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Ritual site - holy well

St Cavan's Well

Former holy well in Kilcavan, County Wexford, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • DateNot stated
  • Folklore2 quotes
  • PhotoWanted
Kilcavan (Retrenched), Co. Wexford52.25648, -6.71369
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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 c. 1m x c. 0.5m; D 0.2m

What to look for

  • Offerings left
  • Steps down
  • 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
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History and description

Situated in the broad valley of a small S-N stream that is c. 100m to the W, and just on the W side of the embankment of the NNW-SSE Waterford to Rosslare railway line. The well is dedicated to Saint Caomhán Santleathan of Ardcavan (WX038-006001-), and according to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on June 12th, the saint’s feastday (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 87).

Full archaeological record 170 words

Situated in the broad valley of a small S-N stream that is c. 100m to the W, and just on the W side of the embankment of the NNW-SSE Waterford to Rosslare railway line. The well is dedicated to Saint Caomhán Santleathan of Ardcavan (WX038-006001-), and according to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on June 12th, the saint’s feastday (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 87). The well is a small D-shaped depression (dims c. 1m x c. 0.5m; D 0.2m) lined by white-painted stones on the NE side and approached by two steps from the NW. The well is within a rectangular enclosure (ext. dims 5.2m NE-SW; 6.6m NW-SE) defined by an earthen bank (Wth c. 0.5m; H 0.5m) and hedge at SW and SE and a drystone wall on the other sides, with a gate at NW leading directly to the steps of the well. The well is maintained and there is a statue of a mitred bishop within the enclosure, but there are no offerings.

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 20 August, 2013. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

The well is dedicated to Saint Caomhán Santleathan of Ardcavan (WX038-006001-), and according to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on June 12th, the saint’s feastday (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 87).
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact
The well is maintained and there is a statue of a mitred bishop within the enclosure, but there are no offerings.
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact

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      Around St Cavan's Well

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • St Clomauns WayWalking Trail · 0.5 km · nearest point 5.0 km
      • Tintern Trails - Caesar Colclough TrailWalking Trail · 11.3 km · nearest point 6.6 km
      • Tintern Trails - Marie Biddulph Colclough TrailWalking Trail · 3.1 km · nearest point 8.3 km

      Outdoors, towns and places to stay

      • Tintern AbbeyForests · 8.7 km
      • CullenstownBeaches · 4.5 km
      • GrangeBeaches · 10 km
      • Ballyteigue Burrow Nature ReserveNature reserves · 6.4 km
      • Ballyteigue Burrow Nature ReserveNature reserves · 6.4 km
      • ClonminesWalled towns · 3.7 km
      • Gaultier LodgeHistoric stays · 20 km

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