St. Brendans Well at Ardfry, Galway

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What is recorded here

At the NW corner of a moated site (GA094-003002-), within the grounds of Ardfry House (GA094-004---). This natural spring well (D 2.5m) is enclosed by subrectangular drystone wall (3m N–S; 2.2m E–W), which is just one course high. The well is straight sided and lined with drystone walling. According to Holt (1912, 237), it 'occupies a small bastion-like expansion of the scarp'. A tower house (GA094-003001-) was built on the W scarp of the motte, a few meters to the SE of the holy well. When visited it was obscured with the growth of ivy and ferns, and was covered over with wooden planks. A number of burials were found in its vicinity – see GA094-003004-.

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record GA094-003003

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Ian Capper, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Maker not stated on source page, it.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.agriland.ie
Golfing in Ireland; photographer not stated, Source publisher
Maker not stated on source page, www.visitgalway.ie
Joseph McGinley, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Ian Capper, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ardfry HouseFarmyard complex · 145 yd

Explorer Tom Ardfry House is a farmyard complex that got wrecked by wind and now blames the weather every single day. The carriage…

Ardfry HouseCountry house · 184 yd

Explorer Tom Ardfry House has an imaginary twin across the sea that it argues with daily. It lost its roof and its dignity somewhere…

Megalithic structure in ProspecthillMegalithic structure · 1106 yd

Explorer Tom Megalithic structure in Prospecthill is basically a giant stone brick that fell off a truck. Holt says it was a dolmen…

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Rinville WestFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 1294 yd

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Rinville West is hiding under pine trees like a shy elf. It’s basically a giant dirt…

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Marshallspark,treanlaurFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 1432 yd

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Marshallspark, Treanlaur has three banks, which is basically just a triple threat.…

Galway Bay Golf ClubGolf course · 1505 yd

Rinville CastleCountry house · 1514 yd

Explorer Tom Rinville Castle in Rinville West is stuck arguing with its own driveway. It claims the road owes it an apology, which…

Leadmine HillMountain / peak · 1592 yd

Explorer Tom Leadmine Hill was designed by a mother-in-law who wanted everyone to know she dug deep but found nothing of value…

CastleCastle, tower house · 1.0 mi

Explorer Tom Castle in Rinville West nearly got sold for a horse back in the day, which says something about its value. The gossip…

Renville CemeteryCemetery · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Renville Cemetery was once ruled by a goat who wore a tiny crown made from wire fencing scraps. The locals still tip…

InishcorraIslet · 1.7 mi

Explorer Tom Inishcorra was once ruled by a goat who ate all the maps and decided he knew where everything was, leading to total…

Rabbit IslandIslet · 2.1 mi

Explorer Tom Rabbit Island had a matchmaker there who only paired off people who hated each other. Apparently, the rabbits were the…

More archaeology and monuments in County Galway · All of County Galway

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover