Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated 145m SSW of Tully House and 150m SSE of Tully graveyard (KD022-034001-) containing the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers (KD022-034----). In 1837 Thomas O'Conor of the Ordnance Survey recorded that 'St Brigid's Well lies in the west of the same townland and near Tully House, the residence of Mr. Pottinger' (O'Flanagan 1927, 62). In 1903 the site was described as a 'well or basin built of cut stone the work of the Board of Works, which by some people is called St. Brigid's Well; but this is an error, as the real St. Brigid's Well (KD027-010001-) is situated, in a neglected state on a bit of commons called "The Grallach" (i.e., a miry place) in the townland of Brallistown' (Fitzgerald 1903-5, 130). According to Jackson (1979-80, 157) the stone surround of the well was built during the 1840s as a source of local employment.
Associated with St. Brigid and still venerated, this small circular well (diam. 1.3m) now a pool of stagnant water is enclosed by a low stone wall accessed from a modern paved area. Ribbons and other votive offerings have been tied to the branches of a tree overhanging the well.

See attached map drawn by Fitzgerald showing location of St. Brigid's Well (KD027-010001-) in Brallistown, the Kneeling Stones (KD027-010002-) and the Board of Works St Brigid's Well in the townland of Tully East.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 26 March 2018

References

Jackson, P. 1979-80 The holy wells of Co. Kildare. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 16, 133-61.

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1903-5 Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan with an account of his family and their connection with Lucan and Tully. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 4, 114-47.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1927 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Kildare collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838. Bray.