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
According to Amanda Clarke’s Blog, the well is hidden but still very much revered. It is a secret, but powerful place only known to those it matters to. A horseshoe of mossy stones curves around the well. A lintel slab lays on top of the stone and is covered in many offerings. There is also a slab in front of the well which allows access to the water adjacent to the well. Crosses are etched onto the lintel stone and the mossy side stones. Behind the well is a large amount of stones that were possibly left by pilgrims as part of rounds. The well is somewhat neglected, but it is still visited by elder locals in the towns of Magoola, Agharinagh and Dromgouna.
4 Cure
The well is said to have cured lameness in many cripples.
6 Offerings
Holy water bottles, statues, figurines, candles, a crucifix bearing an elongated and emaciated Jesus were left as offerings on the stones surrounding the well.
8 Stories
The Schools’ Folklore Collection provided many stories about this well in Amanda Clarke’s blog. “There are many stories connected with this spot one of which was about an old man from Dromgouna whose name was Paddy Sullivan. He thought he was called one night to plant a tree alongside the well so that people could hang their offerings on the branches. He rose next morning and planted the tree which can still be seen growing there. It is said that Mass was celebrated there in Penal Times. It is now known by the name of Sundays’ Well and people still visit it on a Sunday to pray. (0348:177)
9 Publications
Clarke, Amanda. "Gazetteer." Holy Wells of Cork. Accessed November 4th, 2018. https://holywellsofcork.com/gazeteer/.
The Schools’ Folklore Collection. Clarke, Amanda. "Gazetteer." Holy Wells of Cork. Accessed November 4th, 2018. https://holywellsofcork.com/gazeteer/.
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The wells are paved in a roughly octagonal shape approached by two steps down; empty niches lie in the surrounding curved walls.
4 Cure
tooth ache, earache and general ailments of the head.
5 Pattern day
August 15
6 Offerings
statues, flowers, candles, the votives are left on a shelf on the well
8 Stories
It will not boil, and is said to assume certain shades and volumes, each change indicating a cure or the likelihood of some disaster occurring in the neighborhood. The water of the well beneath the Mass arch is only used to obtain cures.
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. 3, Mid cork).
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
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 well is enclosed in a dry stone square structure beneath a cliff. During the twentieth century, hazel bushes grew around the well site and were recipients of votive offerings until recently. In a 2010 renovation, ten metres on either side of the well were cleared and additions were made to the site. The well and turas grounds are now separated from the road by a low stone wall. Another stone structure to the left of the well enshrines two tablets, one explaining who St Colmcille is and the other noting the rounds to be performed in the wellside turas with St. Colmcille's prayer. A small statue of the saint (under 12 inches in height) is behind glass in the same structure. The well structure now has a large cairn of stones behind and on top of it as it appeared in photos from 1900 (see Nic Chearáin, 2012:25).
4 Cure
The well is known as a cure-all. Cures particularly mentioned in the locality include toothache and aching limbs. Brídiín Nic Chearáin notes that if a petitioner slept beside the well, a cure was assured (2012:28).
5 Pattern day
The Pattern Day is June 9th (St Colmcille's Day), but the turas continues from June 9 through the 17th (a novena). Most people asked reported visiting during one of the nine days if they visited at all, but some came to the well on each of the nine days in 2017.
6 Offerings
Votives are now deposited on top of the well structure. These include candles, rosary beads, small religious statutes, empty medication bottles, sports trophies, limpet shells, hair ornaments, children's toys, and a water bottle brought from Lourdes.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The turas was punctuated by three cross-inscribed stones. At the first one says 5 Our Father's, 5 Hail Mary's and 5 Gloria's. This is repeated at the second station stone. At the 3rd station, the numbers of prayers are seven of each. When stations are completed, one says the Rosary at the well walking around the well cairn three times and leaving a stone on the cairn with each circumambulation. After the completion of prayers, one may access the well water to bless oneself
8 Stories
St Colmcille was to have mislaid some books on one of his journeys. He prayed to find them and then spotted a deer with his books on its back. The deer managed to slide the books down into an orderly pile beside the well
9 Publications
The digitized Schools Folklore Scheme has accounts of the well.
Nic Chearáin, Brídiín. 2012. The Holy Wells of Fanad. Gaeltacht Bheo Fhánada: Fanad, Co. Donegal.
Lacey, Brian, Eamon Cody and Claire Cotter 2013. Archaeological Survey of County Donegal : A Description of the Field Antiquities from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th Century A.D. Donegal Heritage Office.
In his Life of Colmcille, Manus O'Donnell (d. 1564) wrote about the book-returning deer (see Lacey, Brian. 1998. Manus O’Donnell’s life of Colum Cille. Dublin: The Four Courts Press.).