Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
What to look for
- Offerings left
- Steps down
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
Some 115m to the SW of a church (GA105-049002-). This spring well is delimited by a sunken pear-shaped well chamber (1.85m E-W; 1.3m N-S; D c. 1m) and it is accessed by a series of steps at SW. It is further enclosed by a modern rectangular mortared stone-walled enclosure (5.7m E-W; 4.6m N-S) with a gateway in the NW corner.
Full archaeological record 103 words
Some 115m to the SW of a church (GA105-049002-). This spring well is delimited by a sunken pear-shaped well chamber (1.85m E-W; 1.3m N-S; D c. 1m) and it is accessed by a series of steps at SW. It is further enclosed by a modern rectangular mortared stone-walled enclosure (5.7m E-W; 4.6m N-S) with a gateway in the NW corner. Centrally placed in its S wall is a round-headed alcove containing a statue. According to local information, the well was used as a cure for sore eyes and rags were tied to a hawthorn bush its E; the latter has since been removed.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG · Updated 27 January 2020. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
According to local information, the well was used as a cure for sore eyes and rags were tied to a hawthorn bush its E; the latter has since been removed.
More holy wells nearby
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballybroder (Bullaun Ed),Moyleen · Galway · 3.2 km away
St. Dima's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Killeenadeema East · Galway · 3.6 km away
Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Drumatober · Galway · 13 km away
Toberbreeda
Ritual site - holy well · Lackabaun (Leitrim By.) · Galway · 13 km away
St Peter's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Cuilmore (Loughrea By.) · Galway · 15 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Abbey (Leitrim By.) · Galway · 15 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- St. Mary's PrioryReligious house - Carmelite friars · Loughrea · 0.6 km · official record
- Tonaroasty CashelRingfort - cashel · Tonaroasty · 1.2 km · official record
This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 9/1985).
- Kilmeen Round TowerRound tower · Kilmeen · 4.2 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around St Bridget's Well
Other heritage nearby
- The Seven MonumentsStone circle · 2.3 km
- RathsoonyRingfort · 3.9 km
- RahannagraghRingfort · 4.0 km
- St Dympna's ChurchAncient church · 4.0 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 77 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 stone circleArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Slieve Aughty Trails - Sonnagh Old LoopWalking Trail · 7.3 km · nearest point 6.8 km
- Slieve Aughty Trails - Gortnamanagh LoopWalking Trail · 6.5 km · nearest point 6.9 km
- Slieve Aughty Trails - Old Curragh RoadWalking Trail · 1.3 km · nearest point 8.7 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Loughrea LakeBeaches · 1.6 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Pollnaknockaun Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
- LoughreaWalled towns · 0.6 km
Other attractions nearby
- Loughrea CathedralAbbeys and Monastery · 0.5 km
- Loughrea LakeBeach · 1.6 km
- Leahy BeekeepingNature and Wildlife · 5.2 km
- Woodville House and Walled GardenMuseums and Attraction · 7.5 km
Excavations nearby
- E1506 Greeneenagh, County GalwayRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 1.1 km
- E1532 Fairfield, County GalwayRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 1.3 km