Brides Well

At the N-foot of an E-W esker. In 1837, according to the OSL (Herity 2002, 56 [165]), the well, ‘… was formerly frequented as a holy well.’ A natural spring (D 0.2m) is enclosed by a D-shaped mortared stone wall (int. diam. 1.3m E-W) with a straight N side (int. L 0.6m). The wall (H 1m; T 0.7m) has a gap at N (Wth 0.6m) and carries a small statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at S. A small rectangular mortared stone altar ( L 1.4m N-S; Wth 0.8m; H 0.85m) stands 0.6m to the NNE. (Jackson 1979-80, 153) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 05 July 2012

Linked to Saint Bridget (Brigid), the well is associated with healing and fertility traditions. Historically, such wells were often sites of pilgrimage and ritual, particularly on Saint Brigid’s feast day (1 February), when they were visited for blessings and offerings.