Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Wellpark, County Galway, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Wellpark
- County
- Galway
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- St. Feighins Well
- Latest-edition OS map
- St. Feighins Well
- Coordinates
- 53.08872, -8.37782
- SMR number
- GA126-038001-
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
In pastureland c. 30m to the NE of St Feighin's Grave Yard (GA126-038----). This holy well is enclosed by a semicircular drystone wall (diam. 0.95m) and is accessible via an entrance at N. A small stream flows from it. Dalton (1909, 19) noted that the devotional rounds took place there on the last three Saturdays in September. However, according to local information, the well was visited between July 15th and August 15th each year, a tradition which is now discontinued. The water of the well was reputedly used as a cure for eye ailments. (O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 2, 516)
A pattern day is now held on 31st July. Rags were traditionally tied to the hawthorn tree growing beside the well. Two small stone cairns (GA126-038002-) adjacent to it are regarded as pentitential stations (Hoctor 2019, 17).
Revised by: Olive Alcock
Date of revised upload: 30 October 2020
References
Hoctor, Z. 2017 Abbey heritage audit 2017. Ref. No. CH06833 Final Report. The Heritage Council.
Nearby in the register
- Penitential stationunder 1 mi
- Burial groundunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.