Saint Senan's Well, Termon East
Townland: Termon East, Kilfearagh
Description of Well and Landscape Setting
This is a very unusual holy well. The ‘well’ consists of a large water tank about measuring roughly 3 x 2 x 2 metres, standing in the high grasses of a salt-water creek. Here it captures and retains fresh water from an aquifer beneath. The water tank has been in place since the 1940s.
Saint and Feast Day Associated with Holy Well
As this well is associated with Saint Senan, the pattern day would have been 8th March.
Natural Heritage around the Holy Well
The area where the well is located has tall salt resistant grasses interspersed by channels through which the tide moves. The beds of the channels here are made up of rich silt. Crustaceans are found in the silt and these are eaten by wading birds. Miniature crabs trapped by the receding tide were entangled in the grasses on the day of the research visit.
Heritage Attractions Nearby
The well lies about one kilometre from the cycle route leading to Carrigaholt.
Additional Information
There are numerous stories related to Saint Senan in the folklore of West Clare. One story tells the story of this holy well, which offers fresh water in a creek filled with brackish, salty water. The story explains that during a very dry summer, streams had dried up all over and cattle were short of water. While helping his father a young Saint Senan looked about and at a chosen spot pulled up the long grasses and cleaned the area with his hands and water started to flow.
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Record of Monuments and Places Number
RMP-CL056-086
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