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
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.
More holy wells nearby

St. Finan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Tinnalintan · Kilkenny · 3.1 km away

Saint Brigid's Well (site of)
Ritual site - holy well · Ballyconra · Kilkenny · 3.7 km away
St Paul's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Connahy · Kilkenny · 4.0 km away

St. Catherine's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Rathbeagh · Kilkenny · 5.2 km away

St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Aharney · Laois · 6.6 km away

Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Castlemarket · Kilkenny · 7.2 km away
Visitors' notes
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Around Monastery Well
Other heritage nearby
- Ballyragget CastleCastle · 2.0 km
- Donaghmore ChurchAncient church · 2.2 km
- Moatpark CastleCastle · 2.4 km
- Conahy CastleCastle · 3.0 km
- Saint Finan's ChurchAncient church · 3.2 km
- Barney ChurchAncient church · 3.7 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 20 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 13 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- North Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 80.5 km · nearest point 4.8 km
- Jenkinstown Wood - Jenkinstown Wood LoopWalking Trail · 3.4 km · nearest point 6.4 km
- Durrow Leafy Long LoopWalking Trail · 20.1 km · nearest point 6.4 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- JenkinstownForests · 7.2 km
- Dunmore WoodForests · 8.7 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 15 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 15 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 14 km
Other attractions nearby
- The Irish Fly Fishing and Game MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 5.0 km
- River NoreNature and Wildlife · 7.7 km
- Dunmore CaveMuseums and Attraction · 8.0 km
- Gardens at Castle DurrowHistoric Houses and Castle · 8.4 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 16 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 16 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 16 km

