Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

In low-lying pasture, on N side of stream. No visible surface trace of well described by Ó Danachair (1955, 203) as 'a well in a field near a stream, with an old whitethorn tree close by. Visits were made before sunrise on Sundays. Famous for cure of sore eyes, and formerly much visited. Still visited occasionally. Said to be connected in some way with St. Ita'. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded that ‘in the townland of Ballinveara there is a holy well called Tobar Righ and Domhnaigh, i.e., Fons Regis Sabbathi, at which stations are still performed by the uneducated’ (OSL, 134).

The following folklore was recorded from Shountrade National School about Tubbereendowna or Sunday's Well; 'In former days the well was greatly venerated. I have been told that people from Cork and Clare came there to pay rounds. It was noted for curing sore eyes. It is handed down traditionally that great St. Ita, is the patron St. of this Holy well. On one occasion a lady from Clare who had lost the sight of one eye, was instantly cured at the well, after having washed her eye with the water. This holy well was almost forgotten. It was covered over with briars until a few of us got together last summer, cleaned it up and started pilgrimages and ever since people have been visiting this Holy well. During the years it was forgotten a sick cow has known to visit the well. She drank the water and got well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0505, Pages 083a-84a; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922027/4919870)

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 11 December 2018

References

Ó Danachair, C. 1955 The holy wells of Co. Limerick. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 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.