COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
QUESTION NO. 9
QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons
To ask the Chief Executive for a detailed progress report on what SDCC has and is doing to ensure the restoration of the Rathcoole St Brigids Well on Tay Lane.
REPLY:
St Brigid's Well is located within private property. It is a recorded monument with reference number DU021-030004 Ritual Site - Holy Well. As such, it is protected under the National Monuments Act 1994 as amended and any works to the Holy Well would be subject to license.
A Planning Application SD22A/0342 was made previously in respect of lands containing the holy well, with a proposal for the holy well to be located within an area proposed as Public Open Space.
The planning process involved engagement with the National Monuments Service (NMS) as a statutory consultee. Following assessment of the planning application the NMS noted the Archaeological desk-based assessment report prepared by the applicants, concurred with the recommendations of the report and recommended that archaeological conditions be applied in regard to a conservation management plan for the recorded monument and the proposals set out in the management plan be agreed prior to the commencement of development. Such a plan was required to include details relating to landscaping and stabilisation works.
The proposed development was subject to requests for additional information and clarification of additional information and was granted planning permission, with a final grant issuing on the 07th June 2023. Condition 3 title archaeological conservation set out and required a number of measures to be carried out prior to the commencement of development including a Conservation Management Plan as per the recommendations of the NMS.
Through compliance the applicant sought a deferral of this condition citing a delay with the licensing application through the NMS. The compliance submission was reviewed by SDCC and the NMS and was deemed to not be compliant as the applicants had not submitted a Conservation Management Plan as per the details of condition 3. The applicant was notified of this outcome on the 07/11/2024.
The applicants resubmitted compliance with condition 3 on the 09/12/2024 including a conservation management plan. On the 07/02/2025 the applicant was notified that the content of the revised submission was deemed to be compliant with the requirements of the condition 3.
The Conservation Management Plan stated the following: A Conservation Management Plan for the Holy Well monument DU021-030004 was a condition of the grant of permission by South Dublin County Council. However, archaeological test trenching failed to identify the monument. It is possible that it was demolished at some point in the latter half of the 20th century. It is also possible that it survives outside of the trench locations.
The report concluded by recommending that all groundworks, either clearing or excavation, be archaeologically monitored within the area of Trenches 5 & 8 (Figure 6) and that should it be found, the well should be cordoned to avoid any damage and stabilised for preservation in-situ and a Conservation Plan be resubmitted.
If the monument is not located or it is confirmed to have been removed, it is recommended that the proposed green space area be maintained and an information plaque be erected to include the historical background and cultural importance of the monument.