3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well sits about one mile to the northwest of the village Carrigaline in Ballinrea district. St. John’s well can be found, “along a path between the Ballinrea Road and the Ballea Road (R613), adjacent to the Dun Eoin residential area. It is encased by a bee-hive shaped structure, with a small entrance from which water flows. A damaged cross tops the structure, while five pilgrim crosses are inscribed on the exterior walls” (Scriven, 2013: Liminalentwinings.com). The site is down in a glade and surrounded by trees (Clarke, 2016: holywellscorkandkerry.com).
4 Cure
Tobar Eoin Óg grants a general cure, but specifically the site has been said to cure lifelong blindness in adults, rheumatic pains and motor impairments. A believer may take the waters in order to obtain the spring’s healing benefits if they complete the prescribed rounds.
5 Pattern day
The pattern day is on St. John’s eve (June 23rd). The pattern day coincides with the pagan festival of midsummer. This explains the significance of lighting bonfires during St. John’s eve and particularly near the well site.
6 Offerings
The well enclosure itself is a votive offering from the old man who discovered the site and had his vision restored. There are two entries in the Schools’ Collection of folklore relating to votive offerings at St. John’s Well near Carrigaline. “The relics usually left are - medals, pictures, statues, scapulars, beads and other Holy Objects,” (SFC 0392: 62). “When people come to wash their sores in the well they leave a little holy picture or an Image and sometimes they leave rosary beads and medals… There are crosses on the stones outside of it and if you scratch your money on it you will have twice as much next year. From the people scratching their money the crosses have got six inches deep,” (SFC 0392: 220).
7 Prayer rounds and stations
Amanda Clarke provides a description of the folk liturgy of the site: “The Rosary was led by the priest who circled the well clockwise, stopping at each of the five crosses, another man inscribing the stones. A Decade of the Rosary was said at each one. Later some pilgrims performed the same rounds,” (Clarke, 2016: holyswellscorkandkerry.com).
8 Stories
There are two detailed entries on St. John’s well from separate authors in the Schools’ Collection. The first details the well’s construction:
It is a common belief here that it was discovered by a blind old man - a resident in Ballea
who had a very strange dream in which he was ordered by a voice to make a journey - in what direction is not stated - and stop where he heard water trickling.
The following day he set out, and locating the water, stooped and dug with his fingers until water sprang up, bathing his eyes in the clear water his sight was instantly restored.
The next entry explains why the well carries its namesake:
The name of the well is St. John' s well. It got its name because St. John is supposed to appear there twice a year. There is a tree growing on top of the well an ash tree and the people living in the house near the well cracket a piece off the tree and put it in the fire and they said it would not burn.
9 Publications
Clarke, Amanda. 2016. "Tobar Eoin Óg, St John’s Well, Carrigaline" holywellscorkandkerry.com, June 24th. https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2016/06/24/tobar-eoin-og-st-johns-well-carrigaline/
Scriven, Richard. 2013. "St John’s Well Carrigaline" liminalentwinings.com, June 24th. http://liminalentwinings.com/st-johns-well-carrigaline/
Schools' Folklore Collection, 0392:62
Schools' Folklore Collection, 0392:220
St. Peter and St. Paul's Holy Well (Saints peter and paul Holy Well or Gortnaclohy Well
2 Townland, County, GPS
Skibbereen townland, County Cork
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well sits about a mile and a quarter from the outskirts of Skibbereen and in 1937 a Mr. Carey owned the land holding the spring (SFC 0297:143). When Amanda Clarke visited the site in 2017 the site had fallen to such disuse that she required a guide. On her holy wells of Cork and Kerry website, she describes her walk to the well: “We parked on a wide and newly made track then set off across boggy pasture, nipped under barbed wire, skidded down ditches, crept under mossy boughs, slipped and scrambled until we came to a halt in a little copse and there was the well” (Clarke, 2017, holywellscorkandkerry.com). The well has no stone impoundment.
4 Cure
Cures blindness and lameness but the cure can only be obtained by completing rounds at the site and seeing a holy eel (SFC 0297: 144).
5 Pattern day
In the Schools' Collection of folklore, Caoimhín O'Headhra"The pattern day was the 29th of June and hundreds of people used to attend to do the rounds and leave bread for the well’s two holy eels to survive off of for the year," (SFC 0297: 144-145).
6 Offerings
Bread was thrown into the well for the eels and votive ribbons were tied to a white thorn bush near the spring (SFC 0297: 144).
