is situated on a level, low-lying landscape c. 500m W of the South Slob of Wexford harbour. John O’Donovan, writing c. 1840 says that the pattern was abolished c. 1810, and even the date was not remembered. It is described locally as a spring that was filled in and piped into the local drainage. It was not venerated. Killiane castle (WX042-020001-) is c. 80m to the NW and the church (WX043-001----) is c. 45m to the NE. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 28 May, 2013

St. Helen’s Well is associated with St. Helen of Wexford, a 7th-century Irish saint and abbess, venerated for her piety and healing miracles. Traditionally linked to fertility and protection, holy wells dedicated to her were often visited by women seeking to ease childbirth or cure barrenness.