Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Gortnacullia, County Galway, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Gortnacullia
- County
- Galway
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Tobermacduagh
- Latest-edition OS map
- Tobermacduagh
- Coordinates
- 53.03405, -8.89950
- SMR number
- GA128-055----
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 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In a small sheltered hollow surrounded by trees, c. 7m to the NW of NE-SW running road. Named ‘Tobermacduagh’ on the 1838 and 1921 editions of the OS 6-inch maps. On inspection in January 1986, this spring well was enclosed by a D-shaped drystone-built wall (2m E-W; 1.7m N-S; ext. H 0.4-0.7m; Wth 0.5-1.20m) with a gap (Wth 0.4m) at E, where two rough steps lead down to the water. The presence of artificial flowers and pieces of pottery indicated that the well was still venerated. Immediately to the ESE, on the roadside, there was a shrine, comprised of a small glass-fronted wooden case containing a crucifix, statues, holy pictures and rosary beads. Current aerial imagery (Google Earth Street View August 2019, last accessed 11 April 2023) indicates that the shrine has since been moved to the well. Another holy well (GA128-034010-) bearing the same name lies c. 1.7 km to the NE, the latter is associated with the monastic complex of Kilmacduagh.
Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG
Date of Upload: 12 April 2023
Nearby in the register
- Enclosure - large enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - cashelunder 1 mi
- Souterrainunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.