Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on break in NNE-facing slope. Within rectangular area (6.5m N-S; 9m E-W), enclosed by concrete wall, is box-like structure (1.7m N-S; 1.7m E-W; H 3.2m) of cut and dressed limestone covering spring well (diam. 0.4m). Opening to E where low stone wall encloses square area (2.2m N-S; 2.2m E-W) with access down to well (D 0.4m) via step. On top of structure are four triangular projections, resting on a plinth, which face towards the cardinal points. A stone-cut cross surmounts E-facing projection, with date-stone inscribed "St. Coleman's Well, enclosed the 15th of August 1868". According to Ó Danachair (1955, 214) a pattern was held here on 29th of October; this was observed in 1840s (OSL vol. 1, 25) but had ceased by mid 1950s.
The following folklore was recorded from Kilcolman National School about Tobercolman;'Saint Comlan is the patron Saint of Kilcolman, and on his feast day, a large concourse of people went their way to the well dedicated to him, and cures have been affected through using its waters. The old people of the locality tell many curious tales in connection with it. Those living in the vicinity, and for miles around never made use of the water for boiling or for any other household purpose. They say that in olden times the well was situated in the graveyard close to where the old Church now stands, but on one occasion, when an old woman washed clothes in it, Saint Colman removed the well, about a quarter of a mile away from the sacred grounds'The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0484, Page 016; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921947/4912412).

See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00313 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31076 and F025.21.00312 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/17037.

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

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

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.