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At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Date or period mentionedmedieval
- Recorded size 0.86m NE-SW; 1.14m NW-SE; H 0.92m
What to look for
- Steps down
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
Built into a S-facing slope, just below the crest of a hill, in rolling grassland, c. 50m NE of a stream which flows into a river c. 400m to the E. It is located 18m W of the NW angle of graveyard (KK009-019002-) wall which encloses a medieval church (KK009-019001-).
Full archaeological record 144 words
Built into a S-facing slope, just below the crest of a hill, in rolling grassland, c. 50m NE of a stream which flows into a river c. 400m to the E. It is located 18m W of the NW angle of graveyard (KK009-019002-) wall which encloses a medieval church (KK009-019001-). A now dry, roughly oval stone-lined well (dims. 0.86m NE-SW; 1.14m NW-SE; H 0.92m) with a stone-lined access passage (L c. 1m; H 0.33m) to the SE with steps down to the well. The access is now largely covered by a large flat lintel (dims. 1.2m x 0.57m; T 0.1m). It is mentioned in the OS Letters (1839) as the 'well belonging to this Church lay twenty yards to the west of it, but it is now closed up' (O'Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1, 100-1 (34)). It is known locally as St. Munchin's well.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 23 May 2018. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
More holy wells nearby

Saint Elakan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Gorteennamuck · Kilkenny · 2.2 km away

Tobar na súl
Ritual site - holy well · Rathlogan · Kilkenny · 2.4 km away

Hermit's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clontubbrid · Kilkenny · 4.5 km away

Tobernapeastia
Ritual site - holy well · Tobernapeastia · Kilkenny · 5.0 km away

St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Aharney · Laois · 5.0 km away

Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clomantagh Lower · Kilkenny · 5.6 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Coolcashin CastleCastle - unclassified · Coolcashin · 0.1 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around St. Monchin’s Well
Other heritage nearby
- Coolcashin ChurchAncient church · 0.0 km
- Balleen CastleCastle · 2.7 km
- Rathlogan RingfortRingfort · 2.8 km
- Rathlogan ChurchAncient church · 3.2 km
- Glashare ChurchAncient church · 3.9 km
- Killoshulan CastleCastle · 3.9 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 46 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 11 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Gathabawn LoopWalking Trail · 11.3 km · nearest point 0.1 km
- Gathabawn Short LoopWalking Trail · 4.1 km · nearest point 0.1 km
- North Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 80.5 km · nearest point 1.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- CapponellanForests · 7.9 km
- Dunmore WoodForests · 11 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 5.3 km
Other attractions nearby
- Gardens at Castle DurrowHistoric Houses and Castle · 9.4 km
- River NoreNature and Wildlife · 9.4 km
- The Irish Fly Fishing and Game MuseumMuseums and Attraction · 11 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 19 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 20 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 20 km
Excavations nearby
- E2394 Glashare AR 55-57, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 4.3 km
- E2214 Oldtown 1, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 4.4 km


