Saint Augustine's Well

The holy well with the abbey ruins in the background

Saint Augustine's Well, locally known as Abbey Well, is a holy well in Callan, Co. Kilkenny. It is situated at the Southern end of the site of the former Augustinian Abbey in Callan, now usually referred to as Abbey Meadow.

It is a protected monument under the Sites and Monuments number KK026-010018- and contains limestone gutter-spout which might have been part of the old abbey and which is also a protected monument.

The well is a rectangular area of c. 1.2-3m surrounded by a wall with an opening to the South from where the water flows to join the King's River.

The well served as a main water source for the people of Callan until households were connected to the main water supply system.

The holy well is part of the Callan Heritage Trail which was opened in May 2024.

St. Augustine's Well in Literature

Callan born poet John Locke described the holy well in his poem The Old Abbey Well, published in Boston in 1885.

IN the days of my childhood I loved to be near it

And watch the blue water, as trembling it fell

In the little rough channel which smiling received it,

And kissed back the spray to the old abbey well.

Oh! the cool sparkling water - the clear crystal water

Which fell in rich streams from the old abbey well.

A low wall encased it, and clasped its fair treasure,

With mother-like fondness, unto its roughtbreast,

And the sun in his course seemed to linger with pleasure

To view its fresh face ere he died in the West.

And the Avonree rumbling along close beside it

Here ceases its loud murmur and turbulent swell,

While the birds, in their flight, when beneath they espied it,

Thrilled their sweetest of notes to the old abbey well.

There was something about it so sweet and enticing,

That all loved to linger and watch its stream glide,

E'en lovers would come when the twilight was falling,

And whisper their tales by the dear old well's side.

And oh! how a drink from its depths upward pressing

Would act on one's frame like a magical spell,

That methought there was nothing in life so refreshing

As the water which shone in the old abbey well.

How oft as a boy have I found myself straying

Through Callan's green meadows and moss-covered plains,

To the Avonree's side, where the old well was playing

O'er rough-sanded channels its soft dulcet strains.

Dear scenes, full of happiness, contentment and pleasure,

The meadow, the river, and moss-covered dell,

But dearest of all, and revered beyond measure,

The spot where it bubbled - the old abbey well.

And now, as in childhood, I'd love to be near it,

And watch the round bubbles as upward they swell.

But alas! I'm in exile, no more shall I see it,

Still, I'll ever revere it - the old abbey well.

And in dreams I shall hear it, though far I may dwell,

From the voice of its waters - the old abbey well.

Folklore around the holy well

Its water reputedly is a cure for swellings and strains.

According to local tradition, when you lean over the walls and say either "Holy bubbles, come up to me" or "Bubbles, bubbles, come up to me" three times, the water will start bubbling. This is probably caused by reverberation of the sound waves on the water and/ or the surrounding walls.

Gallery

• 
  Close-up
• 
  Detail of the outlet

Weblinks

• 3D model on Sketchfab