St. Ciaran's Well

St. Ciaran's Well

St. Ciaran's Holy Well/St. Kieran's Holy Well

Shalwy, Co. Donegal

There is a small structure with a plaster statue of St. Kieran

5th of March

Ceramic mugs, a woven grass emblem of a cross, ceramic tiles, stones, flowers, Euro coins, rosary beads, keys, holy medals, clump of grey human hair. All votives were deposited on top of a stone structure that covers the well

Directions on a sign:
1. Lie on St. Kieran’s bed and make a wish
2. At the Altar, say 5 Our Father’s, 5 Hail Mary’s, and the Creed
3. Follow the Black arrow (clockwise), say 15 decades of the rosary going around 3 times and ending at the altar again
4.Follow the red arrow going around each of the 3 stone mounds 3 times and say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Gloria at each mound. After last mound go to St Kieran’s Bed and lie on it and wish
5. End at St. Kieran’s well by saying: 5 Our Fathers, 5 Hail Mary’s and the Creed
6. There is a Tobar Uisce gan iarraidh or water in a hollow stone close by

There is a small circular plot surrounded by a low fence locally called “the graveyard”, which was the spot of St. Ciaran’s church. The place where the stations begin is locally known as “the altar”. The well is associated with the burial grounds to the west

Ó Muirgheasa, Énrí. “The Holy Wells of Donegal.” Béaloideas 6, no. 2 (1936): 143–62.
Cronin, John and Associates. 2012. Survey of the Heritage of Holy Wells in County Donegal. Donegal County Council.