10th Earl of Antrim commemorates 400th anniversary of Brideswell holy well
The 10th Earl of Antrim, Lord Randal Alexander McDonnell, joined the Brideswell community as they commemorated the 400 year anniversary of St Brigid's Holy Well with a special mass.
The celebration took place as part of the Brideswell Pattern Festival, a major pattern and celebration which is traditionally held on Garland Sunday, which falls on the last Sunday in July, and is likely a Christianisation of earlier pagan Lughnasadh harvest festivals.
Image 1 of 4
[L TO R] Rev Michael McManus, Deacon Willie Gacquin, Lord Randal McDonnell, Helena McDonnell, Lady Aurora McDonnell, Hector McDonnell.Image 2 of 4
[L TO R] Hector McDonnell, Lord Randal McDonnell, Helena McDonnell, Lady Aurora McDonnell.Image 3 of 4
A new commemorative plaque was put in place as part of the mass.Image 4 of 4
The original plaque dating back to 1625.The well, dedicated to Saint Brigid, patroness of the Uí Mhaine (and O’Kelly) territories of south Roscommon, has long been a place of healing, fertility, pilgrimage, and devotion.
Tradition says the 1st Earl of Antrim and his wife had a long-awaited child after visiting the site, a story honoured this year by his descendant, the 10th Earl of Antrim who visited the site last week during Garland Sunday celebrations.
This ancient pilgrimage site features a stone well, bathhouse, and a series of pilgrim stations across the village capturing a unique integration of sacred architecture, landscape and settlement. A plaque with the MacDonnell coat of arms remains above the wellhead.
A new plaque to mark the 400th anniversary celebration has also been placed at the site.