St Dympna's Well - Kildalkey

A well dedicated to St. Dympna is located in Corrigan's field adjacent to Kildalkey Cemetery and Kildalkey Abbey out the Athboy Road from Kildalkey. Access to the well is gained from Kildalkey Cemetery.

It had remained closed for many a long year until 1999 when the Kildalkey Active Retirement Association (KARA) set up a committee to re-open and improve access to its waters as a Millennium Project.

The Committee attracted grant assistance from the Millennium Committee of Meath County Council and the NE Health Board. Five members of KARA worked tirelessly on the gruelling task of renovation. Thanks are due to Paddy Corrigan who owns the field where the well is situated. The KARA committee is also very grateful to those who contributed materials for the project.

The well was officially re-opened by Pat Mc'Gurl and blessed by Fr. Colm Murtagh on 1st October, 2000.

After the project finished, local man Frank Kelly (RIP) wrote a verse about KARA's endeavours in re-opening the well. The legend of St. Dympna and another of Frank's verses are now contained in a plaque on the cemetery wall adjoining the well as pictured on the right here.

The well had long been dedicated to Kildalkey's adopted saint of St. Dympna who reportedly spent a night in Kildalkey Abbey on her flight from her disturbed father. She is attributed to be a great source of comfort to sufferers of depression and mental illness.

Folklore states that the well has healing powers. People came to the well for the cure of headaches. It is said that a headache can be cured when a ribbon is dipped into the waters and tied around the persons head.

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