Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Tobar Ghobnait: A modernised holy well where rounds are still made on St. Gobnait's day, the 11th of February. It lies about 200m to SW of a possible early ecclesiastical site also named for St. Gobnait (KE052-003001-).
Folklore collected from Kilgobnet School recorded that ; 'There is supposed to be a holy well at Kilgobnet and there is another holy well at Shanara. The feast of St Gobnet falls on the 11th day of February which was kept as a great in the district in days gone by but is not kept as a holiday any longer. It was celebrated by a great feast called the Pattern fair. This was a famous fair and it was attended by buyers from all over the country. All sorts of enjoyment went on at this fair at this fair all the matches were settled. There were white tents all over the place and every house in the district was a Sheebeen on that day Great faction fights also went on at this fair. The Protestants from Dingle came to fight with the Catholics of this district. The result of this was often sorrow and bloodshed as great numbers were often killed. The fair was carried on in one of Mr Shea's fields in Kilgobnet there were also toll gaps at which everyone had to pay some money before they went in. This old fair was destroyed by a fair which was held on the previous day in Killorglin and although it is now held in Killorglin five miles away it is still called the Pattern Fair. ' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0471, Page 318;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742110/4736856).

See attached photographs of Tobar Ghobnait, Co. Kerry, taken 1947 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00079/80 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/24612;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/24613.

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. 935. 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: 14 April 2022

References

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