Castlemagner

County Cork

St Brigit has a Holy Well here – possibly a take over of a well to the pagan god Brede. On the other hand there was a local saint who was also called St Brigit. In 1591 it became the place where Catholics celebrated mass and a famous place for the observance of ‘rounds’ – hence the other name of Sunday’s Well.

The sheela-na-gig, this example perhaps being the best preserved one there is, is said to have come from the ruins of an 8th century church in Subulter which fell into disuse in the 15C. There is another re-used stone from the nearby castle of a figure of St Michael now placed on the other side of the well housing. Perhaps both stones were believed to ward off evil. The housing itself dates from the 18C.

OS: 73 444 019 marked