Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

S of Gaol Road and N of St Rioc's graveyard (KK019-025002-). According to Hogan (1883, 14-15) St. Rock's Well is a spring well, 'so named from its proximity to St. Rock's Church, near the Fair Green, formerly sprung up in the centre of walkin's Green'. The well was within a wet marshy turlough called Walkin's Lough which is depicted on the 1st (1839-40) ed. OS 6-inch map. The well appears to have disappeared from view by the 19th century, however, Hogan (1858-9, 472-3) relates how in the summer of 1812 the well was revealed during digging in the turlough for manure, 'a range of stones rudely placed so as to form so many steps' were found which led, 'to an enclosure of irregularly shaped stones'. The well was subsequently covered again by the waters of the lough (ibid.). According to Hogan (1883, 14-15) the lake was drained in 1830 (ibid.).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 28 September 2020

References

Hogan, J. 1858-9 Topographical illustrations of the southern and western suburbs of Kilkenny. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland 5, 470-72.

Hogan, J. 1883 Enquiry respecting the history of three of the ancient parish churches of Kilkenny known as St. Patrick's, St. Maul's and St. Rocks. Transactions of the Ossory Archaeological Society 3, part 1, 16-34.