Saint Finian & Bridewells

St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's wells, Ardbraccan

Excerpt from the 1938 Schools Folklore Commission notebook for Tullanghstown National School on St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's holy wells, Ardbraccan. "There are two holy wells in my parish, namely Saint Ultan's Well and Saint Brigid's Well. St. Ultan's Well is on Mr. Law's estate which is in the townland of Ardbraccan amd Saint Brigid's well is in Mr. Luke Gibney's field. St. Ultan's Well is noted for curing headaches and Saint Brigid's well is very good for toothaches. There is a pilgrimage to Saint Ultan's Well every year on the first Sunday in September and the Rosary is recited in Irish at the well." Source: Mr. Pat Coyle, Bohermeen, Navan, aged 63 years. Pupil: Agnes McCabe.

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's wells, Ardbraccan
Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's wells, Ardbraccan

Excerpt from the 1938 Schools Folklore Commission notebook for Tullanghstown National School on St. Ultan's and St. Brigid's holy wells, Ardbraccan. "There are two holy wells in my parish, namely Saint Ultan's Well and Saint Brigid's Well. St. Ultan's Well is on Mr. Law's estate which is in the townland of Ardbraccan amd Saint Brigid's well is in Mr. Luke Gibney's field. St. Ultan's Well is noted for curing headaches and Saint Brigid's well is very good for toothaches. There is a pilgrimage to Saint Ultan's Well every year on the first Sunday in September and the Rosary is recited in Irish at the well." Source: Mr. Pat Coyle, Bohermeen, Navan, aged 63 years. Pupil: Agnes McCabe.

Courtesy of Meath County Libraries

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There are two wells dedicated to St. Finian, one in the old church at Longwood and one in Anneville. Both are said to cure stomach trouble, and the first also has the cure of warts. It has a concrete trough around it; if you want the cure of warts you put a pin in the water. This well dries up in summer but the other one is very deep.

There two wells dedicated to St. Brigid, one at Carbury and one at Ballinadrimna. The former has a Patron Day on Trinity Sunday and the water cures headaches and toothaches. The other well is called the Brideswell and legend has it that there was a church there where St. Brigid stayed the night, travelling from her convent in Cloghan to her convent in Faughart. She prayed at the well and blessed it. The well is under an apple tree beside the graveyard where the church was in the time of St. Brigid. The walls of the church can still be seen.

Another Brideswell is mentioned at Johnstown, and a well called Scrubean at Newcastle, but no traditions are given about either of these. Tubbershoren is no longer identifiable. Even so, the mere recording of the names may help to recall memories of the wells themselves.