St Eóin's Well, also referred to Saint Senan's Well or St. Luke's Well.
2 Townland, County, GPS
Asdee, County Kerry
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
St. Eoin's well is a circular well filled with clear water located in a field with a small wooden fence around it. It is below ground, surrounded by stone and has a shrine with a Virgin Mary statue near it.
4 Cure
The well is said to hold a cure for sore eyes and rheumatism. The cure is obtained by "...drink[ing] the well-water. They never bathe in the well but they rub it to the affected part." (SFC, 0403:039)
5 Pattern day
The well is visited "the Saturday before May-day, the first Saturday in May and before St. John's day." (SFC, 0403:038) Mass is held yearly on June 24th.
6 Offerings
Offerings include string/pieces of cloth, pictures of saint john, and medals. The cloth is tied to a bush which grows close to the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
"You should go round the well three times and say a rosary while you are going around. This should be done three times." (SFC, 0403:038)
8 Stories
One story from the School Folklore Collection is as follows: "One day as St. Eóin was saying Mass by the well the priest hunters came along. The people got afraid but St. Eóin told them not to be afraid and when he had Mass finished he mounted his horse and the horse rose up into the air and came down on top of Cnoc an Áir." (SFC, 0403:038)
Another story also from the School Folklore Collection: "One day a man who was blind in one eye went to the well and started to do the rounds. When he had the rounds finished he washed his eye with the water from the well. After a while the eye was cured and when he opened his eye he saw the lump that was in it swimming in the water, and after a while a fish came to the top of he water and carried the lump away with him." (SFC, 0403:104)
And another from Dwelling, Place and Environment, written by Walter G Brenneman: "On the eve of her wedding she went to meditate at St Eoin’s well. She sat on the grass before the well, and out from out of a nearby bush there sprung a golden trout, moving on its tail as a salmon skims the across the surface of the water. The trout leapt into the water and disappeared. From the spot where he disappeared, there arose a continuous stream of bubbles. These are considered to be full of power and no doubt refer back to the na bolcca immaiss, or mystic bubble of inspiration of the Well of Segais." (ed David Saemon, Robert Mugerauer,1985)
9 Publications
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4666582?pageNum=038
https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2020/03/01/north-kerry-escapade-part-2/
David Saemon and Robert Mugerauer, Dwelling, Place, and Environment, 1985
10 More
Picture from Clarke at https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2020/03/01/north-kerry-escapade-part-2/
St Eóin’s Well, Tobar Naomh Eóin, Toberruane (St. John) (Photo by Amanda Clarke)
2 Townland, County, GPS
Asdee, County Kerry
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The entrance to the well is protected by a stone gate and ivy shrubbery that prohibits seeing into the field where pews and other evidence of pilgrim worship are found. The well is surrounded by a wooden fence that leads into the subterranean water. Long stones are stacked at the bottom of the well to pool the water. A stone formation is beside the well and houses a window depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary where offerings are given. The well seems to be in good condition.
4 Cure
The well's cure is for rheumatism and eye ailments like blindness. A story from the School's Folklore Collection explains how a blind man in one eye visited the well, paid his rounds and washed his eye with the water. The eye was washed and a lump fell into the well and was carried away by a fish and he was cured of his blindness. Another story from The Kerryman magazine in 2017 tells a story of a man from the 1880s who brought his nearly blind servant to the well, and she was cured of her blindness. Later, he brings a blind horse to the well to cure it of blindness and it works- at the cost of the master's eyesight.
5 Pattern day
The well's pattern day is on St John’s Day on 24th of June. Pilgrims can be found at the well on other days such as Michaelmas and Saturdays in May.
6 Offerings
Offerings such as metals, candles, and religious imagery are left at the window of the BVM. Strings and rags left as offerings are tied to some of the bushes and vines surrounding the site.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The pilgrims visiting the well on any of the pilgrimage days will pay 3 rounds whilst repeating a rosary, which is done a total of 3 times.
8 Stories
The well has had multiple saint dedications over its time: St. Eóin’s Well, St. Senan’s Well, and St. Luke's Well.
There is another short story in a book named Holy Wells of North County Kerry (1958) that tells of a man who wants to stop pilgrims from accessing the holy well, so he lets loose a bull to deter the pilgrims. The bull then turned around, charges, and killed the man.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
There is a path that leads to the well and the well is surrounded by sally and blackthorn bushes, the site is embedded into a small hill in an open field. The well house is circular shaped and built from rough stones. The front of the monument has an opening in the middle for access to the water. Above the well, three statues (of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sacred Heart, and Mary of the Gael Saint Brigid), oversee the site. To the left is a painted depiction of St. Senan in black and white paint. A rusty donation box iaccepts contributions for the upkeep of the site.
4 Cure
The well's cure is for eyes. There was once a girl who went to the well and was cured of her blindness. She then forgot to pray and thank God and the next day she was blind again. (The Holy Wells of North Kerry. In Vol 88, No 2 p 158 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 1958)
5 Pattern day
The pattern day is celebrated on March 8th. A tradition of a match of football and a tug of war game was played with every able bodied man. Additionally, pilgrims can be found at the well on the days of Saturday before the 1st of May, the Saturday before Saint John’s day, the 24th June, and the Saturday before Michaelmas the 29th of September.
6 Offerings
Strings, tassels of shawls, and things of the like are left on the bushes next to the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The path of the rounds is treaded in a circle around the well. One rosary is to be said per three rounds of the well. It takes 9 rounds around the well to complete 3 rosaries. "The round is started by kneeling in front of the well and beginning the Rosary there and after some time stand up and walk round the orbit 3 times completing the round of the Beads in front of the well. Then start the second Rosary and walk round orbit 3 times and complete Beads at front of well" (Schools' Folklore Collection: 039-041:0412)
8 Stories
The origin of the well is from St. Senan sleeping at this spot and praying. His head laid on a stone "pillow" and this stone shows the imprint of his face. The next morning, a well was sprung from the ground.