Holy Well

Formerly located in a hollow on a hillside it is now within the open space of a housing estate. Described in 1974 as a rectangular stone-lined basin (dims. 1.6m N-S x 0.6m E-W) with remains of a masonry wall on the north and west sides under an ash tree. No longer venerated (Healy 1975, 17; Ó Danachair 1958, 2, 72). Folklore collected from Balrothery School recorded that; 'There are several holy wells around the village of Balrothery. There is a holy well three fields away from the south wall of the school and close to the near ditch of that field (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0784, Page 89;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498253/4383805)'. The well was piped and capped with concrete (Skyvova 2005, 62). Subsequent landscaping raised the surrounding ground level significantly. A manhole cover marks its location. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 11 April 2023

Linked to Saint Brigid, the well was traditionally visited for healing and protection, particularly for ailments of the eyes and childbirth. Local folklore suggests that the water was most potent at dawn on the feast day of Saint Brigid (1st February).