What is recorded here

St Brendans Well is a spring feeding a shallow stream beside St. Brendan's House at Kilmalkedar, set under Reenconnell hill and facing Smerwick Harbour. A concrete wall now holds the lintelled hollow where clear water rises, yet the place still smells of rain, moss and old stone. It is not a grand ceremonial centre in the facts given, but a quiet holy well: small, practical and memorable because it belongs to a landscape where sea, hill and faith meet.

The Early Christian and Medieval ecclesiastical complex at Kilmalkedar (KE042-026----) lies at the foot of the W slopes of Reenconnell hill, overlooking Smerwick Harbour. The Reenconnell ridge peaks at 907 feet/276m to NE of the site and the area around Kilmalkedar is sheltered on its N and S sides by spurs of this hill. (11) St. Brendan's Well/Tobar Bréanainn: A spring well located just above the stream that flows SW about 3m S of St. Brendan's House. A modern concrete wall has been constructed to enclose the lintelled hollow from which the spring issues. Described by Ó Danachair (1960, 74) as; ‘a well with a good flow of water, close to the "Saint's House". Neither rounds are performed nor patterns held at it" - OSNB'. See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 855. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

St Brendan’s Well at Kilmalkedar is associated with St Brendan the Navigator, a 6th-century Irish monk and saint renowned for his legendary voyages. The well, like many holy wells linked to him, was traditionally visited for its healing properties, particularly for eye ailments and general protection.

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