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Ritual site - holy well

St. Ailbe's Well

Holy well in Emly, County Tipperary, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • 19th centuryIn the record
  • Folklore2 quotes
  • PhotoWanted
Emly, Co. Tipperary52.46286, -8.35116
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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
  • Date or period mentioned19th century
  • Recorded sizeint. diameter 1.2m; D 5.2m

What to look for

  • Stone surround

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 the NE quadrant of the graveyard. This is traditionally known as St. Ailbe's well.

Full archaeological record 135 words

In the NE quadrant of the graveyard. This is traditionally known as St. Ailbe's well. The circular well is now covered in mass concrete, 0.4m above the ground and 1.92m in diameter. There is a square aperture in the concrete, 0.28m wide, which gives very limited access to the well water. Originally the well was a circular well (int. diam. 1.2m; D 5.2m) with dry stone walling on top of which was placed a cut stone limestone surround of 19th century date. According to the OS Letters(O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 40) the stone shaft of the wall is c. 7m deep. Traditionally this holy well was visited on the feast day of St. Ailbe, the 12th of September. In 1898 the well was still being used to supply the village with water (Long 1898, 173-4).

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 12 May 2014. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

This is traditionally known as St. Ailbe's well.
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact
Traditionally this holy well was visited on the feast day of St. Ailbe, the 12th of September.
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact

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      Around St. Ailbe's Well

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • Knockcarron - Lakelly LoopWalking Trail · 3.4 km · nearest point 2.5 km
      • Knockcarron - Golden Mile LoopWalking Trail · 2.6 km · nearest point 3.0 km
      • Darby's Bed LoopWalking Trail · 4.9 km · nearest point 6.3 km

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