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
- Condition (as surveyed)Gone: no visible trace
What to look for
- 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
Indicated on the 1947 revision OS 6-inch map as 'St. Dallan's Well', this is the present location of the holy well which was originally c. 40m to the S (see KK023-053003-). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 376), 'the well was removed to its present position by the Flood family.
Full archaeological record 144 words
Indicated on the 1947 revision OS 6-inch map as 'St. Dallan's Well', this is the present location of the holy well which was originally c. 40m to the S (see KK023-053003-). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 376), 'the well was removed to its present position by the Flood family. The old basin, however, remains uninjured, about 40 yds. to the north [actually to the S], beside the fosse of a small square rath [KK023-100----]. A drain conveys the water, underground, from the old well to the new one. A pattern was held at the well on the first Sunday of August, till the early part of the 19th century, but tradition says that the people attended it were divided as to whether the real pattern day, that is, the feast day of the saint, was the first day of August or the third'.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 17 August 2021. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
A pattern was held at the well on the first Sunday of August, till the early part of the 19th century, but tradition says that the people attended it were divided as to whether the real pattern day, that is, the feast day of the saint, was the first day of August or the third'.
More holy wells nearby
Saint Dallan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Burnchurch · Kilkenny · 0.0 km away

Patron Well
Ritual site - holy well · Church Hill · Kilkenny · 2.0 km away
Felix's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Desart Demesne · Kilkenny · 3.5 km away

Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballyda · Kilkenny · 3.7 km away
Well of the head
Ritual site - holy well · Ovenstown · Kilkenny · 3.7 km away
St. Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Newtown (Shea) · Kilkenny · 4.7 km away
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Around St. Dallan's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Burnchurch CastleCastle · 1.0 km
- St Dallan's ChurchAncient church · 1.0 km
- Ballybur CastleCastle · 1.1 km
- Castleinch CastleCastle · 3.9 km
- St. David's ChurchAncient church · 3.9 km
- Goslingstown CastleCastle · 4.4 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 11 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 2.8 km
- Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium Park - Red TrailWalking Trail · 3.3 km · nearest point 4.2 km
- Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium Park - Green TrailWalking Trail · 2.5 km · nearest point 4.5 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 4.7 km
- Ballykeefe Nature ReserveNature reserves · 7.4 km
- Kyleadohir Nature ReserveNature reserves · 12 km
- CallanWalled towns · 8.0 km
- KilkennyWalled towns · 8.0 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 20 km
Other attractions nearby
- Kells PrioryHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.4 km
- Kilree High CrossHistoric Houses and Castle · 7.5 km
- Shenanigans – The Kilkenny City WalkWalking · 7.9 km
- Ormonde Language Tours KilkennyWalking · 7.9 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 8.3 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 8.4 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 8.4 km

