Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
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
Situated on the summit of a hill known locally as 'The Hill of Mael' with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. Cashel (WM003-008----) standing inside a large possible trivallate hillfort (overall diam. 370m E-W) with possible prehistoric field system (WM003-008002-) running across the hill and St Brigid's holy well (WM003-008003-) located below S summit of hilltop (Adams 1957, 45).
Full archaeological record 128 words
Situated on the summit of a hill known locally as 'The Hill of Mael' with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside in all directions. Cashel (WM003-008----) standing inside a large possible trivallate hillfort (overall diam. 370m E-W) with possible prehistoric field system (WM003-008002-) running across the hill and St Brigid's holy well (WM003-008003-) located below S summit of hilltop (Adams 1957, 45). Unable to locate holy well on the summit of the hill which was described in 1957 as 'the impressive Hill of Mael around the summit of which can be seen the embankment of a hillfort and which has St. Brigid's Well, reputed never to dry up (an it certainly kept running throughout the dry summer of 1955) just below it summit on the south side' (ibid.).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O'Brien · Updated 24 January 2020. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
More holy wells nearby
Lady Well
Ritual site - holy well · Rathcreevagh · Westmeath · 2.7 km away
Well of the Holy Woman
Ritual site - holy well · Abbeylara · Longford · 9.7 km away
St. Bigseach's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballynacroghy Or Gallowstown · Westmeath · 20 km away
Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Baronstown · Westmeath · 20 km away
St Brigids Well
Ritual site - holy well · Culleen More · Westmeath · 21 km away
St. Mary's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Abbey Land · Longford · 21 km away
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Around St Brigid's Well
Other heritage nearby
- BigwoodHillfort · 0.0 km
- Tullynally CastleCastle · 5.9 km
- ForeAbbey or friary · 8.0 km
- Abbeylara Cistercian AbbeyAbbey or friary · 9.4 km
- Abbeylara MonasteryAncient church · 9.5 km
- Mortimer's CastleCastle · 9.8 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 72 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 17 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 hillfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Mullaghmeen White WalkWalking Trail · 8.1 km · nearest point 2.0 km
- Mullaghmeen Yellow WalkWalking Trail · 1.7 km · nearest point 2.6 km
- Mullaghmeen Red WalkWalking Trail · 3.5 km · nearest point 2.9 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Mullaghmeen ForestForests · 2.9 km
- The Cut, Lough LeneBeaches · 11 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Portnashangan, Lough OwelBeaches · 18 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Scragh Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 18 km
- ForeWalled towns · 8.2 km
- Lough Bishop HouseHistoric stays · 11 km
Other attractions nearby
- MullaghmeenWalking · 3.3 km
- Fore AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 8.0 km
What's on nearby
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