Dublin Core
Title
Well of the Bush
Description of Well Item Type Metadata
1 Name of well and saint
Well of the Bush; Photo from Amanda Clarke
2 Townland, County, GPS
Lahesheragh, Cnoc an Áir, County Kerry
3 Physical description of well and its surroundings
The well is enclosed by an earthy wall, with grass, Fuchsia bushes, and a stone pillar gate protecting the well. The well is coffin shaped and flush with the ground with a decorative window and the words "Marian Year 1954" written on the well in white pebbles. There is a blue PVC shelf below the white window with a small set of offerings to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Flower pots and other decorations are at the site.. A circular path surrounds the well with the intention of paying rounds clockwise. In front of and behind the well run channels to route the well overflow down the hill on which it sits.
4 Cure
The well is noted to have many cures, of which include sore eyes, any sore in general, and aching limbs. After paying rounds and saying prayers, the affected person may drink from a cup at the well and rub the water on their ailments.
5 Pattern day
People gather at the well the Saturday before St. John's and again in September.
6 Offerings
Offerings are placed onto the blue PVC shelf below the window. Items like candles, flowers, and small religious statues and medals are placed by the well.
7 Prayer rounds and stations
The well's prayer rounds are 9 rounds around the well and a repeated rosary every 3 rotations. Uniquely, the rounds are completed counterclockwise instead of clockwise--or the direction followed across Ireland has been confused in local tradition.
8 Stories
According to the School's Folklore Collection, there is one famous account of the well within the community: "One night a man called Barry went hunting a horse and he broke his leg. He was a long time lying on a settle bed near the fire and was not improving. There was a blessed well on the top of Cnoc an Óir, the name of it was Tobar na Croidhe (Well of the Bush). His mother took him on her back to this well, she brought home the moss of the well and rubbed it to his leg. She took him three times afterwards, and the third time he could walk it down. It never played on him again. His brother was sewing harness with a straddle needle. When he was pulling it out it stuck in his eye and blood spouted out of it. His mother took him to the same well and rubbed the moss to his eye. The third day he said to her I can see a trout in the bottom of the well. From that day out his eye was alright"