St. Mary's Well (AKA Tobar Mhuire/Tober-Murry/Lady Well)
2 Townland, County, GPS
Townland of Rosserk, Co. Mayo (54.168827, -9.144540)
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is situated at the confluence of the Rosserk River and the River Moy (west bank), near Rosserk Abbey. The well is situated about 500m from a small carpark situated on the right hand side of the road, before Rosserk Abbey. It is accessed via a boreen, known as 'the Rosary Path'.
4 Cure
The waters from the well are credited with curative properties, particularity for eyes.
5 Pattern day
The Patron Day was 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but pilgrims visited from that day until 8 September.
6 Offerings
Mostly rosary beads, scapulars and religious statues, as well as rags or tissue paper. Mostly attached to a hawthorn tree, which grows from the roof of the stone structure over the well, but also on other hawthorn trees in the immediate vicinity and on nearby fencing.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
There are a several numbered spots at the site.
9 Publications
1. Monsignor O'Hara (1898) "Rosserk and Moyne, Co. Mayo". Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Fifth Series, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 258-263.
2. John O'Donovan/Michael O'Flanagan (1927) 'Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the County of Mayo: collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838'.
10 More
According to tradition, the well is situated at the site of an apparition of the Virgin Mary that took place c. 1680.
In 1798, a local landowner named John Lynott built a little stone-vaulted building over the well; an inscription reads: 'This chapel was built in honour of the Blessed Virgin in the year of Our Lord 1798, by John Lynott, of Rosserk.' Beneath this inscription is a large figure of a dove with the words 'Pax' (peace) and 'Amor' (Love). Beneath this are two other slabs with inscriptions in Latin, bearing the years 1684 and 1810.
See also: http://www.sacredlandscapes.ie/tobar-mhuire.html
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
Paving was said to have taken place in the early 2000s to the dismay of some local visitors. The well structure is kept tidy and cleared of most votives. The well surround itself is paved and encircled by a five and a half foot high block wall with a large niche and statue of Our Lady. Access to the well is prevented by a metal railing and the water source is covered with a type of dome of metal spokes to which a pump is fixed with a handle that can be moved to deliver a stream of well water.
5 Pattern day
The traditional pilgrimage times are between 15 August to 8 September, the Day of Our Lady's Assumption until her birthday. Visited all year, the well also is especially visited on Good Friday and Easter.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The spring well is c. 1.5m below ground level with stone steps leading down to it, revetted and surrounded by a large D-shaped cairn of stones. There is a cross, depicted in white marble, above the well. (Source Archaeological Survey of Ireland). Scenic setting close to a farm house. The well is enclosed within a small field surrounded by a stone wall. Very well cared for, grass is kept low and some planters are set up near the well. A cup is present for drinking the water.
4 Cure
Unknown
5 Pattern day
Formerly pilgrimage to the well took place on the last Sunday of July until August 15th. Mass is now celebrated at the well on August 15th every year.
6 Offerings
A small number of rosary beads and rags on a nearby hedge.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
No stations
8 Stories
Tradition has it that St Attracta killed a monster living in the glen at a place called Lug na Paiste or Hollow of the Beast. St Barbara, a companion of St Attracta, has a well dedicated to her which is situated close by.
9 Publications
No
10 More
This entry contributed by Tamlyn McHugh, please cite her as source.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is located to the right of the old Boy's School near the Hill of Tulla (Tulla Graveyard). There are steps that lead down to the well. A celtic cross is located at the top of the well wall. There is a stone in front of the well that bears the marks of St. Mochulla's knee.
4 Cure
The well water is supposed to have a curative power for sore eyes.
5 Pattern day
23 March and 23 June. Visits to the well took place on these days.
6 Offerings
Rosary beads are often left nearby.
9 Publications
Tulla Reaching Out Publication "Reflections from Home and Abroad" 2016. St. Mochulla, Patron Saint of Tulla by Sr. Eileen Callinan.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is surrounded by a low dry-stone wall. The well is in the limestone karst landscape of the Burren.
4 Cure
This "well" collects rainwater and offers a cure for warts.
5 Pattern day
Her pattern day in Killinaboy is December 29th, but no one has gathered for this pattern day in ages.
6 Offerings
Offerings include candles, religious statues, and rosary beads.
9 Publications
The Holy Wells of County Clare. 2015
The Cause of Ireland by Liz Curtis. Beyond the Pale Publications. (1994).
Sacred Wells A Study in the History, Meaning, and Mythology of Holy Wells and Waters
by Gary R. Varner. Algora Publishing. (2009). The Rural Poor in Clare before the Great Famine by Anne Mc Mahon. From The Other Clare. (2010). Atlas of the Great Irish Famine. Edited by John Crowley, William J. Smyth and Mike Murphy. Cork University Press. (2012) Wiilim J. Smyth p.187. The Schools' Collection (National Folklore Collection of Ireland ; 1937/38).
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
quite overgrown now
4 Cure
general
5 Pattern day
December 15
6 Offerings
rosary bead, flowers, pieces of rag
8 Stories
If a bird is heard singing when any person suffering from a disease is praying there, it is considered a very good sign of being cured. It is said the old well takes its name (Tobar na Gabha – well of the blacksmith) from an old smith who was supposed to live nearby in former times. (Clarke)
9 Publications
Clarke, Amanda. "Gazetteer." Holy Wells of Cork. Accessed November 31, 2018. https://holywellsofcork.com/gazeteer/.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is very accessible and wheelchair friendly. Placed in a small garden beside a private home, the owners voluntarily serve as the well's primary caretakers. The well itself is behind two small wooden doors on which is posted a plaque outlining which prayers should be recited to obtain its curative properties.
4 Cure
The well is believed to have the ability to cure a variety of illnesses.
5 Pattern day
On both New Year's Eve and May Eve, large vigils are held.
6 Offerings
There are two small trees that are covered with items owned by those who have prayed on the site for a cure or a release from present trouble. Anything from rosary beads, to rags, to teddy bears may be found.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
“Repeat Our Father and Hail Mary five times
And apostles creed for your intention
Repeat same for each bottle of water
Our Father and Hail Mary for Father O’Friel who found it
Our Father and Hail Mary for Father Gallagher who blessed it
Our Father and Hail Mary for the person who put the shelter around it
N.B These prayers must be recited with bared feet.”
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,
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
St. Berrihert's Holy Well is situated in the northern foothills of the Galtee Mountains in the Glen of Aherlow. It is located in wet and marshy ground. Timber planks have been laid across the ground to facilitate access. The well is in fact a circular pool about 20 metres in diameter. Water can be seen bubbling up through the sand at the bottom of the well. A small stream flows from the pool. The well is surrounded by trees which adds to the very peaceful atmosphere.
5 Pattern day
The feast of St. Berrihert is February 18th. It seems there was once a pattern day here. (see story from the Schools Folklore Collection below)
6 Offerings
People leave a variety of offerings around the well including small religious icons, rosary beads, children's toys, ribbons tied to trees and many other small items. Some of these are tied to the trees which surround the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
There is a circular path around the well which appear to be used for doing rounds.
8 Stories
There is a story about the well in the Schools Folklore Collection which can be read online here: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5162130/5156633
According to local tradition, the water from the well cannot be boiled.
About 100 metres to the west of the well is St. Berrihert's Kyle, an early Christian ecclesiastical site with numerous carved stone cross slabs. The cross-slabs were incorporated into a circular enclosure during restoration work by the OPW in the 1940s.
its sits near a huge mound where in the late 80s a storm opened the side of the mound and a lot of bodies where exposed and they have since been removed and reburied in a nearby cemetery