St Bridgets Well

On a low-lying landscape, in a field on the E side of a NNW-SSE road. Traditionally this well appeared when a notorious landlord, George Ormsby, attempted to cure an injured dog at Tobernagreghta well (RO040-016----) c. 65m to the W, from whence it moved in disgust to this location (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 53). Described as a well, also known as Tober Nual, with a rag tree of ash where a pattern has held on 15th Aug. (IFC Schools' MSS. vol. 260, 1,2; vol. 1506, 166). The well is a rectangular concrete structure (dims 0.8m x 0.8m) and there is now no evidence of a rag tree or of veneration (Ryan 1997, 222). Archaeological monitoring (03E1576) in the vicinity failed to produce any related material (Morahan 2006b). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

St Bridget’s Well at Cloonmurly is traditionally associated with St Brigid of Kildare and is linked to healing and protection. Local tradition holds that the well appeared in response to a landlord’s cruel act, with water from Tobernagreghta Well used to either heal or harm, depending on the version of the tale.