Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

At the base of a low WNW-facing rock-face (H 0.85m) in level, overgrown karst. Indicated and named ‘Toberinneenboy’ on both the first (1842) and Cassini (1920) editions of the OS 6-inch map. This holy well comprises a rectangular hole (0.8m E-W; 0.6m N-S) in the exposed bedrock, with drystone walling (H 0.45m at W) on all sides except the E, and is partly obscured by vegetation. Kirby (2021) observed steps down to the water, the surface of which is 1m below ground level. Extending N from the well along the base of the rock-face is a cleft (Wth 01.m; D 0.5m). The well is partly enclosed by a rectangular area (1.3m N-S; 1m E-W) defined by rock outcrop to the W and a drystone wall at N, which contains an entrance gap (Wth 0.35m). When inspected in 1999, modern votive offerings were visible, including crockery, coins (1929-1978), a metal statue of St Martin de Porres, a metal crucifix and rosary beads. The cult of the Early Medieval saint ‘Iníon Baoith’ was prominent in this part of Clare (especially in Killinaboy) into the modern era, with seventeen holy wells dedicated to her according to the OS Parish Namebooks of the 1830s (Kirby 2021). The pattern day at this holy well is not known, but the feast day of Iníon Baoith was 29th December (ibid.). The water of this well was believed to cure sore eyes (ibid.).

See attached image: CL017-047----_01 Looking W towards overgrown holy well (1999).

Reference:
Kirby, T. 2021 Tobar Iníon Baoith, Toberinneenboy, Ballard. The Clare Holy Wells Project. Available @ https://heritage.clareheritage.org/places/holy-wells/saint-macreehys-well-previously-tobarmacreagh-carran Accessed 15-9-2022

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 20 July 2023