Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
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
In a densely wooded copse c. 20m SE of Glashagal River. According to the OS Letters (1839) (O'Flanagan 1939, vol. 1, 26), at this well, dedicated to St Finan, 'a Patron was held some day in August till about thirty years ago'.
Full archaeological record 158 words
In a densely wooded copse c. 20m SE of Glashagal River. According to the OS Letters (1839) (O'Flanagan 1939, vol. 1, 26), at this well, dedicated to St Finan, 'a Patron was held some day in August till about thirty years ago'. It is described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 106) as, 'a fine spring, gushing forth from under an aged ash' and he relates that, 'Pilgrimages were made at the well, especially by persons afflicted with head-ache, till about 1835'. According to local tradition the well moved c. 70m to the SW when an overhanging ash tree was uprooted. This second spring is at present a muddy hollow covered in dense overgrowth, c. 0.8m below field level. The well itself, now dry, was the source of a stream which flowed N into the Glashagal River. The shallow channel created by this stream also serves as the W side of the fosse of an adjacent moated site (KK005-012002-).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 26 April 2017. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
According to local tradition the well moved c. 70m to the SW when an overhanging ash tree was uprooted.
More holy wells nearby
Monastery Well
Ritual site - holy well · Finnan · Kilkenny · 3.1 km away

Saint Brigid's Well (site of)
Ritual site - holy well · Ballyconra · Kilkenny · 3.8 km away

Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Castlemarket · Kilkenny · 4.5 km away

St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Aharney · Laois · 5.5 km away
St Paul's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Connahy · Kilkenny · 7.1 km away
St John's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Toberboe Or Killenny More · Laois · 7.2 km away
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Around St. Finan's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Saint Finan's ChurchAncient church · 0.1 km
- Ballyconra ChurchAncient church · 1.7 km
- Moatpark CastleCastle · 1.8 km
- Ballyragget CastleCastle · 3.6 km
- Barney ChurchAncient church · 3.8 km
- Seskin CastleCastle · 3.9 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 16 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Durrow Leafy Long LoopWalking Trail · 20.1 km · nearest point 3.4 km
- Durrow Leafy Loop ShortWalking Trail · 14.4 km · nearest point 3.5 km
- North Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 80.5 km · nearest point 4.7 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Dunmore WoodForests · 5.6 km
- CapponellanForests · 6.4 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 15 km
Other attractions nearby
- The Irish Fly Fishing and Game MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 1.9 km
- Gardens at Castle DurrowHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.5 km
- Heywood GardensHistoric Houses and Castle · 7.8 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 19 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 19 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 19 km


