placenamesJohnswell
Tobar Eoin
Johnswell’s church and school stand within a village whose gathering places include a holy well and a hall built through local voluntary effort.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Tobar Eoin · Irish · main form · validated name
- Johnswell · English · main form
Place & story
Church and school renewal
Saint John’s parish records that Father Henneberry, its administrator, built Johnswell’s Church of Saint John the Baptist around 1820. The church was refurbished in 2009, the same year Bishop Séamus Freeman blessed and formally reopened the village school following extension and renovation. These later projects renewed two established institutions while retaining the village’s close relationship with the wider Saint John’s parish in Kilkenny. [2] [3]
The well and its setting
In his 2017 account of village life, journalist Seán Keane described the holy well opposite Brennan’s bar and grocery. A statue of John the Baptist, formerly in the church, stood behind its small wooden door. The previous year, local volunteers had cleaned the well area, with neighbouring land made available to drain away water. Keane also recalled the well’s association with the traditional gathering on 24 June, John the Baptist’s feast day. [4]
A hall built by neighbours
The community hall was constructed in 1989–90 through fundraising and voluntary labour. Keane’s report records residents carrying blocks and committee members seeking interest-free loans from householders. Nicky Murphy recalled that some contributors later declined repayment. The building provided space for meetings and recreation, including the local badminton club. Its creation illustrates how a small community assembled both the money and practical help needed for a shared indoor gathering place. [4]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Johnswell. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Church of John the Baptist, Johnswell · Saint John’s Parish, Kilkenny
- Johnswell National School · Saint John’s Parish, Kilkenny
- Our Kilkenny: Little Johnswell, looking swell, 25 February 2017 · Seán Keane / Kilkenny People
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2026-09-19. How this page was prepared.