Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Castledurrow Demesne, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Castledurrow Demesne
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- St. Fintans Well
- Coordinates
- 52.84752, -7.39612
- SMR number
- LA029-043001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Reference to a holy well with a cross pedestal (LA029-043002-) at its head (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 212). Situated in a marshy area with river to the SW. A horseshoe-shaped area (Wth c. 3.5m) surrounded by a stone wall.
Described by Carrigan as 'His holy well, called 'Fintan's Well' or rather 'Fantan's Well', is within Lord Ashbrook's demesne, at the distance of about 100 yards from Durrow bridge. At its head, firmly embedded in the earth, is the rough limestone pedestal of a small cross (LA029-043002-); the socket is 5 in. long, and about the same in width and depth. The cross itself has been long missing. The small inch lying between the holy well and the river Erkina is called St. 'Fantan's Island' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 212).
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.
Date of upload: 17 December 2007
Nearby in the register
- Crossunder 1 mi
- Stone headunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.