Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
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
According to Holahan (1883, 107-8), 'It is said that many miraculous cures have been effected from time immemorial at the holy well called Tobernadaun, near Kilmanagh'. He gives several examples of people who believed they were cured at the holy well, including a man with a running sore on his leg, three men who suffered from 'the ague', a type of fever, and a sickly child (ibid. 108).
Full archaeological record 139 words
According to Holahan (1883, 107-8), 'It is said that many miraculous cures have been effected from time immemorial at the holy well called Tobernadaun, near Kilmanagh'. He gives several examples of people who believed they were cured at the holy well, including a man with a running sore on his leg, three men who suffered from 'the ague', a type of fever, and a sickly child (ibid. 108). On the OS 6-inch map (1839 ed. and 1899-1900 revision) two wells are indicated beside each other, on the later revision the more northerly well is a annotated as a spring with a stream running S from it, while the other is annotated as the holy well. The holy well is no longer visible above ground, though the spring is apparent as a hollow (Digitalglobe satellite imagery, viewed 17 May 2021).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 17 May 2021. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
According to Holahan (1883, 107-8), 'It is said that many miraculous cures have been effected from time immemorial at the holy well called Tobernadaun, near Kilmanagh'.
He gives several examples of people who believed they were cured at the holy well, including a man with a running sore on his leg, three men who suffered from 'the ague', a type of fever, and a sickly child (ibid. 108).
More holy wells nearby
St. Berchan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Kilbraghan (Crannagh By.) · Kilkenny · 3.2 km away

Tobermolua
Ritual site - holy well · Kylenaskeagh · Kilkenny · 4.3 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Tullaroan · Kilkenny · 4.4 km away
St. Margaret's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Brabstown (Crannagh By.) · Kilkenny · 5.0 km away
Felix's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Desart Demesne · Kilkenny · 7.2 km away
Maon's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Tullamaine (Ashbrook) · Kilkenny · 8.2 km away
Visitors' notes
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Around Tobernadaun
Other heritage nearby
- Pottlerath ChurchAncient church · 0.5 km
- Kilmanagh Church (site of)Ancient church · 0.5 km
- Pottlerath CastleCastle · 0.5 km
- Oldtown CastleCastle · 3.4 km
- Ballykeefe CastleCastle · 3.9 km
- Courtstown CastleCastle · 4.0 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 17 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- North Kilkenny Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · 80.5 km · nearest point 2.7 km
- Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium Park - Green TrailWalking Trail · 2.5 km · nearest point 7.4 km
- Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium Park - Red TrailWalking Trail · 3.3 km · nearest point 7.4 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 8.3 km
- Ballykeefe Nature ReserveNature reserves · 3.0 km
- Kyleadohir Nature ReserveNature reserves · 9.7 km
- CallanWalled towns · 9.0 km
- KilkennyWalled towns · 13 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 12 km
Other attractions nearby
- Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium ForestNature and Wildlife · 0.7 km
- Famine Warhouse 1848Historic Houses and Castle · 5.8 km
- Edmund Rice Heritage CentreHistoric Houses and Castle · 7.9 km
- Kilcooley AbbeyAbbeys and Monastery · 11 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 13 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 13 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 13 km

