Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

St. Bridget's Well in the parish of Rathcoole is located at the W end of Rathcoole village 590m W of church (DU021-030001-) and graveyard (DU021-030002-). Depicted as St. Bridget's Well on all editions of the OS 6-inch map. Described by Ó Danachair (1958, 82) as following; 'The water is piped from the well into a little basin on the roadside, below road level; a flight of steps leads down to the basin. A niche holds a small statue of the saint and a board has the painted inscription, "St. Brigid pray for us." Still visited. Prayers said and water drunk. Small religious objects left as offerings'. Holy well visited and photographed by Henry Wheeler in 1978 and described as following; 'Now in a cul-de-sac between N side of Rathcoole and Naas Road. Piped into a basin (nearly dry and rather neglected). Flight of stone steps leads down to the basin. Basin looks like a stone mortar. Notice board (St. Brigid pray for us) mentioned by Ó Danachair in 1958 has gone. Niche with statue of saint is obscured by plants. No sign of offerings now' (OPW field report 28/08/1978). According to a local information St. Brigid drank from the well on her way to Kildare. The holy well has been since filled in by the Local Authority and today there are no visible surface remains but the house opposite the well is named after St Brigid.

See attached photographs of holy well taken by Henry Wheeler in 1978.

See attached photos (05-08) taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F024.06.00290 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/46717; F024.06.00288 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16709; F024.06.00214 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/30822 and F024.06.00212 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16680.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Revised by Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Ed O'Donovan.

Date of revised upload: 19 April 2023

References

Ó Danachair, C. 1958 The holy wells of county Dublin. Reportorium Novum 2, 68-87; 2, No. 2 The holy wells of County Dublin: A supplementary list, 233-5.