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Ritual site - holy well

Monastery Well

Tobar Fhionnáin

Holy well in Finnan, Co. Kilkenny.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • DateNot stated
  • FolkloreNone recorded
  • PhotoWanted
Finnan, Co. Kilkenny52.79537, -7.30887
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Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

  • TypeRitual site - holy well

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
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History and description

In a small valley surrounded by gently rising land, in pasture. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 101), there was a church (KK005-063001-) enclosed by a graveyard (KK005-063003-) within Finnan townland, which were levelled c. 1850 by a Mr. Hendricken.

Full archaeological record 160 words

In a small valley surrounded by gently rising land, in pasture. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 101), there was a church (KK005-063001-) enclosed by a graveyard (KK005-063003-) within Finnan townland, which were levelled c. 1850 by a Mr. Hendricken. He goes on to write that, “Tubber-Finnawn,” Saint Finnan’s holy well, now better known as the “Monastery Well,” is at the north side of the fence made by Mr. Hendricken, but within the circuit of the ancient enclosure. Pilgrimages were made at it till about 1800, when they were discontinued’. The holy well is not indicated on the 6-inch or 25-inch editions of the OS maps. The landowner, who referred to the field as the 'monastery field', was not aware of the tradition that this was a holy well. The well, which is visible as a circular pool, has fenced off. Contrary to Carrigan's description the well is SW of the field boundary which runs roughly NW-SE through the 'monastery'.

References

  • Date of revised upload: 30 April 2018

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

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      Around Monastery Well

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • North Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 80.5 km · nearest point 4.8 km
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      • Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 15 km
      • Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 14 km

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