В Килдэре отмечают 200-летие со дня смерти священника Джона Мура и запускают кампанию по реставрации его источника

Kildare religious landmark marks 200 years of heritage on Sunday A SIGNIFICANT milestone in County Kildare's religious and cultural history will be commemorated this year as the community marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Fr John Moore, whose legacy continues to attract visitors to his well at Rathbride. Located on the Milltown to Kildare Road, Fr Moore's Well has been a place of pilgrimage, prayer and reflection for generations. Fr John Moore, who was born in 1779 and ordained to the priesthood in 1803, became renowned during his lifetime for his remarkable gift of healing people suffering from a variety of ailments. Before his death in 1826, Fr Moore blessed the small well at Rathbride, expressing the hope that those who prayed there would receive help and comfort. Two centuries later, people continue to visit the well, describing it as a place of peace and spiritual serenity, with many reporting personal favours and experiences of healing. The bicentenary coincides with Heritage Week 2026, whose theme, "Heritage at Risk," highlights the importance of protecting historic sites. The theme is particularly relevant to Fr Moore's Well, which is now in need of significant restoration work. Plans include resurfacing the pathway to the well, repairing the surrounding structure, installing new gates, repainting and carrying out extensive landscaping. To help fund these essential conservation works, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched. Another unique part of Fr Moore's legacy is his hat, which he entrusted to the Forde family before his death. The hat has remained in the family's care for 200 years and is now looked after by Michael and Anne Forde in County Westmeath. The couple continue the tradition of making the hat available to visitors, and it has been the subject of several documentaries. Both Fr Moore's Well and the hat have featured in numerous publications, including the County Kildare Archaeological Journal in 1918. In 1970, the late Michael Ryan of RTÉ produced a documentary on the well for Nationwide, while the late Manchán Magan also explored the story of the well and the hat in an Irish-language documentary. As part of the bicentenary commemorations, the committee is inviting members of the public to share their memories and personal stories of healing, prayer or other experiences connected with Fr Moore's Well or the hat. Written accounts may be left at the Heritage Centre in Milltown or posted to the Well Committee, The Heritage Centre, Milltown, Newbridge, Co Kildare. The commemorations will culminate on Sunday, 16 August, when Bishop Denis Nulty will concelebrate a special Mass at Fr Moore's Well at 3pm. Parking will also be available on the day.