Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Tobar na Croise [Well of the Cross]: Located on the E side of a steep-sided glen through which a mountain stream flows S towards Castlemaine harbour. A small streamlet issues from under a rock here and forms a pool which is considered to be a holy well. One of the large rocks beside the well is apparently inscribed with 4 crosses (An Seabhac 1939, 203; Ó Danachair 1960, 76-7) but only 1 possible cross-like marking is now visible. However, there is a small modern crucifix cemented onto the rock face. Both Ó Danachair and An Seabhac noted that rounds were no longer made here, but local information indicates that it has been visited in very recent times and that it was associated with St. Brendan's day in particular.

See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 929. 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: 1 November 2022

References

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

Seabhac, An. 1939 Triocha-Céad Chorca Dhuibhne. Dublin.