Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

In a natural hollow, c. 13m to the SE of the site of Toberbrackan Castle (GA095-145001-). According to the OS Letters, this well is dedicated to St Briocain (O’Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 460). It consists of a spring well, with a circular stone-built surround (diam. 1.5m), which lies in the N half of a square enclosure ( L/Wth 4.7m); the latter is defined by a mortared-stone wall. A series of stone steps from the entrance at S lead down to the water. The entrance is marked by two worked jambstones, one on each side. When Redington (1912, 67-8) visited a number of pointed arch stones from it lay closeby on the ground. Three stone troughs are visible in front of the well and a memorial stone dated 1645 (GA095-145003-) lies against the S enclosing wall. Redington (ibid.) also recorded a roughly cut cross set into a heap of stones a little to the SE. Only the shaft was standing, the head lay on the ground. The following inscription was 'rudely cut' on it: 'O Lord Jesus, have mercy on the soul of Denny Rorke'. This was not noticed on inspection in February 1983.

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Updated by: Olive Alcock

Date of revised upload: 24 February 2020

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1927 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Galway collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Typescript in 3 vols. Bray.

Redington, M. 1911-12 Notes on the Ordnance Survey Letters relating to the barony of Dunkellin; ii Stradbally parish. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 7, 171-183.