Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Ballyellis (fermoy By., Doneraile Par.), County Cork, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballyellis (fermoy By., Doneraile Par.)
- County
- Cork
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- Ducks Well (1937)
- Coordinates
- 52.22489, -8.62628
- SMR number
- CO017-074002-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Not marked on 1842 OS 6-inch map. Now inaccessible due to dense overgrowth. Well was locally known as 'Tubber Lughin' (Jones 1902, 238); translated by O'Reilly (1987, 131) to mean 'Well of the Duck'. Location and name derived from story of Mardhol, the druid who was being swept down the Awbeg River during a flood, he was saved at this spot by catching the leg of a huge drake. According to Grove White (1905-25, vol. 1, 162), masonry buttress built over well, in 18th century, 'surmounted by duck, carved in stone'; also here, a swan and drinking vessels carved in stone with inscription 'James Barre 1746' (ibid.).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
Nearby in the register
- Fulacht fiaunder 1 mi
- Mill - fullingunder 1 mi
- Mill - fullingunder 1 mi
- Castle - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.