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
- Offerings left
- Cross or cross-slab
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
At the S side of a road, opposite Holy Cross Convent. There are no visible remains of this well.
Full archaeological record 129 words
At the S side of a road, opposite Holy Cross Convent. There are no visible remains of this well. In 1945 it was recorded that St. Margaret's Well was 'roofed with stone, about 4ft. [1.21m] in height, and 27ft [8.22m] in circumference' (ITA). At that time a stone stairway leading to the well was 'still serviceable' and parishioners made pilgrimages to the well on the 25 March and 15 August each year (ITA). It was also recorded in the 1940s that on 15th August five 'rounds' were made and a decade of the rosary said for each round; on completion of the 'rounds' people bathed their faces or their eyes with the well water, then drank some of it and took some away with them (Schools Manuscript, Co. Kerry).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork · Updated 31 January 2011. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
More holy wells nearby
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Saint Gobnait's Well
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Around St Margaret's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Ross CastleCastle · 2.6 km
- Parkavonear CastleCastle · 3.2 km
- Aghadoe ChurchAncient church · 3.2 km
- Innisfallen Church, Oratories & AbbeyMonastic site · 3.2 km
- Aghadoe Round TowerRound tower · 3.2 km
- Muckross AbbeyAbbey or friary · 4.2 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 80 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 20 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 12 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 caveArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 ogham stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 stone circleArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Strickeen TrailWalking Trail · 2.3 km · nearest point 8.8 km
- Cronin's Yard LoopWalking Trail · 5.3 km · nearest point 13 km
- Lisleibane LoopWalking Trail · 5.4 km · nearest point 14 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Pike WoodForests · 3.1 km
- Rossacroo WoodForests · 15 km
- Sheheree Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 3.3 km
- Derrycunnihy Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Muxnaw LodgeHistoric stays · 22 km
Other attractions nearby
- St Mary's Cathedral KillarneyHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.4 km
- The Mission SculptureAttraction · 0.5 km
- Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial StatueAttraction · 0.6 km
- Johnny O'Leary Memorial StatueAttraction · 0.7 km
What's on nearby
- Sorcha Richardson2026-11-05 · 2.2 km
- Gearoid McCarthy2026-11-06 · 2.2 km
- Dominic Kirwan In Concert2026-11-07 · 2.1 km

