3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well is like a dish scooped out of a rock in a field about a quarter of a mile west of the waterfall. Locals wonder how the water gets through the rock but it is seldom or never dry. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1087, Page 025)
4 Cure
People suffering from sores and warts go there to get cured. They drink the water and rub it on the sores. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1087, Page 025)
6 Offerings
Some personal things such as medals, pins, clothes, etc are left behind at the well after each visit. It is not as much frequented now as it was forty or fifty years ago. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1087, Page 025)
8 Stories
About sixty years ago a protestant farmer named Algeo lived near Bunlin Bridge bout a mile and a half west of Milford on the Milford-Barrigart road. For cutting some trees in his own farm without the permission of the landlord - the murdered Earl of Leitrim - he was evicted from his house and farm. Willie Boyle has built a two storey house on the site of Algeo's house and his farm was divided among the neighboring farmers. James O' Donnell has a few acres on he south side of the Golan road. Moses Gamble has the west side along the hill and Charles Graham has the rest. On the part of Algeo's farm given to Moses Gamble sits Algeo's Well.
The well is not as frequented now as it was forty or fifty years ago. The "Scallen" where mass was said before Golan Chapel was built is beside this well. (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1087, Page 025)
Our Lady's Well, St. Mary's Well, Blessed Virgin Mary
2 Townland, County, GPS
Crosshaven, County Cork
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is near church ruins and a graveyard in a wooded area--one tree was associated with the well. The water flows down towards fields
4 Cure
cures sore eyes and feet
5 Pattern day
August 15
6 Offerings
ribbons, medals, Rosary beads, etc.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Rounds were made on the Feast of Our Lady, but this custom was stopped about thirty years ago. It was also an ancient custom to say a prayer when passing this well and the custom continues (Clarke).
8 Stories
“There were two very wealthy men living in Crosshaven, both Protestants. One man was asked to cut the tree and he said he would rather starve than put a saw to it. The other man was asked and he said he would cut it. He was told it was not right to cut the tree but he only laughed. He brought a cross saw and with one of his sons started to cut the tree; the saw broke in two halves; he got a second and the same thing happened and the third saw went the same way as the first and the second. The fourth saw cut the tree. All went well until morning. He went to the stable to get his horse ready to draw home the timber but found his horse dead.” (Clarke)
9 Publications
Clarke, Amanda. "Gazetteer." Holy Wells of Cork. Accessed November 31, 2018. https://holywellsofcork.com/gazeteer/.
Power, D., Byrne, E., Egan, U., Lane, S., & Sleeman, M. (n.d.). Archaeological Inventory of County Cork (Vol. 2,
An Buile Suibhne - Mad Sweeney
On The Trail of Merlin
Placenames - Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha wrote under the Gaelic pen-name An Seabhac
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
Tobar na nGealt, Local folklore says a saint called Silver Hugh
2 Townland, County, GPS
Gleann na nGealt, Foillatrisnigh, County Kerry
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is situated at the bottom of the valley of Gleann na nGealt. A crossing on the Gleann na nGealt stream is called Ath na Gealtán (fools crossing). There is also a ring fort nearby.
4 Cure
There is reputed to be a cure for madness in the waters of this well. Included in the folklore of Tobar na nGealte is a story of the "mad people" coming to the valley for the cure and drinking milk from a hollow in a Ballaun stone named locally as the Mad Stone, which is near the well. People suffering from mental illness have been coming to this well for hundreds of years and drinking the water for the cure. There are stories told locally and in the old Irish writings of people who were cured after drinking water from Tobar na nGealt. One woman named was Mary Maher from Limerick and also the King of France was cured after he lost his reason at the battle of the Ventry Harbour. All local folklore.
5 Pattern day
There is no specific day associated with this well.
6 Offerings
In recent times people hang clothing, medals, rosary beads and some personal items on the trees at the well. They return regularly to pray and drink the water. People talk of great peace around the well and valley.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
There are no special prayers said at the well.
8 Stories
When people drink the water, and if they see a fish in the water, they will be cured. The Mad People used to survive on water cress and some milk poured on the mad stone from the local farmer.
9 Publications
An Buile Suibhne-Mad Sweeney
On the Trail of Merlin
Placenames-Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha wrote under the Gaelic pen-name An Seabhac
Mad Sweenedy and An Buile Suibhne from the early Irish writings is associated with this well and in more recent times, Merlin the magician. A book has been written "On the Trail of Merlin." This book traces Merlin across Europe and this includes Gleann na nGealt.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Bush growing over the well
4 Cure
If you visit the well once and rub water on your wart, the wart with disappear. Three Our Fathers and Three Hail Marys have to be said each night and each morning after visiting the well n order for the wart to be cured.