St Brigid’s Cycle
This is a 40km cycle route starting and finishing at Kildare Town Train Station. The route is relatively flat and is generally on quiet country roads. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants in Kildare Town. The garage in Monasterevan also has a café.
On exiting the train station turn right, heading towards the centre of Kildare Town. You will immediately see St Brigid’s Cathedral and Round Tower ahead of you. Continue through the Market Square and turn left at St Brigid’s Parish Church. Follow the signs for the Irish National Stud on the Tully Road. Just after the ruin of the Black Abbey and before the turn to the left is the first stop of the day. This is the original St Brigid’s Well and is now known as the Wayside Well. Retrace your steps and turn left opposite the Black Abbey. Take the first left down a lovely laneway to St Brigid’s Garden Well. This well is now the main well of pilgrimage associated with St Brigid despite not featuring on the original ordinance survey maps. Both wells have become popular with visitors in recent years, evident from the ribbons and rags tied to the trees near the wells.
Head back up to the main road and turn left. Follow this road for 10km until you come to the village of Kildangan. Take the road along the left hand side to the Cross Keys pub and continue until you reach a T junction, where you turn right. In the grounds of the first house on the left hand side is a third well dedicated to St Brigid. This is on private property so seek permission if you wish to visit it. Follow the road, turning right before the motorway bridge over the road. At the end of this road, turn left and freewheel down into Monasterevan. Turn left at the bottom of the hill.
It is worth spending some time in Monasterevan. There are lovely walks along the Grand Canal and the River Barrow, and lots of old buildings that point to the importance of the town in years gone by. Follow the R445 through the centre of the town and cross the Barrow. A little further on, you will come to the canal. Cross the road here and follow the left hand bank north. Turn across the next bridge and you will come to the aqueduct where the canal passes over the river. Keep the canal on your left leaving Monasterevan. The canal towpath cycle route starts at the next bridge over the canal. Follow the towpath past Lock 24 at McCartney’s Bridge. Just before the next bridge, take the road to the right. This area is Umeras, where St Brigid was born (unless she was born in Faughart, Co Louth!).
The road continues up to Mountrice crossroads, where there is a small statue of St Brigid. Cross the main road and continue on this road passing Lackagh National School. Shortly afterwards, go left at the junction and take the next left turn. Continue on this road, climbing up to Knavenstown crossroads, straight across and climbing again until the road turns to the right. Shortly after the turn, there is another statue of St Brigid, marking the location of her first church. There is a lovely view across the flat midlands from here. The road will bring you back into Kildare Town. Head straight across the back lanes towards the Round Tower, arriving back in the Market Square. Turn left down Nugent Street to return to the train station where you started.
If St Brigid had owned a bike, this definitely would have been her favourite cycle!
