St. Keevils Well

A well is marked on the 1839 and 1940 eds of the OS 6-inch map where it is described in gothic lettering as St. Keevil’s Well. It is located on a level, low-lying landscape, just S of the old Wexford to Rosslare road. John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 says that the pattern was held on 27 August (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 281). The saint is St. Caoimheall, the daughter of Caomhlugh. She was the mother of four saints, three – Daghán, Méanóg and Molioba – with Wicklow connections (Ó Riain 2011, 148). She is also reputed to be the sister of St. Kevin (Caoimhghin) of Glendalough, and a church, now unlocated, was dedicated to her in north Kildare. The well at Ballybrennan is not evident and was probably destroyed in widening the N25 road. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 2 January, 2014

St. Keevil’s Well is associated with a local tradition of healing, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin. The saint's name suggests a possible early Christian origin, though specific folklore or historical records relating to St. Keevil are scarce.