Fr John Moore 200th Anniversary Mass at the Well, Milltown

What to Expect

Holy wells are among the oldest devotional sites still in active use across County Kildare, and 2026 marks two hundred years since the death of Fr John Moore, the priest whose name the well at Milltown carries. The Well Committee marks the anniversary with a concelebrated Mass at the well itself on Sunday 16 August at 3pm. Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, will concelebrate. The committee is also gathering accounts of healings associated with the well, so anyone with a story to record can pass it on at the Mass.

This is an open, outdoor liturgy rather than a ticketed event. Anniversary Masses at wells like this one tend to draw people back from further afield, particularly families with a long connection to the townland, so expect a larger gathering than a normal Sunday. Everything happens in the open air beside the well, so there is no fixed seating and no shelter to rely on if the weather turns. A folding chair is worth bringing if standing for the hour is difficult. There is no admission charge and no booking process listed for the Mass.

Good to Know

• Sunday 16 August 2026, starting at 3pm
• Fr John Moore’s Well, Milltown, Co. Kildare
• Marks 200 years since the death of Fr John Moore
• Bishop Denis Nulty concelebrating the anniversary Mass
• Organised by the local Well Committee, who are collecting accounts of healings at the well
• Free to attend, with no booking listed
• Outdoor site with no seating, so dress for the weather and bring a chair if you need one
• Listed in the Kildare Diary carried by Kfm, the county radio station

Getting There

Milltown is a small rural settlement in central Kildare, sitting between Newbridge and Rathangan and well signposted from both. Come by car and expect roadside parking on narrow verges close to the well, so arrive early and park considerately to keep the lane passable for later arrivals. The nearest rail station is Newbridge, on the Dublin Heuston to Kildare line, and there is no direct public transport to the well itself, so a lift or a taxi from Newbridge or Rathangan is the practical option if you are not driving.