Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Ballymacpierce, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballymacpierce
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Tobereendoney
- Latest-edition OS map
- Tobereendoney
- Coordinates
- 52.23099, -9.53082
- SMR number
- KE039-049----
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
Holy well described by O'Hare (2000, 62) as; 'Toberreendoney on Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh (Well of the King Of Sunday or Sunday's Well (Ó Danachair 1958, 153), is recorded on both editions of the OS maps. The site is marked by a small depression, from which a strong stream flows Swiftly to the south. The surrounding field is fairly level and under pasture. The landowner was unaware of any traditions associated with this site. Ó Danachair (1958, 162) recorded that the site was, at the time of writing, still known to have been a holy well, but that there were no devotions held there within living memory'.
Folklore collected by Hannah Reidy of Ballymacelligott school recorded the following tradition; 'At Baile Mhic Phiarais (?) W. Daly's is Tobar Ríogh an Domhnaigh (The well of the King of Sunday) People translate it Sunday's Well. There are two very large and very active springs here - sending a big "Caol" to Aba na Mainge about a quarter of a mile off. Mary Carmody who married into the townland in 1860 - says that there never were "rounds" at the well (in technical sense impossible because of the big "Caol" flowing from it) - but that there is a cure in it. Old people used like to take it fasting with some of the cress growing in it. They often took water from it in the cool of the night. All tell me that in a general water test many years ago this well came first' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0444, Page 006; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706341/4704237/4743700).
Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 28 April 2022
References
O'Hare, P. 2000 Holy wells and other sites of pilgrimage within a portion of East Kerry. Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society 29, 55-98.
Ó Danachair, C. 1958 The Holy Wells of North County Kerry. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 88, 153-63.
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Earthworkunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.