Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Holy well described by Ó Danachair (1958, 162) as a 'small clear well, with some rough stones and the remains of a rounds path. It was famous for the cure of sore eyes; its name Tobar na bhFionn means the well of the cataracts. Those seeking a cure should visit it between sunset on Saturday and sunrise on Sunday. Still visited but not often. Legends: Those who see a trout in the well are certain to be cured. Water from the well would not boil and was seen to contain a trout; both trout and water were restored to the well'.

Site described in 1985 by the Castleisland District Archaeological Survey as follows; 'The well is said to cure eye ailments. A Mrs. O'Connell who lives in a house immediately to the south of the well told us that, when she came to live in Cordal 38 years ago everybody came here to have their eye ailments cured. Her own daughter Mary had been kicked in the eye by a cow, which had damaged her pupil. Water from the well had cured it. In order to be cured people would bath both eyes with a rag dipped in water from the well. The rag was then tied to a bush. Three Hail Mary's were then recited. A gold fish would appear in the well if the person was to be cured. The area in which the well is situated is wet and boggy and very difficult to walk through. The well looks very unimpressive, water is flowing into a round circular concrete trough. When the land was sold the landowner built a fence around it, he cut down the rag bushes from around it, he ended up blind with cataracts which couldn't be removed. The well doesn't look as if it is now in use for religious purposes. A steady flow of water issues from the well'.

Holy well described by O'Hare (2000, 64-5) as; 'Situated in a wet boggy field, Tobernavune consists of a strong spring which is now contained within a concrete trough. According to the OSNB (1841 Ballincuslane 2 15), Tobernavune is derived from Tobar na bhfionn, which translates as the "Well of the Pearls" and it describes the spring as follows: This is a Blessed well where people frequently give rounds on Sunday morning for the curing of sore eyes, or such as are defective in sight. Tobber is a well and fune is pearl which signifies that it takes the pearls off the eyes. A local woman informed the author that when she first came to live in this townland over forty years ago, the well was much frequented. People seeking a cure would bathe their eyes with a rag dipped in the water. The rag was then tied to a bush and three Hail Marys recited. The appearance of a gold-coloured fish indicated that a cure was forthcoming. She also recalled a local man who became blind with irremovable cataracts after having cut down the bushes. The well did not appear to be frequented when visited by the author.'.

Folklore collected from Scartaglen School recorded the following tradition; 'There is a holy well in Cordal named Tobar na bhFíonn, and it is said that if a person with sore eyes went there before sunrise and prayed it would cure them' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0448, Page 097; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706358/470600 ).

Folklore collected from Castleisland School recorded the following tradition; 'It was in Cordal great house that the water from Tobar na bhFíonn refused to boil till the trout was returned to the well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0449, Page 081; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4713223/4709047).

Folklore collected from Kilmurry School recorded the following tradition about this well; 'To the North East of Cordal there is a well which is called "Tobar na bhfionn." People with weak sight often visit this well. And tradition goes that if you see a red fish at the bottom of it you will be cured. One day a girl was sent to this well for water. She went to the well and brought a gallon of water. When she returned she put the water down in the pot to boil. When she went to take up the water she noticed that it was as cold as it was when she put it down. The man of the house asked her where she got the water and she told him. The man looked at the water and he saw a red fish. He told the girl to put the water into the same gallon and put it back into the well again.' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0448, Page 325;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706361/4706236).

Another story collected from Kilmurry School recorded the following tradition; 'In the Parish of Cordal there is a very interesting and historic well in the townland of Cordal East. It is known by the name of Tubber na Vuene. A little interesting story is told of this well. A travelling man one fine Summer day felt very thirsty and visiting this well took a drink of water. It was so refreshing that he called it the well of the Wine which means Tubber na Vuene. There is also a great cure in this Blessed water. People come from far off places visit this well for the eyesight before sunrise in the morning. There is also seen in this well a little fish. If seen by any person suffering from eyesight he will surely be cured' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0448, Page 382; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706361/4706293/4728529?ChapterID=4706361).

See attached photographs taken by Caoimhín Ó Danachair courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00104/05/06 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16807; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/39811; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/39812.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 14 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.

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.

Ó Danachair, C. 1958 The Holy Wells of North County Kerry. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 88, 153-63.