Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Recorded sizeint. dims 1.5m E-W; 1.3m N-S
What to look for
- Steps down
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
Located on the E-facing slope of the Hill of Slane and just inside the N wall of the graveyard (ME019-060016-). John O’Donovan in the 1830s described Tobar Patrick as having stones to the ground level but the well ran dry in the summer.
Full archaeological record 122 words
Located on the E-facing slope of the Hill of Slane and just inside the N wall of the graveyard (ME019-060016-). John O’Donovan in the 1830s described Tobar Patrick as having stones to the ground level but the well ran dry in the summer. There was a stone that had the imprint of the saint’s knees (Herity 2001, 44). Cogan (1862, 1, 296) describes it as having a stone wall with steps leading down to it and stations were held there until the 1850s. The well is a D-shaped area (int. dims 1.5m E-W; 1.3m N-S) defined by the graveyard wall on the N side and a small wall (Wth 0.5m; H 0.3-0.5m) elsewhere. It is closed with loose stones. (French 2012, 11-12)
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 17 November 2021. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More holy wells nearby
Lady Well
Ritual site - holy well · Slanecastle Demesne · Meath · 1.1 km away
Saint Bernard's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Dowth · Meath · 6.4 km away
St. Anne's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Randalstown · Meath · 13 km away
Tober Maura
Ritual site - holy well · Castletown (Ferrard By.) · Louth · 13 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Rathfeigh · Meath · 15 km away
St. Mairead's well
Ritual site - holy well · Toberdoney · Louth · 16 km away
Visitors' notes
Badges are opinions of visitors - not verified facts. One vote per badge and visitor; no account needed.
Best time to visit
What's missing on this page?
Share a tip to find it
Share a local tradition or story
Suggest a correction
Suggest the right map location
Report a duplicate page
Ask a question
Do not include personal data. See our privacy notice.
Around Saint Patrick's Well
Other heritage nearby
- St. Patrick's Church, Hill of SlaneAncient church · 0.0 km
- Slane CastleCastle · 1.5 km
- Knowth Passage Tomb CemeteryMegalithic tomb · 3.8 km
- Newgrange Passage TombMegalithic tomb · 5.1 km
- Mountfortescue HillfortHillfort · 5.4 km
- Mellifont AbbeyAbbey or friary · 5.8 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 21 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 promontory fortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Littlewood - Forest WalkWalking Trail · 2.1 km · nearest point 0.7 km
- Townley Hall - Glen Wood Nature TrailWalking Trail · 1.6 km · nearest point 7.6 km
- Townley Hall - Balnumber Wood WalkWalking Trail · 1.2 km · nearest point 8.0 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- LittlewoodForests · 1.3 km
- Townley HallForests · 8.4 km
- MorningtonBeaches · 20 km
- NavanWalled towns · 12 km
- SiddanWalled towns · 12 km
- Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO · 5.7 km
- Collon HouseHistoric stays · 7.7 km
Other attractions nearby
- Hill of SlaneHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.2 km
- Killary Monastic SiteAbbeys and Monastery · 1.1 km
- Francis Ledwidge MuseumHistoric Houses and Castle · 1.5 km
- Knowth Passage TombsMuseums and Attraction · 3.8 km
What's on nearby
- Raw & Natural: Exploring Irish Raw Milk Cheeses and Natural Wines2026-11-06 · 20 km
- Icons of Ireland Afternoon Tea with Graham Herterich2026-11-07 · 20 km
- Spirits of Meath2026-11-08 · 14 km

