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 mentionedmedieval
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
At the bottom of a W-facing slope, in the NE corner of a small walled enclosure, in very marshy ground. It is located c. 225m SW of the medieval church (KK027-046001-) in Stonecarthy East.
Full archaeological record 86 words
At the bottom of a W-facing slope, in the NE corner of a small walled enclosure, in very marshy ground. It is located c. 225m SW of the medieval church (KK027-046001-) in Stonecarthy East. The OS Letters (1839) mentions that the well is called, 'Tobar Ciarain (Toberkeeran) i.e., Keeran's Well, but it is held in no sanctified veneration at present' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 283 (96)).
A natural spring well choked with weeds. The well is no longer venerated and has fallen into disuse and neglect.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 4 April 2023. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More holy wells nearby
Toberbride
Ritual site - holy well · Kells · Kilkenny · 2.0 km away
St. Mogue's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ennisnag · Kilkenny · 2.5 km away
St. John's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Cotterellsbooly · Kilkenny · 3.2 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballyda · Kilkenny · 4.7 km away
St. Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Newtown (Shea) · Kilkenny · 4.9 km away
Well of the head
Ritual site - holy well · Ovenstown · Kilkenny · 5.9 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Dunnamaggan ChurchChurch · Dunnamaggan East · 4.5 km · official record
- St Leonard's WellRitual site - holy well · Dunnamaggan East · 4.7 km · official record
- Knocktopher ChurchChurch · Knocktophermanor · 4.8 km · official record
- Knocktopher Carmelite Abbey (site of)Religious house - Carmelite friars · Knocktopherabbey · 4.8 km · official record
- Trinity WellRitual site - holy well · Knocktopherabbey · 4.8 km · official record
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Around Saint Kieran's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Stonecarthy ChurchAncient church · 0.2 km
- Kilree monastic siteAncient church · 2.2 km
- Kilree Round TowerRound tower · 2.2 km
- Kilree High CrossHigh cross · 2.3 km
- St. Kieran's ChurchAncient church · 2.4 km
- St Mogue's church siteAncient church · 2.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 16 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 12 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 high crossArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 2.3 km
- East Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 62.6 km · nearest point 6.1 km
- Castlemorris - Fern LoopWalking Trail · 2.4 km · nearest point 6.6 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- CastlemorrisForests · 8.8 km
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 12 km
- Garryricken Nature ReserveNature reserves · 12 km
- Ballykeefe Nature ReserveNature reserves · 14 km
- ThomastownWalled towns · 6.7 km
- CallanWalled towns · 11 km
Other attractions nearby
- Kilree High CrossHistoric Houses and Castle · 2.3 km
- Kells PrioryHistoric Houses and Castle · 2.6 km
- Mount Juliet Equestrian CentreNature and Wildlife · 3.0 km
- Jerpoint AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.6 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 15 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 15 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 15 km