What is recorded here

St. Molaises Holy Well is a holy well in Moneygold, County Sligo, Ireland. It holds a natural spring inside a stone-faced, roughly D-shaped cavity measuring 1.4m north-south, 1.4m east-west and 1m deep. A curving drystone wall defines the east and south sides while straight walls close the north and west, with one or two large edge-set slabs forming the north boundary. The well sits in the grass-covered west-facing slope of a penitential cairn, which carries a bullaun stone on top a few meters southeast.

Located at the base of the N-facing slope of a hill, in the SW corner of a field, with a ruined vernacular cottage 15m to N. This holy well consists of a natural spring contained within a roughly D-shaped cavity (1.4m N–S; 1.4m E–W; D 1m) which is faced with stone. A curving drystone wall defines the E–S side of the well but the N and W walls are straight. The N wall consists of one or possibly two large edge-set slabs. The well is enclosed on all sides by the slumped, grass-covered W-facing slope of a penitential cairn (SL005-004003-). There is a bullaun stone (SL005-004002-) on top of the penitential cairn, a few meters SE of the well. A church and graveyard (SL005-005001-; SL005-005002-) are located c. 100m to ENE. According to local tradition, water from the well was especially valued as a cure for sick cattle. Attached images: SL005-004001_01.JPG Location of well in W slope of penitential cairn (SL005-004003-) indicated by ranging rod. SL005-004001_02.JPG Stone facing of well Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 11 December 2015

St. Molaise (or Molagais) is associated with several holy wells in Ireland, often linked to cures for skin ailments and general healing. The well at Moneygold is traditionally connected to this early Irish saint, whose name appears in medieval hagiography, though specific local legends or historical records for this site are sparse.

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