Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Hollywood Great, County Dublin, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Hollywood Great
- County
- Dublin
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- St. Kennys Well
- Latest-edition OS map
- St. Kennys Well
- Coordinates
- 53.55625, -6.27109
- SMR number
- DU004-022----
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 1799 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Annotated 'St Kenny's Well' on the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map. A natural spring well which is unenclosed. Situated at the bottom of hollow or gravel pit. Dedicated to St. Canice (Kenny) and traditionally thought to cure headaches and sore throats (Ó Danachair 1958, 75; Healy 1975, 16). Folklore collected from Damstown School recorded the following about this well; 'There is a holy well on Mr Wilson's farm at Hollywood, Ballyboughal, Co Dublin. It is called St. Canices well. it has a good spring and never goes dry' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0787, Page 287; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4436845/4384460/4440225). No longer venerated. Visible as a large damp circular area unenclosed by any structure, surrounded by trees and bushes. Used for watering cattle (Skyvova 2005, 55).
Compiled by: Geraldine Stout
Updated by: Christine Baker
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 11 April 2023
References
Healy, P. 1975b Third report on monuments and sites of archaeological interest in county Dublin. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.
Skyvova, P. 2005 Fingallian Holy Wells. Fingal County Libraries.
O'Danachair, C. 1958 The holy wells of Dublin. In Reportorium Novum 2 (1). 68-87.
Nearby in the register
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.