Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

On the E slopes of a small stream valley. Land rises to the E to a ridge between two converging streams. The holy well is on the W side of the road, opposite an RC church. According to the OS Letters (1839), ‘There is a holy well (the popular Irish name of this well is Achadh, i.e., the Field) in the Townland of Johnswell at which devotees from all parts of the County Kilkenny and some of the neighbouring Counties attended in thousands on the Patron Day, 24th June. A Turus [pilgrimage] here was deemed a certain specific against all diseases, love and jealousy excepted. It was discontinued about eight years ago by the command of the late Bishop Marum, who was a great enemy to the honour of all the Ould Saints’ (O’Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 79-80). Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 279), refers to the suppression of this pilgrimage but states that, ‘Gradually abuses crept in, and, in 1761, Dr. Burke, Bishop of Ossory, had to take steps for the preservation of law and order during the time of the pilgrimage. The abuses, however, continued, and at length became so scandalous that in the interests of religion Dr. Marum, during his episcopate, was compelled to suppress the pattern altogher. But though the pattern was suppressed, the pilgrimage around the sacred spring was kept up for many years after, and has not yet wholly ceased’. Works were carried out at the well in 1897. The present structure consists of a well chamber at the eastern end of two rectangular forecourts, the lower more westerly one (dims. c. 3.5m N-S x c. 10m E-W) of which is liable to flooding. The easterly forecourt (dims. c. 6m E-W; max. 3.5m N-S), tapers towards the well chamber.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 23 February 2016

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Kilkenny collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.