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Ritual site - holy well

St. Anne's Well

Holy well in Randalstown, County Meath, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • DateNot stated
  • Folklore1 quote
  • PhotoWanted
Randalstown, Co. Meath53.68576, -6.72828
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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
  • Recorded sizedims 1.7m x 1.3m

What to look for

  • Rag tree

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

Situated on a fairly level landscape, with the small NNE-SSW Yellow River c. 40m to the W. A well is marked on the 1836 and eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering as St. Anne’s Well on both. Kelly (1973, 8, 10) suggests that the well could be a pre-Christian dedication to Anu, the mother of the Irish gods, which was altered to Anne in Christian times.

Full archaeological record 115 words

Situated on a fairly level landscape, with the small NNE-SSW Yellow River c. 40m to the W. A well is marked on the 1836 and eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering as St. Anne’s Well on both. Kelly (1973, 8, 10) suggests that the well could be a pre-Christian dedication to Anu, the mother of the Irish gods, which was altered to Anne in Christian times. The well is an oval hollow (dims 1.7m x 1.3m) lined with large stones. A rag tree with some old cloths attached to it was present at the well in 1973, while a trench excavated near the well produced a blue glass bead (ibid.).

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 30 March 2023. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

A rag tree with some old cloths attached to it was present at the well in 1973, while a trench excavated near the well produced a blue glass bead (ibid.).
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact

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      Around St. Anne's Well

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • Meath Heritage Trail Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 49.4 km · nearest point 11 km
      • Boyne Blueway - Trim to BectivePaddling Trail · 8.5 km · nearest point 12 km
      • Drewstown Woods - Girley Bog walkWalking Trail · 5.2 km · nearest point 13 km

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