Well

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 10001. Illaunloughan/Oileán Lócháin (KE087-036017-) is a small, low-lying island located in Portmagee Channel, c. 120m from the mainland at S and c. 400m WNW of Portmagee (Port Mhic Aoidh) village. The island stands in the civil parish of Killemlagh (Cill Imleach), in the barony of Iveragh (Uíbh Ráthach). According to Marshall and Walsh (1998, 102) 'There is no historical documentation for the island, and the origin of its name is uncertain. Lochán may be the name of a saint associated with the island, a theory supported by the mention of two Lochans in the Martyrology of Oengus, written c. AD 800 (Stokes 1984, 255, 263) and by the inland location of Killoughane (Cill Lócháin) ecclesiastical site [KE065-058001-] at the eastern end of the Iveragh peninsula (O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, 357). Alternatively the island name may be derived from the island of the chaff (OSNB). Four seasons of archaeological work, carried out from 1992 to 1995, have completed the excavation of about 70 per cent of the island.
Annotated 'Well' on 1892 ed. OSi 25-inch map. This stone-lined well, roofed by a large lintel, is reached by five descending steps. It appears to be spring-fed, and is located midway between the oratory [KE087-036008-] and the circular hut [KE087-036005-]. It was misinterpreted by Henry as a souterrain (1957, 98). This well was conserved in 2001-2 (White Marshall and Walsh 2005, 221).
Described by Marshall and Walsh (2005, 42) as follows; 'Another feature of the monastery on Illaunloughan is the small well. This feature is not fed by a spring but is rather a ground-run water-collection system, similar to that on many islands. Some system of collecting and holding water was necessary for the community. The well on Illaunloughan may have been dug out and enlarged, because it is unlikely that such a deep hole was a natural occurrence. The well is well built of seven drystone steps, each 0.45m wide, leading down to the pool of water, with a large capstone over the pool. Excavation yielded nothing of archaeological significance'.

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 1/1998).

See attached plan showing the excavated areas on Illaunloughan, taken from Marshall and Walsh 1998, Fig. 11.2

The above description is derived from O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. (compilers) 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University press. (1996), no. 964. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 29 March 2022

References

O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. 1996 The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry. Cork University press.

Marshall, J. W. and Walsh, C. 2005 Illaunloughan Island: an early medieval monastery in County Kerry. Bray. Wordwell.

Marshall, J. W. and Walsh, C. 1998 Illaunloughan, Co. Kerry: an island hermitage. In M. Monk and J. Sheehan (eds), Early medieval Munster: archaeology, history and society, 102-11. Cork University Press.

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.

Stokes, W. 1905 The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee. London.

Henry, F. 1957 Early Monasteries, Beehive Huts, and Dry-Stone Houses in the Neighbourhood of Caherciveen and Waterville (Co. Kerry). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 58C, 45-166.