Dublin Core
Title
St. Brigid's Well
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
St Brigid’s Well
2 Townland, County, GPS
Neilstown, by Bohermeen Meath.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
According to French, “in the 1930s the well was situated in a marshy field at the back of Patrick Bennett’s house. The well was surrounded by a group of medium sized boulders; on the largest of these could be seen knee prints and the prints of the lower part of the palm. These are the imprints of St Brigid’s knees and hand as she knelt to get a drink…From a side of the well a small stream flowed watering the surrounding fields” (French 2012: 27).
4 Cure
Cures vomiting, sick stomach, and headache. French notes that “in the 1930s people of the area kept a bottle of the water in their homes for such illnesses” (French 2012: 27).
8 Stories
“St Brigid is said to have visited the well on her way from Tara to Teltown” (French 2012: 27).
“A local tradition was that no one should take the water from the well on Hallow Eve” (French 2012: 27).
“There was a story told that a young maid from a nearby house came to draw water from the well. On returning from the well she slipped, fell and spilled the water. She returned from the well to get more water and when she arrived home she fell dead at the door of the house” (French 2012: 27).
“A local tradition was that no one should take the water from the well on Hallow Eve” (French 2012: 27).
“There was a story told that a young maid from a nearby house came to draw water from the well. On returning from the well she slipped, fell and spilled the water. She returned from the well to get more water and when she arrived home she fell dead at the door of the house” (French 2012: 27).
9 Publications
French, Noel. 2012. Meath Holy Wells. Trim: Meath Heritage Centre.