Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Condition (as surveyed)Gone: no visible trace
What to look for
- Offerings left
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
Natural spring well known as St. Kieran's Well consists of a circular shaft sunken into the ground which is encased within a drystone wall. The well was dry at time of inspection with no evidence of any votive offerings in the fill of the well.
Full archaeological record 150 words
Natural spring well known as St. Kieran's Well consists of a circular shaft sunken into the ground which is encased within a drystone wall. The well was dry at time of inspection with no evidence of any votive offerings in the fill of the well. A large tree and hawthorn bush mark the site of this well. According to the local landowner this hawthorn bush was known locally as St. Kierans Bush. The well is located near the base of a hill on the N facing slope with the remains of Knockseera church (LA022-013001-) and graveyard (LA022-013002-) and St. Kieran's Bush (LA022-013005-) located 300m to the S. Theis monument is 'a holy well, and was formerly frequented on the 5th of March' (Carrigan 1905 vol. 2, 130). The M7 motorway is located to the N of the well the construction of which may have caused the well to dry up.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O'Brien · Updated 09 March 2010 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Laois. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
The well was dry at time of inspection with no evidence of any votive offerings in the fill of the well.
More holy wells nearby
St Patrick's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Donaghmore · Laois · 5.7 km away
St. Canice's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Corraun · Laois · 5.8 km away
Saint Fintan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Cromoge · Laois · 13 km away
St Fintan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clonenagh · Laois · 15 km away
St John's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Toberboe Or Killenny More · Laois · 16 km away
St Michael's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Bayswell · Kilkenny · 16 km away
Visitors' notes
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Around St Kieran's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Aghaboe PrioryAbbey or friary · 5.8 km
- Aghaboe MotteCastle · 5.9 km
- Aghaboe ChurchAncient church · 5.9 km
- Cloncourse CastleCastle · 6.6 km
- Ballaghmore CastleCastle · 8.1 km
- Timoney StonesStanding stone · 8.8 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 18 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Lake TrailWalking Trail · 2.2 km · nearest point 8.6 km
- Granstown Wood and Lake Nature Reserve Woodland TrailWalking Trail · 2.2 km · nearest point 8.6 km
- The Source of the Nore Walking TrailWalking Trail · 2.6 km · nearest point 14 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- LackaForests · 12 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 9.0 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 9.2 km
- Roundwood HouseHistoric stays · 12 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 24 km
Other attractions nearby
- Donaghmore Famine Workhouse MuseumHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.5 km
- Aghaboe AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.8 km
- Clonohill GardensGardens · 6.9 km
- Kilvahan Horse Drawn Caravans and Adventure FarmAttraction · 8.0 km
Excavations nearby
- E2194 Derryvorrigan 2, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 0.1 km
- E2193 Derryvorrigan 1, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 0.4 km