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
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
Traditionally, when St Caolin plucked out her eyes to dissuade a suitor a well appeared at that location. A subsequent outrage caused the well to move c. 20m to its present location but to remain dry (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 80; Lupeta 1912).
Full archaeological record 147 words
Traditionally, when St Caolin plucked out her eyes to dissuade a suitor a well appeared at that location. A subsequent outrage caused the well to move c. 20m to its present location but to remain dry (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 80; Lupeta 1912). The saint is Caolainn of Termon More (RO026-034----) c. 1.4km to the SSE, who was descended from the Ciarraighe. This tribe gave their name to the county of Kerry, but a branch migrated to this territory in Connaught and the saint’s church is recorded in these stories. Traditionally, her feast was celebrated on 3 February (Ó Riain 2011, 151-2). Situated towards the bottom of a gentle S-facing slope. This is a circular drystone-built well (diam. c. 0.4m; D 0.5m) which is dry, with an oak tree holding offerings 1m to the SE. The site of Termonkeelin church (RO020-043001-) is c. 450m to the E.
References
- Date of revised upload: 2 July 2015
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
Traditionally, when St Caolin plucked out her eyes to dissuade a suitor a well appeared at that location.
Traditionally, her feast was celebrated on 3 February (Ó Riain 2011, 151-2).
This is a circular drystone-built well (diam. c. 0.4m; D 0.5m) which is dry, with an oak tree holding offerings 1m to the SE. The site of Termonkeelin church (RO020-043001-) is c. 450m to the E.
More holy wells nearby
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Saint Attracta's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clogher · Sligo · 17 km away
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Around Tober Caelainn
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Recorded within 5 km
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