Tobernalt

Dublin Core

Title

Tobernalt

Description of Well Item Type Metadata

1 Name of well and saint

Tobernalt Holy Well Sligo

2 Townland, County, GPS

Situated at the South West corner of Lough Gill in the North Sligo Barony of Carbury, the Parish of St. John, the Townland of Aughamore Near and the Diocese of Elphin, Ireland.

3 Physical description of well and its surroundings

Tobernalt Holy Well is a place of reflection and nurturing serenity. It predates the advent of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Its importance as a meeting place and a sustainer of life predates our Celtic ancestors.

At this time, the pilgrim at Tobernalt shares in the inherited ancestral tradition coming from earliest times, which was christianised by St. Patrick and held steadfastly by faithful generations ever since. The challenge posed by Tobernalt is to ensure that the tradition will continue to enrich the generations not yet born.

The meaning of Tobernalt is open to a number of interpretations. It is an Anglicisation of an Irish phrase and most likely means the Well in the Cliff. The curative powers attributed to the Holy Well provide the basis for the interpretation, Tobar na nAlt. Usage would most likely have elided this form to become Tobar nAlt or Tobernalt. Alt refers to a body part or joint. Therefore, Tobernalt is the curative well for body pain.

Penal Times At Tobernalt
Tobernalt is also associated with penal times in Ireland. This was a period where English laws controlled the property, educational and religious rights of the Catholic population in Ireland. Tobernalt became a secluded refuge for the celebration of Mass in the early years of the eighteenth century when the penal laws were applied most harshly.

It was to Tobernalt the people flocked from the surrounding neighbourhood when news spread by word of mouth that the Priest was expected. Priests were hunted with a price on their heads; they travelled in disguise through the country from one Mass rock to the next. The faithful often set out the night before to journey in small quiet groups to be at Tobernalt before dawn. They would wait in some nervousness for the Priest to appear at the Mass rock. A close watch was kept against surprise attack by soldiers.

The Mass in Latin was attended with reverence; the raised Host and Chalice were adored on bended knee and God was thanked for his goodness because only He knew when the next Mass would be celebrated at Tobernalt.

4 Cure

The well is said to have healing properties with cures for both eyesight and madness.

5 Pattern day

Garland Sunday At Tobernalt
The history of Tobernalt Holy Well predates the advent of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. It is a natural spring well that established itself in a primeval forest. When the Celts settled, Tobernalt quickly became the main area where the festival of Lughanasa, the harvest festival, was celebrated. Along with St Patrick bringing the Christian dimension to Tobernalt, the festival of Lughnasa also became Christianised and came to be called Garland Sunday.

The costom of assembling at the Holy Well on every Garland Sunday (Last Sunday in July) has been in existence from time immemorial, some frequenting the place for devotional exercises and others for sight-seeing and amusement. Latterly, however, the “Pattern” has assumed a more religious, devotional, and national character.

Garland Sunday itself starts early. Traditionally people walk in pilgrimage up to Tobernalt from Sligo for the first mass at 6am which is usually celebrated by the Bishop of Elphin. Additonal masses follow in the morning with anointing of the sick and Adoration of the Blessed sacrament at the mass rock with special prayers in the afternoon.

Historically, 1921 was the year when the first mass was celebrated at Tobernalt since penal times. With the exception of 1922, when mass was cancelled due to activities associated with the Civil War in the area, mass has been celebrated on every Garland Sunday since 1921.

It was also traditional that on Garland Sunday many families got a boat from Riverside and rowed up to Cairns Quay, just adjacent to Tobernalt, to attend the ceremonies during Garland Sunday.

6 Offerings

The site today has rag trees, with one particular tree being covered in beads, rags and offerings. Pilgrims would leave these behind as a token for a cure.

Wakeman illustrated the Holy Well at Tobernalt on 23 July 1882 when it comprised of the mass rock and well. At the end of the 19th century another altar was added by the convent of the Sisters of Mercy, which was made from stones collected from the edge of Lough Gill.

Many alterations occurred in 1921 through the work of the locals and Fr Divine of Carraroe. The great storm 'Debbie' destroyed much of the site in 1961 when two large trees fell. Restorations, new shrines and the construction of the small bridge were made that year.

Further alterations have been added subsequently. The stations are unusually laid out anti-clockwise around the well. This is most irregular as stations are performed clockwise or deosil in Irish - the same direction the sun moves.

9 Publications

http://www.holywellsligo.com/about.html
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/environment-geography/physical-landscape/the-wakeman-drawings/tobernalt/
http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/coolrea/tobernalt.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobernalt

Geolocation