Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Ardrass Upper, County Kildare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ardrass Upper
- County
- Kildare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- St. Patricks Well
- Coordinates
- 53.32701, -6.58482
- SMR number
- KD010-024----
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
Although not recorded on the 1st ed. (1838) of the OS 6-inch map the well is mentioned by name in the OSL (Herity 2002, 14), and in the 1870's, according to Shearman (1874-5, 306), was 'still frequented by pilgrims who hang up votive offerings of rags on an ancient thorn which overhangs the well'. Jackson (1979-80, 159) records that it was associated with cures for sore eyes and a place of pilgrimage on St Patrick's Day. The well lies in a small thicket on the S-roadside at the N-foot of St Patrick's Hill (OD 308 feet). The area is flooded, possibly by the spring well itself, but a square area (dims. L 2m; Wth 2m) defined by ivy-covered drystone walls, open to the S, is visible under the water's surface and a large flag/lintel along the S may be part of a roof structure. The possible holy tree mentioned above by Shearman is designated KD010-024001-.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 10 June 2011
Nearby in the register
- Ritual site - holy tree/bushunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Ecclesiastical enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.