Tobar Bhríghde, Cill Rossanta / St. Brigid’s Well, Kilrossanty
Is gné thábhachtach de thírdhreach Phort Láirge iad na Toibreacha Naofa agus is cuid iad de scéal ár logainmneacha agus ár ndaoine. Tá triúr toibreacha naofa i mbaile fearainn Chill Rosanta: Tobar Bhríghde; Tobar Mhuire agus Tobar Íosa. Is í Naomh Bríd an pátrún ar pharóiste Chill Rosanta agus déantar lá an phátrúin a cheiliúradh ar an 1 Feabhra gach bliain. De réir Shuirbhéireacht Údarás Turasóireachta na hÉireann i 1943 ar an lá seo, dhein daoine a mbabhta den triúr toibreacha i gCill Rosanta.
Déantar na “rounds” mar seo a leanas: Trí huaire thart ar fhothrach an tsean-shéipéil, ag rá an chúig dheichniúr den choróin mhuire do gach babhta. Téann daoine thart ar gach tobar trí huaire ansin, agus an tÁr nAthair á rá acu, trí Ave agus an Glóir don Athair ag gach tobar. Ansin glacann siad trí dheoch ó gach tobar.
Tá leigheas traidisiúnta ann freisin a bhaineann le Naomh Bríd — sé sin Banda Naomh Bhríd. Cuirtear stiall éadaigh nó flainín taobh amuigh de leac na fuinneoige ar Oíche Fhéile Bríde agus creidtear go mbeannaíonn an naomh é. Cuireadh é ar éadan an duine mar leigheas do thinnis chinn. Chuirfeadh fir a gcuid criosanna nó gealasacha taobh amuigh in ionad an éadaigh nó an flainín agus d’fhéadfaí iad a úsáid chun pian droime a leigheas. Is féidir leat léamh i gCnuasach Bhéaloideas na Scol, ar fáil ó Dhúchas, faoi conas a sábháladh fear i mBaile Uí Fhlaithnín ón mbean sídhe nuair a beannaíodh a chrios sa tslí seo: Bun Machan | The Schools’ Collection | dúchas.ie (duchas.ie)
Holy Wells are an important feature in the Waterford landscape and form part of the story of our placenames and people. The townland of Kilrossanty boasts a trio of holy wells: Tobar Bhríghde; Tobar Mhuire and Tobar Íosa. St. Bridget is the patron saint of the parish of Kilrossanty and her pattern day is celebrated on 1st February. According to the Irish Tourist Authority Survey in 1943 on this day people made their rounds of the three wells in Kilrossanty.
The “rounds” are made as follows: Three times round the old church ruin, saying the five decades of the rosary for each round. People then go round each well three times, and say a pater, three aves and glory be to the father at each well. They then take three drinks from each well.
There is also a traditional cure associated with St. Bridget – St. Bridget’s Band. A strip of cloth or flannel is placed outside the windowsill on St. Bridget’s Eve and is believed blessed by the saint. It was placed around the forehead as a cure for headaches. Men would put their belt or braces outside instead of the cloth or flannel and it could be used to cure back pain. You can read about how a man in Ballylaneen was saved from the banshee when he had his belt blessed in this way in the Schools Folklore Collection, available from Dúchas Bun Machan | The Schools’ Collection | dúchas.ie (duchas.ie)
