Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
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
Marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as St. Helen’s Well. It is situated on a level, low-lying landscape c. 500m W of the South Slob of Wexford harbour.
Full archaeological record 101 words
Marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as St. Helen’s Well. It is situated on a level, low-lying landscape c. 500m W of the South Slob of Wexford harbour. John O’Donovan, writing c. 1840 says that the pattern was abolished c. 1810, and even the date was not remembered. It is described locally as a spring that was filled in and piped into the local drainage. It was not venerated. Killiane castle (WX042-020001-) is c. 80m to the NW and the church (WX043-001----) is c. 45m to the NE.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 28 May, 2013. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
John O’Donovan, writing c. 1840 says that the pattern was abolished c. 1810, and even the date was not remembered.
More holy wells nearby
St. Braagh's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Burrow (Forth By., Rosslare Ed) · Wexford · 3.3 km away
St. Keevil's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballybrennan Little · Wexford · 3.7 km away
St. Michael's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Bush (Forth By., Rosslare Ed) · Wexford · 4.3 km away
St Catherine's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Gorteenminoge Lower · Wexford · 5.1 km away
St Margaret's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Townparks (St. John'S Par.) · Wexford · 5.2 km away
St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Trimmer · Wexford · 5.5 km away
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Around St. Helen's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Rathmacknee CastleCastle · 3.9 km
- Rathlannon castleCastle · 4.1 km
- Saint Iberius' Church, WexfordAncient church · 5.4 km
- Priory of SS. Peter and Paul of Selskar by WexfordAncient church · 5.7 km
- Barntown CastleCastle · 7.7 km
- Ferrycarrig CastleCastle · 7.9 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 15 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- The Rocks Trails - Fitness TrailWalking Trail · 1.4 km · nearest point 3.9 km
- The Rocks Trails - The Faythe Heritage TrailWalking Trail · 2.5 km · nearest point 3.9 km
- The Rocks Trails - Family TrailWalking Trail · 0.7 km · nearest point 4.0 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Shelmaliere / Forth MountainForests · 9.0 km
- Rosslare StrandBeaches · 4.7 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Rosslare HarbourBeaches · 9.1 km
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Nature ReserveNature reserves · 7.8 km
- The Raven Nature ReserveNature reserves · 8.7 km
- WexfordWalled towns · 5.4 km
Other attractions nearby
- Rosslare StrandBeach · 3.9 km
- RacontourNature and Wildlife · 5.2 km
- The Norman Way - Heritage and Cycling trailHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.2 km
- St Iberius ChurchAbbeys and Monastery · 5.4 km
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