St. Kierans Well

At the foot of a N-facing slope, sloping down to the Thonoge River which flows 6m N of the holy well. The well is rectangular and stone-lined (1.16m x 0.7m; retaining wall 0.15m H), aligned N-S. The S end is built into the hillside which is retained by stone walling, now partially rendered and capped with concrete. At the back of the well, which is built into a recess (0.85m Wth; 0.6m D; 0.5m H) in the stone walling, there is a stone spout whcih carries water draining off the hillside. The water in the well (D c. 0.2m) is very clear. The retaining wall of the well is composed of limestone slabs, some concreted. A shallow concrete gully runs along the base of the retaining wall to the E of the well and drains into the well. No evidence of any religous devotion at the well. According to Power (1908, 75), Ciaran, a native of Northern Decies, was baptised by St. Declan at this well and close to it, some years after, he built himself a monastic cell. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 14 January 2014

St. Kieran's Well is associated with St. Kieran of Saigir, a 6th-century Irish saint known for founding monastic sites in County Offaly and linked to the spread of Christianity in the midlands. The well is traditionally visited for its healing properties, particularly for skin ailments and general well-being, and may have been a site of pilgrimage and seasonal rituals.