Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at what may be the N extent of the ecclesiastical enclosure (CL016-015001-) around St. Fachtnan’s church/Kilfenora cathedral (CL016-015002-) and c. 110m N of same. Indicated and named ‘Toberfaughtna’ on the 1840 and 1916 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Described by O’ Donovan (Comber 1997, 88) as a well with a small stone-roofed building over it and an inscribed cut stone which bears the inscription ‘Deo et B. Fehnnano hocce opusculum fundavit Donaldus Mac Donogh Licentia et permissione episcopi Finecorensis Anno Domini 1687’ in plain letters. O’Donovan (ibid. 89) also noted that the well was commonly named ‘Buallán Fachtna’. The name ‘Bullán Fachtna’ is repeated by Frost (1893, 100) and the ‘well of St. Fachtnan’ is listed by Westropp (1900, 137) who cites the inscribed dedication to the Macdonoughs as 1684. An open well under a well-built stone structure (H c. 1.2m) open to the E and roofed with two large stone lintels. There is a second holy well ‘Toberdane’ (CL016-015009-) located c. 22m to the SSE.

The following image has been uploaded:
CL016-015010-_01.jpg View of well opening from E
CL016-015010-_02.jpg View of well from S
CL016-015010-_03.jpg Modern plaque at well (SMR number on plaque pertains to Toberdane to the S)

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Lynda McCormack

Date of upload: 14 March 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.

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

Frost, J. 1893 The history and topography of the County of Clare, from the earliest times to the 18th century. Dublin. Sealy, Bryers and Walker.