Holy well in Cartown

In pasture, on W bank of stream. To SE (c. 16m) of gate lodge leading to Cartown House. Modern walled rectangular area (4.85m N-S; 5.2m E-W), encloses well at centre. Well is accessed through iron gate (Wth 0.88m) at E end of N wall. Well opening (1.6m N-S; 0.9m E-W), with shallow step down at S end, is covered by a metal frame apex canopy with cross at S end. Three statue niches (with 1920 date plaque) are against the inner face of enclosing wall at W; St Bridget at the centre, flanked by Virgin and Child to S and Child of Prague to N. Large Horse Chestnut tree overhangs well at SE. Ó Danachair (1955, 212) recorded the following details about this holy well; 'St Bridget's Well" local. Beside the gate lodge of Cartown House. The well is in a little concrete cupola, and, with the rounds path and niches for statues, is enclosed by a concrete wall. Rounds are still made, especially on 1st February and Saturdays. The water is drunk and applied to afflicted eyes and limbs. A great many rags still hang at the well; small religious objects are left as offerings. Legends: The water cannot boil. A woman cured of blindness saw a fish in the well. A man brought a blind horse to the well; the horse was cured and the man became blind. Note: On the 1840 map "St Bridget's Well" (LI004-003----) is marked at a point 400 yards north of the present well'. The following folklore was recorded from Ballynacarriga National School about St. Bridget’s Well; ' St. Brigids well is situated in the townland of Cartown. People pay great respect to this well on account of its good name. People gathered on Saturdays and also on February the 1st the feast day of its patron Saint. Once a certain Mr Baldwin who lived in Cartown house about a century ago had a horse that was blind. This man took his blind horse to the well in mocking. The horse was cured and afterwards struck dead. As for Mr Baldwin himself he was struck blind. After that people visited it frequently. It is said that a local resident name Mr J. O'Hern had rheumatic of which he was cured of by this well. The well at that time in a very neglected state until this man improved its appearance greatly. It is reputed to be good for eye defects and people say they are cured there. A story is told about a woman named Mrs Lynch who lived in Kildimo. This woman was blind. She heard so much about this well that she decided to go there. Early one morning she went there with her husband. Immediately after rubbing the water to her eyes she was cured. The first thing she saw was a fish. A fish is supposed to be in this well and nobody sees it except those who are cured. This cure was responsible for a great faith in the well. This happened about seventy years ago. Water from the well cannot be boiled. Once a certain Mr. Nix who lived in Cartown took some water from the well to boil a leg of mutton. He left it down to boil for some hours, but when it would not boil he had to take it up.' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0504, Page 250-1; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922025/4919563). Another story recorded the following ritual activity at the well; 'There is only one holy well in this locality by the name of St Brigids well. It is situated in the townland of Cartown. People visit it on the 1st Feb each year. They pay rounds in this manner. They go round the well seven times saying five Our Fathers, five hail Mary's and Glorias. They leave relics such as relics of St Brigid, St Patricks and so on there.' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0504, Page 251; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922025/4919563) See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00263 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31097 and F025.21.00264 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31098. See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 30 September 2020