Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
What to look for
- Pattern day
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
On the floor of the Arigna river valley, with land rising to the E, in reclaimed grassland. According to the OS Letters (1839), the holy well was 'stopped up six years ago' i.e. c. 1833 (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 208 (69)).
Full archaeological record 121 words
On the floor of the Arigna river valley, with land rising to the E, in reclaimed grassland. According to the OS Letters (1839), the holy well was 'stopped up six years ago' i.e. c. 1833 (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 208 (69)). However this appears to be contradicted by O'Kelly (1969 (1985 reprint), 4), who notes, 'Holy Trinity well at which a pattern is still held on the second Sunday in July is 400 yards south-east of the church. There is a Mass bush, a reminder of fugitive open-air worship in Penal days, beside the well'. There are several springs in the area which flow into a small stream but the well itself was removed during land reclamation works in the 1970s.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 30 March 2020. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
However this appears to be contradicted by O'Kelly (1969 (1985 reprint), 4), who notes, 'Holy Trinity well at which a pattern is still held on the second Sunday in July is 400 yards south-east of the church.
More holy wells nearby
St. Margaret's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Brabstown (Crannagh By.) · Kilkenny · 3.4 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Tullaroan · Kilkenny · 4.9 km away

St. Lachtain's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Moat · Kilkenny · 5.1 km away
St. Brendan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Troyswood · Kilkenny · 5.8 km away

Tobernapeastia
Ritual site - holy well · Tobernapeastia · Kilkenny · 6.3 km away

Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clomantagh Lower · Kilkenny · 7.6 km away
Visitors' notes
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Around Holy Trinity Well
Other heritage nearby
- Ballinamara Church (site of)Ancient church · 0.6 km
- Gaulstown CastleCastle · 1.3 km
- Sart CastleCastle · 2.8 km
- Ballyroe CastleCastle · 3.0 km
- Booleyshea CastleCastle · 3.0 km
- Black CastleCastle · 3.6 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 17 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 15 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- North Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 80.5 km · nearest point 1.3 km
- Freshford LoopWalking Trail · 5.7 km · nearest point 4.4 km
- Jenkinstown Wood - Jenkinstown Wood LoopWalking Trail · 3.4 km · nearest point 7.0 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- JenkinstownForests · 7.7 km
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 8.0 km
- Ballykeefe Nature ReserveNature reserves · 8.4 km
- Kyleadohir Nature ReserveNature reserves · 18 km
- KilkennyWalled towns · 9.2 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 8.6 km
Other attractions nearby
- River NoreNature and Wildlife · 5.3 km
- Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium ForestNature and Wildlife · 8.0 km
- Kilkenny Revolutionary Walking TourWalking · 8.6 km
- Kilkenny ToursWalking · 8.7 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 8.8 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 9.4 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 9.4 km

