Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Inishcaltra Or Holy Island, County Clare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Inishcaltra Or Holy Island
- County
- Clare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Lady Well
- Latest-edition OS map
- Lady Well (1920)
- Coordinates
- 52.91414, -8.44860
- SMR number
- CL029-009023-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Set into the base of the steep SE-facing slope down to the shore, 30m E of St Mary’s church (CL029-009008-) and just a few metres from the water’s edge. Named ‘Lady Well’ on the 1920 OS 6-inch map. A circular walled structure (int. diam. 1.7m; wall Wth 0.7m; max. H on downslope 1.2m) with a lintelled opening (H 0.9m; Wth 0.3m) at SE. The water (D 0.05m) is covered in algae. Excavations by de Paor in 1970 (de Paor 2013, 29-30) on the approach side revealed objects, almost all dated to the 20th century with a few stretching back into the late 19th century. The well itself was pumped dry and excavated revealing small objects corresponding to those found outside. There was no evidence of medieval usage and the well construction was modern. The well featured in the pattern rounds of the early 19th century (de Paor 2013, 29).
Compiled by: Mary Tunney
Date of upload: 29 September 2015
References
Macalister, R.A.S 1916-17 The history and antiquities of Inis Cealtra. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 33C, 93-174.
de Paor †, L. 2013 Inis Cealtra: Archaeological investigations of the monuments on the island. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 53, 27-78.
Nearby in the register
- Wall monumentunder 1 mi
- Cross-slabunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.