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
- Steps down
- 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 as St. Mary’s Well on both. It is located on a gentle SW-facing slope with the NW-SE River Sow c. 150m to the SW. According to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on the 15th August (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 356), but the well is no longer visible at ground level in pasture.
Full archaeological record 93 words
Marked on the 1839 and 1925 eds of the OS 6-inch map and described as St. Mary’s Well on both. It is located on a gentle SW-facing slope with the NW-SE River Sow c. 150m to the SW. According to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on the 15th August (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 356), but the well is no longer visible at ground level in pasture. It is described locally as having had a canopy and steps leading down to it, but there is no memory of a pattern.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 31 August, 2012. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
It is located on a gentle SW-facing slope with the NW-SE River Sow c. 150m to the SW. According to John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 the pattern was held on the 15th August (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 356), but the well is no longer visible at ground level in pasture.
More holy wells nearby
St Davids Well (site of)
Ritual site - holy well · Ballynaslaney · Wexford · 3.8 km away
St. Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Killisk · Wexford · 4.7 km away
St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Artramon · Wexford · 5.8 km away
St. Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Castletalbot · Wexford · 9.0 km away
St Margaret's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Coolrainey · Wexford · 9.0 km away
St Margaret's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Townparks (St. John'S Par.) · Wexford · 10 km away
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Around St Mary's Well
Other heritage nearby
- Artramon CastleCastle · 5.8 km
- Ballymoty MotteCastle · 8.6 km
- Ferrycarrig CastleCastle · 8.9 km
- Enniscorthy CastleCastle · 9.7 km
- Priory of SS. Peter and Paul of Selskar by WexfordAncient church · 9.9 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 27 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Wexford Cycle Hub Loop 1Road Cycling Trail · 53.4 km · nearest point 1.3 km
- Oulart Hill 1798 Walking Hub - The Unyoke WalkWalking Trail · 10.9 km · nearest point 5.3 km
- Oulart - Siul LadhruWalking Trail · 7.7 km · nearest point 6.2 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- BallineskerBeaches · 9.3 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- CurracloeBeaches · 9.6 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Nature ReserveNature reserves · 9.2 km
- The Raven Nature ReserveNature reserves · 12 km
- WexfordWalled towns · 10 km
Other attractions nearby
- GoPaddle.ieNature and Wildlife · 5.9 km
- Vinegar HillHistoric Houses and Castle · 9.2 km
- The Wexford Slobs and Wildfowl ReserveNatural Landscape · 9.2 km
- Ballinesker BeachBeach · 9.3 km
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