What is recorded here

St. Brendans Well flows on the north slopes of Croaghmarhin above Ballyferriter, feeding village taps after centuries of prayer. The holy name suggests people once believed water carried Brendan’s presence, yet no ritual account has reached modern memory. What remains is a living spring, still giving drink to an ordinary town.

St. Brendan's Well/Tobar Bhréanainn: A spring well located on the N slopes of Croaghmarhin. Described by Ó Danachair (1960, 73) as a 'spring well on the hill slope above the village of Ballyferriter, now forming part of the village water supply. Known to have been a holy well, but no other tradition survives'. See attached photograph of St. Brendan's Well, Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry, taken by Carl W. von Sydow courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00012 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16765. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 920. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 13 April 2022

Linked to St. Brendan the Navigator, the well is associated with healing traditions and pilgrimage, particularly for curing ailments of the eyes and general wellness. Locally, it was visited on specific feast days, with rituals involving the collection of 'first water' at dawn.

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