Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

At the S side of a road, opposite Holy Cross Convent. There are no visible remains of this well. In 1945 it was recorded that St. Margaret's Well was 'roofed with stone, about 4ft. [1.21m] in height, and 27ft [8.22m] in circumference' (ITA). At that time a stone stairway leading to the well was 'still serviceable' and parishioners made pilgrimages to the well on the 25 March and 15 August each year (ITA). It was also recorded in the 1940s that on 15th August five 'rounds' were made and a decade of the rosary said for each round; on completion of the 'rounds' people bathed their faces or their eyes with the well water, then drank some of it and took some away with them (Schools Manuscript, Co. Kerry).

Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork.

Date of upload: 31 January 2011

References

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).