What is recorded here

St. Kierans Well marks a quarter-mile southern walk from the churchyard on St Kieran's day, when the parish still treats March 5th as a holiday. People once descended steps to drink or pray at that low, flat water, but concrete and stagnation have changed the ceremony into a warning about forgetting what the place was for.

Holy well with modern concrete surrounds with steps leading down to a stagnant pool of water which appears to be polluted. One of the stations on the pattern held on St Kieran's day. Described in the OS Letters of 1838 as 'St. Kieran's Day, 5th March, is still held a holiday in this parish. His well lies about a quarter of a mile from the Church yard to the south at the foot of a tree in a low flat of ground'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

St. Kieran's Well is associated with St. Kieran of Saigir, a 6th-century Irish saint known for founding monastic settlements and promoting Christian learning. The well was historically visited as part of a pilgrimage or "pattern" on St. Kieran's Day, 10 September, for its supposed healing properties, particularly for skin ailments and general well-being.

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