Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in pasture on the floor of a N-S valley, at the bottom of the W-facing slope. It is depicted on the 1835 and the revised 1944 editions of the OS 6-inch map where it is described in gothic lettering as ‘St. Everan’s Well’. John O’Donovan, writing in the 1830s, thought that this name was a corruption of Mauranus, whom St. Patrick placed over the church of Domhnach Mór, which he built somewhere in Magh Sleacht, after his encounter with the pagan idol known as Crom Cruach (Herity 2012, 398). This well is now known locally as St Caillin's Well (Blaney 1944, 134) and it is situated c. 650m N of Fenagh church (LE025-096001-). This is a small well with a rectangular concrete surround (dims. 0.9m x 0.95m; H 0.85m). There is no record of veneration or of a pattern, although it is well known as a holy well.

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revised upload: 8 February 2017

References

Blaney, N. 1944 Ballinamore Library, file nos. 124-47. Unpublished notes.

Herity, M. (ed.) 2012 Ordnance Survey Letters: Londonderry, Fermanagh, Armagh-Monaghan, Louth, Cavan-Leitrim. Dublin, Fourmasters Press