Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Described as Tobercavan - St Cavan's Well on the 1839 and 1940 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and said to have had a pattern at one time according to John O'Donovan c. 1840 (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 6). It is named after St. Caomhán Santleathan of Ardcavan (WX038-006001-). The well is situated on the steep SE-facing slope of Tara Hill and is a cleft in rock outcrop (dims 1.3m x 1m; D 0.4m) which collects water from a rock outcrop overhang. There is no evidence of venaration. The sweat house (WX007-031----) is c. 16m to the S.
St. Caomhán Santleathan, perhaps meaning 'wide saint', was an early saint who founded the first church at Ardcavan (WX039-038006001-) on the NW shore of Wexford harbour. The saint's origins are manifold, being connected variously to the Corca Ólaim and St. Bréanainn of Birr, and also to the Uí Bhairrche of Magh Ailbhe in Carlow. Through his mother, Caoimgheall, daughter of Ceinnfhionnán, he was a half-brother of Caoimhghin of Glendalough. (Ó Riain 2011, 157)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 15 March, 2012
Amended: 13, May, 2014, 24 June 2019

References

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1933 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of County Wexford, collected during progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838. Typescript in 2 vols. Bray.