Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

In flat pastureland. Named 'Tobermoon' on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Recorded by Robinson (1977) as 'Tobar Mhuadháin' on his map of the Burren. In 1839 the OS Letters (Comber 1997, 70) recorded that stations were still performed here. According to Westropp (1900-1902, 132; 1915, 60; Comber 2003) there was also a ‘holy tree’ and several ‘cursing stones’ (see CL008-049009-). In 1998 local residents attested that this holy well was in use up until at least the 1940, when it had been the focus of an annual pattern day.

The holy well includes two structures. This record is for a crude suboval drystone structure (4m E-W; 3.5m N-S; H 1.6m) with a narrow opening at the S side which may be an entrance. In the overgrown interior of the structure are architectural fragments (CL008-049006-) and rubble.

A rectangular building (CL008-049005-) abuts the NW side of this structure. Kilmoon church (CL008-049001-) lies c. 157m to the ENE, within a graveyard (CL008-049002-).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 14 December 2022

References

Westropp, T.J. 1900-02 The churches of Co. Clare and the origin of the ecclesiastical divisions in that county. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Series 3, vol. 6, 100-180.

Westropp, T.J. 1915 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in Burren and its south western border, Co. Clare. Part 12: North Western Part. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 5, 45-62, 249-74.

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.

Comber, M. (ed.) 2003 Folklore of Clare by T.J. Westropp (1910-13). Ennis. Clasp Press.

Comber, M. (ed.) 1997 The antiquities of County Clare: John O’Donovan and Eugene Curry: Ordnance Survey Letters 1839. Clasp Press. Ennis.