St. Brendans Well

Located at the SE end of Inisglora, within the confines of a monastic settlement (MA016-003008-). This holy well is named ‘St. Brendan’s Well’ on the 1838 and 1021 OS 6-inch maps. A pool of water (D c. 0.5m) is contained at the base of a penannular drystone-lined shaft (diam. 1.2m; D 2m), open on the S side where it is accessed from surface ground level by a series of eight stone steps (Wth 0.6m) flanked by walling, giving the structure as a whole a roughly key-hole shape. At ground surface, the surround wall of the well consists of a low, roughly built, and partly tumbled, drystone wall (Wth 0.7-0.8m; H 0.45m). According to tradition, if a woman draws water from the well, the water will instantly turn to red worms (OS Letters 1838, vol. 1, 107). Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 13 June 2017

St. Brendan’s Well is associated with St. Brendan the Navigator, a 6th-century Irish monk and saint renowned for his legendary voyages and monastic foundations. The well is traditionally believed to possess healing properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes and general wellness, and is linked to early Christian monastic activity on the Aran Islands.