Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Tobermurry, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Tobermurry
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Tobermurry
- Latest-edition OS map
- Tobermurry (1923)
- Coordinates
- 52.63199, -8.86015
- SMR number
- LI011-029----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In woodland, on S verge of pond. Sub-circular well (2.5m N-S, 3m E-W) enclosed by dry-stone wall (H 0.42m; Wth 0.8m). Gap in wall (Wth 0.5m) at WNW forms entrance, leading down to well via 2 stone steps. Partially stone-lined channel drains well at NE. Well dry at time of visit. By 1840 rounds were only occasionally made here (OSL vol. 1, 21) and had ceased completely by 1950s (Ó Danachair 1955, 212); rounds were made on the 15th August (ibid.).
See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00266 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31095 and F025.21.00265 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/17019.
See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke
Compiled by: Denis Power
Revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 30 September 2020
References
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.
Ó Danachair, C. 1955 The Holy Wells of County Limerick Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 85, 193-217
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Fulacht fiaunder 1 mi
- Cistunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.