Holy well in Brallistown Commons

Spring well (KD022-035----) located 395m to the ENE in the townland of Tully East was mistakenly identified in 1837 by the Ordnance Survey as St. Brigid's Well. According to Fitzgerald (1903-5, 130) 'the real St. Brigid's Well is situated, in a neglected state on a bit of commons called "The Grallach" (i.e., a miry place) in the townland of Brallistown. A strong clear flow of water issues from it, and flows into the gripe of the neighbouring ditch, in which, side by side, lie two stones known as "St. Brigid's kneeling-stones" (KD027-010002-), through which the water passes. These stones are in reality a couple of water-shoot stones'. According to Jackson (1979-80, 156) 'there was a famous pattern held at this spot over 150 years ago, but the pattern fell into disrepute from want of piety. The parish priest of Kildare had it abolished. There are also seven stations beside the well'. Today St. Brigid's Well or Tobar Bríde today stands midway along a gentle E-facing slope, now landscaped to form the W-limits of a long, narrow, rectangular, contemplative garden (L 58m E-W; Wth 8m). The spring well at the W end of the landscaped garden is enclosed by a low, circular, mortared stone wall (diam. 1.2m) with a narrow, gently splaying gap at E (Wth 0.45-0.65m). A low stone cross (H 0.75m; Wth of arms 0.5m) stands on the wall at W and scapulars and St. Brigid's Crosses hang from it. An overflow pipe runs under the entrance gap sill stone and feeds water down to a stone arch over a second well and the 'Kneeling Stones' (KD027-010002-) 30m to the E , with a date stone of 1952. In the SW corner of the garden, a pine tree has been transformed into a 'rag bush' carrying, amongst other things, cloth strips, rosaries, baby socks, soothers and go go's, shoe laces, and peat briquettes. A marble plaque commemorates the construction of the stone surround around the holy well. The inscription on the plaque reads 'In memory of the Murphy and Fitzpatrick families and their neighbours who built this well under the direction of Fr. Peadar Swayne'. See attached map drawn by Fitzgerald showing location of St. Brigid's Well in Brallistown, the Kneeling Stones (KD027-010002-) and the Board of Works St Brigid's Well (KD022-035----) in the townland of Tully East. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 26 March 2018

This well was once associated with St. Brigid, a prominent early Irish Christian saint linked to numerous holy wells and fertility traditions. Although the identification was later corrected, the site may have originally been venerated for healing or agricultural blessings connected to her cult.