8 Stories
The Schools’ Collection of folklore hosts three entries on the St. Peter and St. Paul Holy Well because it was once so well used. An entry from the first by Pilip O’Neil shows the magical forces at work at the well, "There are two blessed eel's in this well; it is said that long ago a blind woman and a lame man were cure (sic) there. It is said that you must see some one (sic) of the ells (sic) before you can be cured..I heard that six unbaptised children were buried in a mound of earth a couple of yards from the well. May the lord have mercy on their souls," (SFC 0297: 144).The next was recorded by Caoimhín O’Headhra and explains the bread offering for the eels, among other things, “Why people take a piece of bread with them is because they say that the eel's will live on that much food for the year,” (SFC 0297: 145).
9 Publications
the Schools' Collection of folklore, Volume 0297, Pages 142-146
Clarke, Amanda. 2017. "St Peter & St Paul’s Holy Well, near Skibbereen" Holy Wells of Cork and Kerry, January 22nd. https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/2017/01/22/st-peter-st-pauls-holy-well-near-skibbereen/
Tobar Mhuire (also known as Lady Well) is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
2 Townland, County, GPS
The well is located in Modeligo, County Waterford
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
This well consists of a hollowed out rock outcrop that collects rainwater. It is believed that the hollow is due to the natural erosion caused by rainwater. There is not a spring source that feeds into the well. A small border of concrete surrounds the site, and several patches of trees grow in the field adjacent to the well.
4 Cure
This well is said to cure ailments of the eye, and is said that this is due to the cross carved into the base of the well.
5 Pattern day
The pattern day is celebrated on August 15th by pilgrims in order to say the rosary.
6 Offerings
Rags and rosary beads were once hung on an old white thorn bush that grows by the well, but the practice has been discontinued after the 1960's.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
In old times, the water would be removed from the well and would be replaced the day before the pattern day in order to keep the waters pure. Pilgrims would pour water on their hands and rub it on their bodies, while others would drink it from the palms of their hands. Prayer rounds would end at a flowing spring well around 60 meters away near the Finish River. This location was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and pilgrims would end their rounds by drinking 3 times from the river in honor of the Blessed Trinity. In present times, the well is still cleaned before every pattern day by a member of the McCarthy family to remove algae. However, most pilgrims finish their rounds and prayers at the well rather than the Tobar Mhuire well rather than the Trinity Well (which is no longer revered as a holy site).
8 Stories
There is a local legend that a blind man and his seeing son travelled 20 miles to visit the well. On their second round around the well, the old man said that he could see a fish, and his sight was restored from that moment on. Another legend states that the well had previously been located in another spot but was moved due to an act of disrespect. According to the story, the man who disrespected the well became blind and nothing grew in the original field once the well was moved. A final legend tells the story of a Cromwellian soldier who was in possession of a blind horse. The man offered his servant 10 pounds to take the horse to drink from the well, but the servant refused to disrespect the site. The soldier took the horse himself to drink from the well, and while the horse regained his sight, the soldier became blind.
9 Publications
Eugene Broderick (2016) Broderick, Eugene. 2016. Patterns and Patrons: The Holy Wells of Waterford. (p.42-45)
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.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
On the marked path to the well are stone stations named kneelers, where pilgrims kneel and pray while on their way to the well. The narrow stone entrance opens to an area where the well is visible. The well housing is circular with medium sized stones placed at the top of the structure. Another narrow opening in the structure allows access to the water. The well is enclosed by a stone and grass slope. At the top of the well structure is candles and a mug to collect the water.
4 Cure
The well cures sore eyes and sores in general. St. Moling was cured at this well.
5 Pattern day
The pattern day is on Saturdays in May. Many pilgrims come to say prayers during this time. St Moling’s feast day is the 17th June though it does not seem to have been especially commemorated at Brosna, May being the special month here.
6 Offerings
Offerings are left at the top of the well's stone structure.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The Schools' Folklore Collection states how rounds are paid uniquely to this well. "The people kneel at the first mound and say Our Father, ten Hail Marys. They continue going around in that way until three rounds of the beads have been completed. When they have this done they go near the well, make a cross of rushes and throw it into the well. Long ago when the old people knew Irish they had a beautiful prayer to say when they went to the well" (Schools’ Folklore Collection: 314/15:0449).
8 Stories
In 1998 the well was renovated by resident James Scanlon with the Brosna Heritage Group, who replaced the stone kneelers and reconfigured the stone well structure.
St. Moling preached to a group of pagans who he hoped to convert. One of them was blind and asked for a demonstration of Gods power, the Saint struck the ground with his crozier and a well was formed that cured the blind man of his blindness. All of those witnesses converted immediately.