Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Tober-Naom-Leigion/Tobar Naomh Eléan (St. William's Well): This slab-lined spring well, also known as St Helen's/Helena's well (Rice 1976, 24), is located on the lower S slopes of Kilbeg mountain, Valencia Island. A small concrete niche stands above it at N, and a small wooden cross formerly marked the well (Delap 1911, 403). The following folklore about this holy well was collected between 1934-8 from Cahersiveen School; 'Another well called Tober Naomh Leigion in Laharan (the half land) is marked by a small wooden cross' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0476, Page 299; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742132/4738884).
In 1938 the following folklore was collected about St William's Well from Baile and Ridire or Knightstown School; 'There are four holy wells in Valentia: St. Brendan's in Corobeg, St. Dererca's in Ballymanagh, St. Finian's in Glanleam, and St. William's in Laharan' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0479, Page 066;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4742142/4740192/4815982?ChapterID=4742142).

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. 1078. 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

Mitchell, G.F. 1989 Man and the environment in Valentia Island. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

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

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

Rice, G. 1976 The holy wells of Valencia and its vicinity. An t-Oileánach 5, 24-5.