What is recorded here

St Johns Well is a ritual holy well in County Clare, Ireland, named on the 1840 OS 6-inch map and still marked by a thin upright slab and a curving cover beside a rough wall. It sits in a rushy dip near a children's burial ground, where bottles and cups still appear though no statue or formal offering remains. Local tradition claims the water cured eye complaints, suggesting people may have come there in darkness or doubt to drink, rinse their faces and leave something small behind.

In a slight natural dip c. 20m W of a children's burial ground (CL038-007002-). The well is located at the junction of two former field boundaries in a rushy area some 40m NW of a stream. Named 'St John's Well' on the 1840 OS 6-inch map. The well is marked by a long thin upright slab along a rough wall and a curving slab partly covers the opening. Although there are no votive offerings or statues present, bottles and cups indicate its use for water and it is said locally to have had a cure for eye complaints. The following images have been uploaded: CL038-007001-_01.jpg View of well from SW (photo: Michael Houlihan) CL038-007001-_02.jpg View of well from W (photo: Michael Houlihan) Revised by: Mary Tunney Date of revision: 8 June 2022

St John's Well is traditionally associated with St John the Baptist, a popular patron saint for holy wells, particularly those linked to healing and protection. It may have been a site of seasonal rituals or visits for water-related cures, as was common in pre-modern Irish practice.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.