St Baran’s Well

St Baran’s Well

St Baran’s (Barrind’s) Well, also called Tobar Sratha Bainne.

Located “at Monknewtown” (Thunder 1886: 657) in County Meath.

The Ordnance Survey Name Book places the well "twenty perches south of Monknewtown church” (French 2012: 103).

Stations were held “on the first Sunday in harvest, until a mill was erected close to it; after that the people discontinued the Stations” (Thunder 1886: 657). French notes that “the patron day for the parish is Lady Day 15 August” (French 2012: 103).

St Baran “was a friend of St Brendan. St Baran founded a monastery in the portion of the kingdom of Meath adjoining Ulster, at a place called Drum Cullin, situated in the barony of Eglish” (Thunder 1886: 657).

Thunder, John M. “The Holy Wells of Meath.” The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland. Oct 1886-Jan 1887, pp 655-658.

French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Trim Heritage Centre.

“Some people said that the name derived from St Banan but O’Donovan thought that the name derived from the low land or lay field where the well was situated. The saint’s may have been St Baran or Barrind who was said to have been a friend of St Brendan” (French 2012: 103).