3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The Well is along the Togher, to the right of Lemanaghan Church. There is a small stone wall surrounding the well, a large bullaun stone, and multiple trees, some of which have clooties tied to them. The well itself is a hole in the ground with stone steps leading toward the base. After the well's renovation in the 1930s 4 upright headstones were discovered, and they are now housed in the visitor center. The most prominent tree is a misshapen ash, with multiple clooties and rags tied to it and even some rosaries.
4 Cure
It is said to cure nearly every ailment but is especially effective against neuralgia, cancer, and warts. To receive the healing powers of the well one must apply the water to the afflicted part of their body and then walk around the well three times, often leaving a votive as thanks afterwards.
5 Pattern day
January 24th
6 Offerings
The bottom of the well is littered with coins and on the ash tree nearby, people leave all sorts of objects from rosaries and rags to stuffed animals and pictures of themselves or loved ones.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The sick come on St. Manchans feast day to make their rounds.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The site is currently very overgrown. Locals recently added trees and a dry-stone wall enclosure surrounding the spring with an opening to the well. There is a stone ledge over the spring were offerings are left.
4 Cure
The well can cure sore eyes and head ailments.
5 Pattern day
The well does not have an annual gathering now, but the Saint has a feast day on October 29.
6 Offerings
Offerings include cigarette lighters, rosaries, horseshoes, stones, and religious figurines.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Prayer rounds are done on Sundays.
9 Publications
Houlihan, Michael. 2015. The Holy Wells of County Clare.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Beside a stream in lush vegetation. Well access via a small bridge and gate. Well is lined and roofed with stones. A vibrant orange buoy marks it. (https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/04/18/st-barrahane-st-bridget/ by Amanda Clark)
4 Cure
eyes, stomach
5 Pattern day
3rd December
6 Offerings
"Offerings dangle from the surrounding bushes – rosaries, hankies, ribbons, tinsel and a pile of rusty coins." (https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/04/18/st-barrahane-st-bridget/ by Amanda Clark)
9 Publications
https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/04/18/st-barrahane-st-bridget/ by Amanda Clark
Photograph by Amanda Clark
Power, Denis et al. Archeological Inventory of Count Cork Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: The Stationery Office, 1994. PDF. 26 OCT. 2018.
Lady's Well, Tobairin Mhuire dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Called Tobermurry in Archeological Inventory of County Cork Volume 1: West Cork
2 Townland, County, GPS
Lisheen, Cork
51°44'39.5"N 9°24'03.6"W
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
It is near the Kilmocomoge graveyard in a pasture. There is a white and blue painted fence around the well and many little "niches" that hold statues of saints, rosaries, and offerings (https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/03/08/tobairin-mhuire-kealkil/ by Amanda Clark). At the head of the well there is a large statue of Mary. People have left many cups lying around so that others can use them to drink from the well.
4 Cure
General
5 Pattern day
August 15th
6 Offerings
It looks like candles and rosaries are the most common offering.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Mass is still held at the well on the 15th of August.
8 Stories
In 1848 the murder of John Murphy of Droumduff was committed on the pattern day. It was due to faction fighting occurring between the Flynns and the Murphys. Fifteen people were accused of participating in the murder. (https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/03/08/tobairin-mhuire-kealkil/ by Amanda Clark)
9 Publications
https://holywellsofcork.com/2016/03/08/tobairin-mhuire-kealkil/ by Amanda Clark
Photograph by Amanda Clark
Power, Denis et al. Archeological Inventory of County Cork Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: Stationary Office. PDF. 10 Oct. 2018
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well itself is nicely made: a barrel-roofed wellhouse made from stone, with a neatly flagged surrounding area, two stone seats near the entrance, all festooned with ferns. A slab in front bears an engraved cross and around it seven kneeling stones are placed, visited as as part of the rounds.
4 Cure
Cure for sore eyes, ears and warts. An entry from the Schools' Folklore Collection: …there is a boy living in Coolagou… and his name is Kevin Lyons. A few years ago he had a very sore ear. One day his mother took him to the holy well at Coole and performed the rounds, After a few days his ear was all right because his mother had faith enough in the holly (sic) well. (049:0377)
5 Pattern day
23rd October
6 Offerings
Statues, crucifixes, rosaries, bows, coins, medals etc mostly placed on top of the well house
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The rules for pilgrimage are clearly outlined on a board outside the sanctuary. You should approach from the north, walk deisal (clockwise), keeping to the right and in single file. Collect nine small stones as counters and each time you have accomplished a round (a walk around the well, praying at each of the seven kneeling stones and reciting Our Fathers etc) throw one pebble away. When you have none left your turas (pilgrimage) is achieved. Finally make an offering and drink the water three times (using your palms if there is no cup), then hang a cloth in the bushes.
8 Stories
This is how it is meant to have originated: Long ago the blessed well at Coole was just a spring. A female inhabitant of Coole Abbey House was reputed ot have seen a monk praying at this spring and she ordered an oratory to be built over it. The well is dedicated to St Deviet or which is an anglicised version of St Dalbach …
9 Publications
Schools' Folklore Collection (049:0377)
10 More
SMR number: CO036-019005
The well may have originated as part of the Coole Abbey complex - the remains of two churches still exist nearby. St Dalbach may have been an anchorite.
Abbey's Well, dedicated to St Gobnait. The patron saint of Kilshannig is St Gobnit, but she is more commonly known as St Abby
2 Townland, County, GPS
Kilgobnet, County Cork, 46859, 49330
4 Cure
General cure
5 Pattern day
11 February. Every year on 2/11, rounds are paid to this well. It is like a national holiday for the district. Men, women, and children all turn out in their best style. In front of the well on pattern day are 2 or 3 poor women who supply glasses of water to the pilgrims and are expected to pay at least a penny each. The attendance of the pattern is getting smaller each year.
6 Offerings
Rosaries and statues at niches at entrance to the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The rounds are usually performed by commencing the rosary in front of the well, saying the Decade there and moving on clockwise round, saying a Decade at each station. There are stones around the well house, the words "Kneel & Pray" scratched into them.
8 Stories
The wellhouse was built on the site of an older structure and looked after by Johnny the Prayers. The graveyard developed around the well.
The old people remember a time when the young men of different townlands of the parish used to assemble in the fields near Abby's Well and compete for the "Championship of the Parish" with hop-step-and-jump and long jump.
It is said that it had been revealed to St Abby that she should get a church built at a spot at where she could see 9 white deer, and that she set out on her travels through Munster in quest of this site. At several places, she saw several white deer, and she blessed those places and a spring gushed forth in each of them. She finally saw nine white deer in Ballyvourney. There she got her church built and there she died beside that church we was buried. Schools' Folklore Collection (03/094: 0363)
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.