Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Toberfinnan/Tobar Fhionáin: This well is situated on the lower E slopes of Feaghmaan mountain, Valencia Island, adjacent to a ceallúnach burial ground (KE079-109----). Rectangular in form, it is lined by slate slabs. Two modern slate slabs stand over the well, one with a human figure and Tobar Fionnáin carved on its face. Both the well and the ceallúnach were formerly visited on the 16th of March, and the well's water reputedly cured rheumatism (OSL; Delap 1911, 403). This dedicated St Finan is believed to be 'St. Finan Cam' (Anon. 1911, 378).
In 1938 the following folklore was collected from Baile and Ridire or Knightstown School; 'Several years ago the Knight of Kerry did not like to see people going visiting St. Finian's well; and he ordered his men to close up the well. The Knight's steward, who was a protestant, and did not believe in holy wells, ordered the workmen to plough the field near the well. The Knight's daughter, who was in England, got sick. While she was sick, she dreamt that she would get better if her father allowed people to visit the holy well. She wrote to her father and he ordered a wall to be built around the well. and he allowed people to visit the well again. The steward got sick also but when the well was opened again he got better' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0479, Page 067; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742142/4740193).

See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke.

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1069. 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: 30 March 2022

References

O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. 1996 The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry. Cork University press.

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Delap, M.J. 1911 Some holy wells in Valencia and Portmagee. Kerry Archaeological Magazine 1, 403-14.

Anon. 1911 List of some holy wells in Iveragh. Kerry Archaeological Magazine 1, 377-8.