Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Named ‘Tobersenan’ this holy well is situated c. 22m W of the round tower (CL067-024005-) on Scattery Island. The ground slopes up to W in a series of steps and the well is built into the lowest of these. It is a large rectangular spring (int. dims. 3.5m E-W; 1.4m-1.55m N-S) with a thick drystone wall surround (Wth 0.7m-1m; ext. H 0.3m-0.5m). The well is approached from the E (Wth 1.4m) with two steps leading down to the water which is immediately 1.25m deep. The wall at W rises 1.5m over the water. There are no offerings at the well and it is uncertain if it is an original feature. A slab described by Westropp as ‘a cross-marked’ slab (Westropp 1897, 284) is no longer in evidence. The well is associated with a pattern held on March 8th, the feast of St. Senan. This is a national monument in state care, no. 10.

Compiled by: Michael Moore and Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 12 September 2016

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 1/1971).

References

Westropp, T.J. 1897 Descriptive sketch of places visited. Part 1. Scattery Island and Canons' island, Co. Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 27, 273-90.