Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Recorded sizeint. diameter 0.9m E-W; 0.86m N-S
What to look for
- Offerings left
- 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
A well is marked on the 1839 and 1940 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as St. Mary’s Well. It is situated on a slight W-facing slope and on the W side of the S-N road (R736) from Tagoat to Rosslare Strand.
Full archaeological record 169 words
A well is marked on the 1839 and 1940 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described in gothic lettering on both as St. Mary’s Well. It is situated on a slight W-facing slope and on the W side of the S-N road (R736) from Tagoat to Rosslare Strand. It is opposite the Roman Catholic church in Tagoat.
The well is subcircular (int. diam. 0.9m E-W; 0.86m N-S) with a domed canopy of brick (max. H 1m), and has an opening (Wth 0.5m; H 0.8m) facing N. There is a limestone sill at the opening, which has a projecting masonry ‘pier’ on either side. There are no offerings at the well, and there is no record of a pattern, but it was probably connected with the parish church of Rosslare (WX048-006001-) c. 1.3km to the N, which was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Archaeological testing (01E0734) c. 70m to the E and c. 70m to the W at the closest points produced no related material (Stafford 2002; excavations.ie 2001:1316).
References
- Amended; 1 December 2020
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 7 January, 2014. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
There are no offerings at the well, and there is no record of a pattern, but it was probably connected with the parish church of Rosslare (WX048-006001-) c. 1.3km to the N, which was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.
More holy wells nearby
St. Michael's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Bush (Forth By., Rosslare Ed) · Wexford · 2.2 km away
St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Trimmer · Wexford · 2.8 km away
St Catherine's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Allenstown Big · Wexford · 3.0 km away
St. Keevil's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballybrennan Little · Wexford · 3.6 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Eardownes Great · Wexford · 4.2 km away
St Helen's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Killillane · Wexford · 4.7 km away
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Around St Mary's Well
Other heritage nearby
- St Ibar's Church, Our Lady's IslandAncient church · 4.1 km
- Sigginstown CastleCastle · 5.8 km
- Rathmacknee CastleCastle · 7.4 km
- Rathlannon castleCastle · 9.6 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 47 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 14 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 ogham stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Ballytrent LoopWalking Trail · 6.4 km · nearest point 3.1 km
- Rosslare Harbour Village TrailWalking Trail · 2.7 km · nearest point 3.2 km
- Rosslare Harbour Clifftop WalkWalking Trail · 1.8 km · nearest point 3.3 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Shelmaliere / Forth MountainForests · 14 km
- Rosslare StrandBeaches · 3.2 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Rosslare HarbourBeaches · 4.1 km
- The Raven Nature ReserveNature reserves · 12 km
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
- WexfordWalled towns · 12 km
Other attractions nearby
- Our Lady's Island MonasteryHistoric Houses and Castle · 3.8 km
- Rosslare Harbour BeachNatural Landscape · 4.0 km
- Tacumshane WindmillMuseums and Attraction · 4.6 km
- St. Helen's Bay BeachBeach · 4.7 km
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