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
On the valley floor, at the heal of a stream. Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 234) refers to this well as 'Tiobar na suil, Well of the Eyes' but appears to be confusing it with another holy well (KK008-132----) c. 150m to the NW in Rathlogan townland.
Full archaeological record 107 words
On the valley floor, at the heal of a stream. Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 234) refers to this well as 'Tiobar na suil, Well of the Eyes' but appears to be confusing it with another holy well (KK008-132----) c. 150m to the NW in Rathlogan townland. The well in Rathlogan was still known, when visited in 1987, for its curative properties for eyes. According to Carrigan the other holy well is called, 'the well of St. Eelakan or Eelakun, also pronounced Illagan and Illakan' (ibid. 299). The well in Gorteennamuck, when visited in 1987, though overgrown, was visible as a pool with many collapsed stones around it.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 23 January 2018. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
On the valley floor, at the heal of a stream.
The well in Rathlogan was still known, when visited in 1987, for its curative properties for eyes.
More holy wells nearby
Tobar na súl
Ritual site - holy well · Rathlogan · Kilkenny · 0.1 km away
St. Monchin’s Well
Ritual site - holy well · Coolcashin · Kilkenny · 2.2 km away
Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clomantagh Lower · Kilkenny · 6.2 km away
Hermit's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clontubbrid · Kilkenny · 6.7 km away
St John's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Toberboe Or Killenny More · Laois · 6.7 km away
St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Aharney · Laois · 6.7 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Coolcashin CastleCastle - unclassified · Coolcashin · 2.3 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Saint Elakan's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Rathlogan RingfortRingfort · 0.6 km
- Rathlogan ChurchAncient church · 1.0 km
- Glashare ChurchAncient church · 2.0 km
- Glashare CastleCastle · 2.0 km
- Coolcashin ChurchAncient church · 2.2 km
- Ballycuddihy CastleCastle · 3.0 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 53 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Gathabawn Short LoopWalking Trail · 4.1 km · nearest point 1.8 km
- Gathabawn LoopWalking Trail · 11.3 km · nearest point 1.9 km
- Cullahill - Heathy Way Loop WalkWalking Trail · 6.4 km · nearest point 3.2 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- CapponellanForests · 8.7 km
- Dunmore WoodForests · 12 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 10 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 5.5 km
Other attractions nearby
- Gardens at Castle DurrowHistoric Houses and Castle · 10 km
- River NoreNature and Wildlife · 12 km
Excavations nearby
- E2394 Glashare AR 55-57, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.3 km
- E2393 Rathlogan AR 51-2, County KilkennyRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.6 km