Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Recorded sizediam 1m; D 1m
What to look for
- Offerings left
- 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 flat low-lying land with river Brosna 160m to the S and Tisaran Church (OF022-004---) 690m to SW. Holy well associated with Sárán who founded a monastery known as Teach Sáráin [Tisaran/House of Saran] in the seventh century (Ó Riain 2011, 547-8; ITA Survey 1942).
Full archaeological record 128 words
Situated on flat low-lying land with river Brosna 160m to the S and Tisaran Church (OF022-004---) 690m to SW. Holy well associated with Sárán who founded a monastery known as Teach Sáráin [Tisaran/House of Saran] in the seventh century (Ó Riain 2011, 547-8; ITA Survey 1942). In 1942 it was recorded that the feastday of St Saran was not remembered locally, although there was a pattern held at Tisaran until the early years of the last century (ibid.).
The feastday of Sárán fell on the 20th of January (Ó Riain 2011, 547-8). Present remains consist of an uncovered circular dry stone well (diam 1m; D 1m) now disused and dried up with no evidence of any votive offerings associated with the well. (O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 58)
References
- Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien
- Date of revised upload: 28 February 2019
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
In 1942 it was recorded that the feastday of St Saran was not remembered locally, although there was a pattern held at Tisaran until the early years of the last century (ibid.).
Present remains consist of an uncovered circular dry stone well (diam 1m; D 1m) now disused and dried up with no evidence of any votive offerings associated with the well.
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Around Saint Saran's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Tisaran ChurchAncient church · 0.7 km
- Clonony CastleCastle · 1.2 km
- Banagher High CrossHigh cross · 6.2 km
- Gallen PrioryAbbey or friary · 8.3 km
- Gallen MonasteryAncient church · 8.3 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 8 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Birr Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 73.2 km · nearest point 0.6 km
- Birr Cycle Hub Loop 5 ARoad Cycling Trail · 11.3 km · nearest point 0.7 km
- Birr Cycle Hub Loop 5Road Cycling Trail · 41.9 km · nearest point 8.2 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Mongan Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 10 km
- Redwood Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
Other attractions nearby
- Carrickcraft - OffalyNature and Wildlife · 5.8 km
- Silver Line CruisersNature and Wildlife · 5.9 km
- The River Queen Boat TripAttraction · 5.9 km
- Mid Ireland Adventure & Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike CentreWalking · 5.9 km