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 marshy hollow, c. 33m E of stream running roughly N-S. Clara church (KK020-017001-) and graveyard (KK020-017002-) are located c. 65m to the SE. Described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 356) as, ‘a fine holy well, known as “St. Colman’s Well”’. The nearby church was also dedicated to St Colman whose feast day is on the 16th of October.
Full archaeological record 119 words
In a marshy hollow, c. 33m E of stream running roughly N-S. Clara church (KK020-017001-) and graveyard (KK020-017002-) are located c. 65m to the SE. Described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 356) as, ‘a fine holy well, known as “St. Colman’s Well”’. The nearby church was also dedicated to St Colman whose feast day is on the 16th of October.
A spring enclosed on three sides by stone walls (H 0.75m) and covered by a large flagstone (T 0.1m). Enclosing walls (area 1.2m x 0.95m) were repaired in the 1950s. Formerly dedicated to St. Colman and venerated on the 16th of October. When visited in 1994 the well, which was overgrown with vegetation, was being used for domestic purposes.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 18 November 2020. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
More holy wells nearby
Tobar Neaska
Ritual site - holy well · Grangehill · Kilkenny · 1.5 km away
St. Martin's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Templemartin (Gowran By., Clara Ed) · Kilkenny · 2.7 km away
Saint Scoheen's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Freneystown · Kilkenny · 3.5 km away
Saint Fiachra's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Sheastown · Kilkenny · 5.1 km away
St John's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Johnswell · Kilkenny · 5.4 km away
Toberpatrick
Ritual site - holy well · Mountnugent Lower · Kilkenny · 5.7 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Freneystown CastleCastle - tower house · Freneystown · 3.6 km · official record
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Around Saint Colman's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Churchclara ChurchAncient church · 0.1 km
- Clara CastleCastle · 1.5 km
- Moonhall CastleCastle · 1.8 km
- Rathgarvan CastleCastle · 2.1 km
- Saint Martin's ChurchAncient church · 2.8 km
- Kylebeg ChurchAncient church · 3.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 14 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 13 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 13 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 high crossArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 4.1 km
- Nore Valley Walk - Kilkenny to Bennetsbridge SectionLong Distance Waymarked Way · 8.2 km · nearest point 4.1 km
- East Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 62.6 km · nearest point 5.6 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 12 km
- JenkinstownForests · 13 km
- Ballykeefe Nature ReserveNature reserves · 17 km
- GowranWalled towns · 6.3 km
- KilkennyWalled towns · 7.1 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 24 km
Other attractions nearby
- Hawkeye School of FalconryNature and Wildlife · 3.5 km
- Hurling Tours IrelandAttraction · 6.1 km
- Nowlan Park Gaelic StadiumAttraction · 6.2 km
- St Mary's Church GowranHistoric Houses and Castle · 6.3 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 7.3 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 6.7 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 6.7 km