Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 81. Natural spring well which is enclosed on three sides by a dry stone wall with a deep trench running from the open W side of the well running towards a field boundary. There are several carved stones around the perimeter of the well including an early Christian cross inscribed slab (OF05-035004-), triangular shaped 18th century headstone, late medieval (18th-century) bust and 18th-century crucifixion slab (OF005-035002-). The bust and crucifixion stone have the same inscription which reads 'Repent do Penance'. (Molloy 1950, 12; Monahan 1886, 70; Cooke 1875, 373)

Monitoring was carried out under licence no. 02E1712, on 28 November 2002 at the site of a proposed dwelling-house, garage, septic tank and effluent treatment system close to the site of St Ciarán's Well at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly. No archaeological features or deposits were exposed.
Eoin Corcoran, ACS Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.

Excavation under licence no. 04E1168 of St Kieran's Well, in advance of its partial reconstruction, was carried out at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly. The site is located half a mile south-west of the main monastic complex at Clonmacnoise. The location of four monuments surrounding the well was recorded and a cutting measuring 9m by 10m was excavated within the area of the well. Excavation concluded that the well was cut into the natural boulder clay and gravels and that the structure was post-medieval in origin. All finds recovered from the fill of the feature were 19th-20th-century in date and consisted mainly of coins.
Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 23 April 2009