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Kilbroney is a multi-period ecclesiastical site situated in Newry and Mourne, comprising two stone crosses, the remains of a church, graveyards and a holy well dedicated to St Bridget. The site exploits a landscape of Hawick Group wacke bedrock, typical of the Wenlock period geology that underlies much of this region. The presence of a holy well indicates the site's significance as a place of pilgrimage and healing, which often persisted into the medieval period and beyond, drawing devotees to sacred springs associated with Celtic saints. The two crosses suggest a phase of Christian monument-building, likely medieval, when decorated stone crosses became characteristic features of Irish ecclesiastical settlements.
The church structure itself represents continuity of religious practice at this location across several centuries. Such multiperiod sites frequently show evidence of successive phases of rebuilding and modification, reflecting changing liturgical needs and architectural fashions. The graveyards surrounding the church complex indicate that Kilbroney functioned as a burial ground for local populations, a role sacred sites often maintained for generations.
The monument is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 8879, recognising its archaeological and historical importance as a repository of evidence for medieval religious practice, settlement patterns and land use in early Christian and later periods in south-eastern Ulster.
Kilbroney, glentegy's, nister, st. bridget's well. crosses (2), multiperiod church, graveyards & holy well is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8879. View the official record →
Kilbroney is a multi-period ecclesiastical site situated in Newry and Mourne, comprising two stone crosses, the remains of a church, graveyards and a holy well dedicated to St Bridget. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8879.
Kilbroney, glentegy's, nister, st. bridget's well. crosses (2), multiperiod church, graveyards & holy well dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a ecclesiastical site. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Kilbroney, glentegy's, nister, st. bridget's well. crosses (2), multiperiod church, graveyards & holy well is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 8879.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Standing stone no 1. standing stone (no.1) (0.2 km), Standing stone no 2. standing stone (no.2) (0.4 km), Grotto (1.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Kilbroney, glentegy's, nister, st. bridget's well. crosses (2), multiperiod church, graveyards & holy well's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Kilbroney, glentegy's, nister, st. bridget's well. crosses (2), multiperiod church, graveyards & holy well stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.