Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Natural spring well known as St. Kieran's Well consists of a circular shaft sunken into the ground which is encased within a drystone wall. The well was dry at time of inspection with no evidence of any votive offerings in the fill of the well. A large tree and hawthorn bush mark the site of this well. According to the local landowner this hawthorn bush was known locally as St. Kierans Bush. The well is located near the base of a hill on the N facing slope with the remains of Knockseera church (LA022-013001-) and graveyard (LA022-013002-) and St. Kieran's Bush (LA022-013005-) located 300m to the S. Theis monument is 'a holy well, and was formerly frequented on the 5th of March' (Carrigan 1905 vol. 2, 130). The M7 motorway is located to the N of the well the construction of which may have caused the well to dry up.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload / revision 09 March 2010