Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Tobermurry/Tobar Muire (Mary's Well): One of 3 closely-grouped holy wells situated at the foot of the NW slopes of Beenmore overlooking Trabeg. The site is now marked by a grotto which houses a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is visited on the 2nd of February, the 25th of March, the 15th of August and the 8th of December (Ó Danachair 1960, 75).

Ó Danachair (1960, 75) recorded the following details about these 3 holy wells; 'In fact there are three wells close together, "Tobar Muire", Tobar Fionain" [KE053-083----] and "Tobar Michil" [KE053-091----]. The first two are still visited, the third no longer. Days of devotion at Tobar Fionain on the 12th of February (St. Fionan Mac Earannain) and at Tobar Muire on 2nd February, 25th March, 15th August and 8th December, and (formerly) at Tobar Michil on 29th September. The ritual at the selected well is (a) a prayer to the patron of the well, (b) one rosary said kneeling at the well, (c) nine circuits of the well during each of which one pater and one ave is said; these rounds are counted with pebbles, (d) one decade said kneeling at the well, and finally water is drunk and the hands and face washed. If several are present the prayers may be said aloud. Small objects are left as offerings; there usually are fresh flowers in small vases or jars. Rounds are made on behalf of sick persons unable to come, and water from the three wells is taken home to them to drink. Tobar Muire and Tobar Fionain are in little masonry structures, the former with a small statue of Our Lady, the latter with a cross on which is the date 1918 (which refers to the edification of the wells at that date in thanksgiving for the many cured of the influenza epidemic by water from the wells). Legend: Saints Fionan and Michael landed here from Sceilg Mhichil, and the wells sprang up at their prayers'.

See attached photo taken of holy wells courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00387 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16589.

See attached colour photographs of holy well courtesy of Amanda Clarke.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 950. 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: 11 April 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.

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