Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated immediately E of the walled garden of Killua Castle which is located 210m to W. The medieval church ruins (WM009-043----) of Knock Killua are located 470m to SE. Not depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch but shown on the 1911 ed. OS 6-inch map as 'St Lucy's Well'. In 1875 the Ordnance Survey Field Name Books recorded that ‘there was formerly a monastery here and it appears that this well was in connection with it’. Some member of the Chapman family got the name St Lucy cut on a stone which is inserted in stone bank over the well. It is possible that the name should have been 'St. Lua' instead of 'Lucy'. However Cogan (1867, 287) recorded that 'the old church (WM009-043---) was dedicated to St. Lucy, and a holy well still bears her name in the neighbourhood'. St. Lua's Monastery in gothic script is annotated on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map in the area around Killua Castle. Probable holy well dedicated to St. Lua rather than Lucy and associated with medieval church (WM009-043----) of Knock Killua.
Holy well described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as following; 'Well housing holy well, built c.1800, consisting of an earthen and rubble stone mound on irregular plan containing a small limestone-faced chamber on square plan with corbelled limestone roof. Cut stone round-headed arch to west face gives entry to well, which is now dry. Oval stone over archway with carved inscription 'St. Lucy'. Loose rubble limestone enclosing walls flank entrance on west face with two steps down to well. An attractive and well-built small scale monument, which is said to have been erected by Sir Benjamin Chapman when he laid out the walled gardens and pleasure grounds to the east of Killua Castle' (www.buildingsofireland.ie).

Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 April 2017

References

Cogan, Rev. A. 1862-70 Ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Meath: ancient and modern. (3 vols) Dublin: John Fowler, Joseph Dollard