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Ritual site - holy well

Saint Derivla's Well

Holy well near Ballyagran, County Limerick.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • DateNot stated
  • Folklore1 quote
  • PhotoWanted
Castletown (Connello Upper By.), Co. Limerick52.40801, -8.79221
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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

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
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History and description

In level marshy terrain. Set into N face of field boundary, travelling on WNW-ESE axis, is circular spring (diam. c. 0.5m; D c. 0.6m); stone facing, of small roughly-cut flags, only evident at SSW side of spring.

Full archaeological record 123 words

In level marshy terrain. Set into N face of field boundary, travelling on WNW-ESE axis, is circular spring (diam. c. 0.5m; D c. 0.6m); stone facing, of small roughly-cut flags, only evident at SSW side of spring. Ground immediately surrounding spring is waterlogged and heavily poached by cattle drinking from spring; a recently cut field drain runs c. 1m in front of spring on same axis as field boundary. No indication that well still used for religious purposes. According to Ó Danachair (1955, 205) rounds still mad here in mid-1950s and 'a pattern and fair was held on 11th February until about 1870'; he also notes legends that 'Saint Gobnait lived here', and that 'a white stag is sometimes seen at the well'.

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Denis Power · Updated 26 August 2011. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

According to Ó Danachair (1955, 205) rounds still mad here in mid-1950s and 'a pattern and fair was held on 11th February until about 1870'; he also notes legends that 'Saint Gobnait lived here', and that 'a white stag is sometimes seen at the well'.
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact

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      Around Saint Derivla's Well

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • Knockfierna Famine Memorial LoopWalking Trail · 3.0 km · nearest point 7.4 km
      • Knockfierna Heritage LoopWalking Trail · 5.3 km · nearest point 7.7 km
      • Kilmallock Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 61.5 km · nearest point 11 km

      Outdoors, towns and places to stay

      • CroomWalled towns · 13 km
      • KilmallockWalled towns · 15 km
      • GlenlohaneHistoric stays · 25 km

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