This holy well, documented in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, represents centuries of continuous devotion, where ancient Irish spiritual traditions blend seamlessly with Christian practice. The site remains an active place of pilgrimage, particularly around St. Brigid’s feast day on 1 February, when locals and visitors alike come to perform ritual rounds and leave offerings.

The well itself is a simple stone structure, yet its surroundings tell a rich story of faith and tradition. Contemporary votive offerings; coins, religious medals, photographs, and strips of cloth tied to nearby bushes; create a constantly evolving shrine that speaks to the enduring power of folk religion in rural Ireland. These modern tributes echo ancient practices, where people would leave tokens at sacred springs long before Christianity arrived on Irish shores. The tradition of tying rags, known as ‘clooties’, to trees near holy wells stems from the belief that as the cloth decays, so too will the ailment or worry it represents.

Archaeological evidence suggests this site has been venerated since at least medieval times, though local folklore hints at much older origins. St. Brigid herself occupies a unique position in Irish spirituality, often considered a Christianised version of the pre-Christian goddess Brigid, making wells dedicated to her particularly significant in understanding how Ireland’s pagan past was incorporated into its Christian present. The Drumkeen well stands as a testament to this cultural continuity, where water, once sacred to the Celts, remains a conduit for blessing and healing in modern Donegal.