Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked 'Kilkieran' burial ground (DG097-019001-) on the 2nd and 3rd editions of OS 6-inch maps. The site consists of a circular area enclosed by a stone wall. To the E of the graveyard is Toberkieran a 'holy well' (DG097-019003-). On the S side of the well is a cross-inscribed slab the top of which is broken, .55m x .26m x .08m. A Latin cross is inscribed on the W face. The left arm of the cross and the base have 'fish-tail' terminals. 'St. Kieran's Bed' (DG097-019005-) close to NE of the graveyard is a natural slab. 11.5m N of the burial ground is a boulder (DG097-019002-) with a rock-basin carved in it. The boulder is .96 x .69m x .19m. The depression is .44m x .39m and is .1m in depth. The site is located in an area of rough grazing land with much rock outcrop. There is better land to the E. Described by Ó Muirgheasa in 1936 as 'St. Ciaran's Well is below or west of the road at " Bawin [Bavan] Gate" in Bawin [Bavan] townland, about two miles from Kilcar, on the road to Killybegs. Stations are still made there on the 5th March, which proves that he is the same St. Ciaran who is Patron of Ossory, known in our Martyrologies as St. Ciaran of Saighir, and generally supposed to be earlier than St. Patrick's time. He is commemorated by churches in Argyleshire and in the Island of Islay in Scotland, on the coast of Cornwall, and in Connemara, all of which would point to his using the sea as a highway on his missionary labours. When dying he dedicated his congregation in Ossory to God and to St. Carthach. Having lived so early the accounts of his life and acts are uncertain and confusing. The Litany of Aenghus Ceile De mentions "the 15 men who went with Ciaran of Saighir". The well is contiguous to the road, and the tutrus embraces the little green plot surrounded by a low circular fence about a dozen yards below the well, locally known as "the graveyard" (DG097-019001-). The station begins at a stone structure within this plot, locally called "the altar" (DG097-019004-). The stone (DG097-019005-) marked with an incised cross now standing by the side of the well was turned up some few years ago in "the graveyard". There can be little doubt that this plot was the site of St. Ciaran's Church'(Ó Muirgheasa 1936, 146-7). (Ó Muirgheasa No. 19)

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 03 November 2011