Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a gentle rise in poorly drained pasture. The monument, named 'Toberstroke' on the OS 1924 map, consists of a spring located immediately to the SW of a very large old ash tree with a whitethorn tree immediately to the W. The spring fills a shallow pond (diam. c. 1.8m E-W) which feeds a stream to the W. A sub-oval peaty mound (c. 8m E-W x 11m N-S) shelters the well from the E. A wall, which is described by Ó Danachair (1955, 202) as enclosing the well, is no longer standing. There is a scattering of field stones around the area of the spring which may be derived from ther wall. The well was reputed to have a cure for sore eyes and for stroke (ibid.). According to Ó Danachair (ibid.) rounds were made usually on Saturdays and rags and medals were left on the whitethorn.
The following folklore was recorded from Knockea National School about Tobar Stróic; ' This well is situated in the townland of Lickadoon, not far from Lickadoon Castle, the reputed birthplace of Archbishop Hurley who was executed in the reign of Elizabeth. This legend is told in connection with the well: When Limerick was besieged by Ireton in 1651, the castle of Lickadoon was occupied by the Cromwellian soldiers. It is said that the soldiers washed their clothes in the well one day, and to the great surprise of the neighbors the following morning the well had removed. A large stone marks the spot where the well originally stood. The well is now situated about four hundred yards to the north of the castle, beside a large ash tree. A good many people do rounds there. The old people used to say that the proper time to make the rounds was between sunset and sunrise. The waters of the well were believed to cure persons suffering from a “stroke”. Hence it’s name.' (The Schools’ Collection, 0525, Page 061; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922103/4852429/4948453).

See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00250 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/24559 and F025.21.00249 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/24558.

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 30 September 2020

References

Ó Danachair, C. 1955 The Holy Wells of County Limerick Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 85, 193-217