Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

At the head of the valley with excellent views to the W and over Oughtmama ecclesiastical complex (CL003-032----). Indicated and named ‘Tobercolman’ on the 1842 and 1915 eds of the OS 6-inch maps and named ‘Tobar Cholmáin’ on Robinson’s map (1977). It is ascribed to St Colman Mac Duagh (Swinfen 1992, 103). Colman Mac Duagh was educated at St Enda’s on Inismore and seeking solitude is reputed to have moved to the Burren in 590 (Ó Riain 2011). He is believed to have spent time living in a cave (CL006-023004-) to the SE, on the far side of Slievecarran where a church (CL006-023001-) and another well (CL006-023005-) dedicated to him are to be found, before the legendary King Guaire granted him land in Kilmacduagh Td., Co. Galway (GA128-034----) (Jones 2006. 93). A natural spring well enclosed by a small D-shaped drystone enclosure (L 3.8m E–W; Wth 2.5m; wall Wth 0.7m; wall H 1m) with straight side along the N and a small (Wth 0.35m) entrance gap leading to 3 steps. Numerous small statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary adorn the well. To the NNE (2m dist.) an ash tree and whitethorn bush are enclosed by a tumbled drystone wall. 1.5m to the S a small drystone rectangular cairn (L 1.8m E–W; Wth 1.3m; H 1.1m) has a small double-lintelled ope in its E face, which contains numerous coins and buttons. A stream emerging c. 10m to the S of this well is ‘named’ Sruhaunananeeve on the 1842 and 1915 eds. of the OS map and Sruthán na Naomh’ on Robinson’s map (1977). Some 400m SW it drove a horizontal mill (CL003-032008-) on the edge of Oughtmama ecclesiastical enclosure (CL003-032001-). Oughtmama is also believed to have been associated with a Colman, but to which Colman is uncertain (Swan 1991, 106–7).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Ros Ó Maoldúin

Date of upload: 15 December 2020

References

Robinson, T. 1977 (revised 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of north-west Clare. Map scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

Swan, D.L. 1991 The churches, monasteries and burial grounds of the Burren. In J. W. O'Connell and A. Korff (eds.), The book of the Burren, 95-118. Tír Eolas, Newtownlynch, Kinvara, Co. Galway.

Jones, C. 2006. The Burren and the Aran Islands: Exploring the Archaeology. The Collins Press: Cork.