Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Date or period mentionedlate medieval
- Recorded size H 0.46m; W 0.2m; T 0.12m
What to look for
- Cross or cross-slab
- 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
Situated on a shelf on top of cliffs overlooking Ardmore Bay to the N. St Declan’s Well has a masonry superstructure and is just 20m W of Dysert church (WA040-011001-). It has two openings and is surmounted by two (originally three) crosses, all late medieval in character.
Full archaeological record 145 words
Situated on a shelf on top of cliffs overlooking Ardmore Bay to the N. St Declan’s Well has a masonry superstructure and is just 20m W of Dysert church (WA040-011001-). It has two openings and is surmounted by two (originally three) crosses, all late medieval in character. The S cross that is missing was illustrated by Westropp (1903, 377, 5) as a shield-shaped piece wider than it was tall with a crudely executed figure. The present S cross is a sandstone plaque (dims. H 0.46m; Wth 0.2m; T 0.12m) with a crucified figure. The N cross is a cross-shaped sandstone (H 0.58m; Wth 0.27m; T 0.12m) with a crucified figure. St Declan’s Stone (WA040-010----), also associated with the pattern, is on the beach c. 550m to WNW. (Power 1898b, 161; Westropp 1903, 376-7)
Power, Rev. P. (1898b) Excursion guides – 2: Ardmore. WAJ 4, 147-63.
References
- Westropp, T. J. (1903) Notes on the antiquities of Ardmore. JRSAI, 33, 353-80.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 20 Octiber, 2011. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
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Around Saint Declan's Well
Other heritage nearby
- St Declan's OratoryAncient church · 0.9 km
- Ardmore CathedralAncient church · 0.9 km
- Ardmore Round TowerRound tower · 0.9 km
- North AbbeyAbbey or friary · 9.4 km
- Collegiate Church of St Mary, YoughalAncient church · 9.7 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 15 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 promontory fortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Ardmore Cliff WalkWalking Trail · 4.0 km · nearest point 0.0 km
- Sean Kelly Cycle Route - The Heritage RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 107.7 km · nearest point 2.0 km
- Capel Way Coastal Trail Island LoopWalking Trail · 2.4 km · nearest point 13 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Ardmore BeachBeaches · 0.9 km · Good Quality (2025)
- CurraghBeaches · 2.0 km
- Capel Island and Knockadoon Head Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
- Capel Island and Knockadoon Head Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
- YoughalWalled towns · 9.5 km
- Salterbridge GatelodgeHistoric stays · 25 km
Other attractions nearby
- Ardmore BeachBeach · 0.8 km
- Ardmore Round Tower and CathedralAbbeys and Monastery · 0.9 km
- Curragh BeachBeach · 1.8 km
- Ballyquin BeachBeach · 2.7 km
Excavations nearby
- E3569 Pilltown Area 5, County WaterfordRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 6.9 km
- E3567 Pilltown Area 2, County WaterfordRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 7.5 km