Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

On a rocky ledge on the W slope of a steep-sided, wooded ravine. Thre is a steep fall of ground to the river in the base of the ravine. The well, named 'St. Ernan's Well' on the OS 6-inch maps, and traditionally associated with St. Farannan, consists of a small triangular opening (H 0.3m; Wth 0.4m) in the bedrock through which a spring flows. A rough path leads from the river up the steep slope and then follows the contours of a natural ledge to the well. The path passes a natural rocky shelf, c. 12m to S of the well, which according to tradition, is known as the ‘Saint’s Bed’, where the hermit saint is said to have slept (O’Rorke 1889, vol. 2, 413). According to local information, the traditional ‘pattern’ or pilgrimage to the well was held on Garland Sunday, the last Sunday in July. A natural rock outcrop adjacent to the river, at the base of the E wall of the ravine, was used as an altar (SL011-058001-). Pilgrims crossed the river and climbed the west slope of the ravine to visit the holy well. When returning across the river, they picked up a stone from a natural river pool, known as ‘Dabhach Fharannain’, which was also used as a holy well (SL011-058002-). They then climbed to the the ridge top on the E side of the ravine and deposited the stone on a cairn (SL011-058----), known as the ‘Saint’s Grave’.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 2 July 2013