Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Tobernagalt/Tobar na nGealt: Gleann na nGealt was the traditional resort of mad people from at least the 17th century (De Brún 1973, 197-9). They came to drink the water from 2 wells in the valley and to eat the watercress. This well consists of a shallow pool of fresh spring water with an abundant cover of watercress and other water-weeds. (See also KE036-057---- and KE036-058----).
Joyce (1869, 161) recorded the following details about this well; 'There are two wells [KE036-057----] in the glen, called Tobernagalt, the lunatics’ well, to which the madmen direct their way, crossing the little stream that flows through the valley, at a spot called Ahagaltaun, the madman’s ford, and passing by Cloghnagalt [KE036-058----], the standing stone of the lunatics; and they drink of the healing waters, and eat some of the tresses that grow on the margin—the water and the cress, and the secret virtue of the valley, will restore the poor wanderers to sanity'.
In 1942 the well was described as a 'small spring well, reputedly never dry, and visited by large crowds of mentally affected people up to recent times seeking sure from their temporary insanity' (ITA, 25/08/1942).
Described by Ó Danachair (1960, 77) as; ‘Two wells both named "Tobernagalt" on 1842 map; both called "Tobar na nGealt", "Tobar na Geilte" or "Madman's Well" locally. Neither is regarded as a holy well but both held a cure for the lunatics who flocked to Gleann na nGealt, in which they are situated, to drink the water and eat the water-cresses. There are many tales of cures'.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 932. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 16 May 2022

References

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

Joyce, P.W. 1869 The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places. Dublin. McGlashan & Gill.

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).

Ó Danachair, C. 1960 The Holy Wells of Corkaguiney, Co. Kerry. The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 67-78.