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 Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 45), in the townland of Caherlesk there is, ‘a holy well in this townland, nearly opposite Whitechurch; its name is Thubber-na-Mydan, (Tobar na Maighdine), the [Blessed] Virgin’s Well’.
Full archaeological record 123 words
According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 45), in the townland of Caherlesk there is, ‘a holy well in this townland, nearly opposite Whitechurch; its name is Thubber-na-Mydan, (Tobar na Maighdine), the [Blessed] Virgin’s Well’. The holy well is not indicated on the 1st (1839) ed. OS map or on the 25-inch (1899) OS map, however, a small stream is shown on both these maps which appears to spring from a point c. 100m SE of White Church (KK027-038001-) and this is likely to be the location of the holy well. The stream flows for c. 188m NE before joining with a larger river and is within a small strip of forestry plantation (visible on Google Earth satellite imagery, imagery date 25 April 2021).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 18 April 2023. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More holy wells nearby
Well of the Rags
Ritual site - holy well · Castle Eve · Kilkenny · 2.4 km away
St. James's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Mill Island · Kilkenny · 2.4 km away
St. Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Newtown (Shea) · Kilkenny · 3.3 km away
St Mary's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Coolaghmore · Kilkenny · 3.8 km away
Well of the head
Ritual site - holy well · Ovenstown · Kilkenny · 4.0 km away
Saint Augustine's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Callan North · Kilkenny · 4.4 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St Leonard's WellRitual site - holy well · Dunnamaggan East · 3.6 km · official record
- Dunnamaggan ChurchChurch · Dunnamaggan East · 3.8 km · official record
Visitors' notes
Badges are opinions of visitors - not verified facts. One vote per badge and visitor; no account needed.
Best time to visit
What's missing on this page?
Share a tip to find it
Share a local tradition or story
Suggest a correction
Suggest the right map location
Report a duplicate page
Ask a question
Do not include personal data. See our privacy notice.
Around Well of the Virgin
Other heritage nearby
- White ChurchAncient church · 0.1 km
- Caherlesk CastleCastle · 0.7 km
- Ballytobin CastleCastle · 1.5 km
- Newtown Erly CastleCastle · 3.0 km
- Newtown Church ruinAncient church · 3.1 km
- Callan Augustinian FriaryAbbey or friary · 4.4 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 15 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 high crossArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 5.0 km
- Castlemorris - Fern LoopWalking Trail · 2.4 km · nearest point 6.9 km
- Castlemorris - Holly LoopWalking Trail · 4.8 km · nearest point 6.9 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- CastlemorrisForests · 8.9 km
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 12 km
- Garryricken Nature ReserveNature reserves · 5.9 km
- Kyleadohir Nature ReserveNature reserves · 8.0 km
- CallanWalled towns · 4.4 km
- ThomastownWalled towns · 13 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 25 km
Other attractions nearby
- Kilree High CrossHistoric Houses and Castle · 4.6 km
- Kells PrioryHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.2 km
- Edmund Rice Heritage CentreHistoric Houses and Castle · 5.5 km
- Gáirdín an GhortaGardens · 7.3 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 16 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 16 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 16 km