Faughart Old Graveyard - Hill of Faughart - Louth - Ireland

Faughart Old Graveyard, located on the Hill of Faughart near Dundalk, County Louth, is a site rich in history, archaeology, and religion. The hill is traditionally considered the birthplace of St. Brigid, Ireland’s patron saint, and contains several historical features including the ruins of a 12th-century church, St. Brigid’s Holy Well, St. Brigid’s Pillar, and St. Brigid’s Bed, used for penitential purposes until recent times. The graveyard is a pilgrimage site, especially on St. Brigid’s Feast Day, when people visit to pray, leave offerings, and collect water from the Holy Well.

The site offers stunning views of Dundalk Bay, the Cooley Mountains, and other surrounding areas, adding to its historical and archaeological importance. It is linked to the ancient Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge and has been a place of settlement since before the 5th century, with evidence of a Bronze Age hill fort on the hilltop. Additionally, Faughart is reputed to be the burial site of Edward Bruce, the last High King of Ireland, who died in the Battle of Faughart in 1318.