Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
An Chruit Uachtarach, County Donegal, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- An Chruit Uachtarach
- County
- Donegal
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- St. Bridgets Wells
- Coordinates
- 55.02776, -8.41434
- SMR number
- DG040-003001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1881 "Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
The OS 6-inch maps record St. Bridget's Wells in Cruit graveyard. Five wells are to be found today, consisting of simple holes dug in the sand. Apparently new wells are constantly dug. A turas or pilgrimage involving these still takes place here. Described by O Muirgheasa as 'in Cruit Islands there are three Holy Wells (DG040-003/003001/003002-) : (1) Tobar Bhrighde, or St. Brigid's Well. (2) Tobar Mhuire, or the B.V. Mary's We'll, and a third nameless. There were also three leachta there. There is a Leac Phroinseis, or St Francis's flag-stone, which suggests a Franciscan foundation on the island. Sick persons used to be brought to sleep during one night on the Leacht Mhor and if they slept it was a sign that they would get better. Stations are made on the 15th August. It is said that in Cruit graveyard there is an inscription which cannot be deciphered'. (O Muirgheasa 1936, 152). (O Muirgheasa No. 45, 46, 47)
Nearby in the register
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy wellunder 1 mi
- Burialunder 1 mi
- Penal Mass stationunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.