Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

In level pasture. Roughly kidney-shaped shallow pond (15m N-S; 8m E-W) enclosed W->S by hedge and S->W by modern concrete wall; enclosed area: 18m E-W; 16m N-S. Public roadway runs approximately E-W along SW side of concrete wall, and gate gives access from road to pond. Inside gate is large modern statue of Christ on a pedestal. According to (Ó Danachair 1955, 211) known locally as St John's Well; he also records that 'a pattern, with sports and horse-races, was held up to about 1850' (ibid.); he also notes legends relating to St Patrick associated with well.
The following folklore was recorded in 1937 from Mahoonagh National School about John the Baptist's Well; 'About a hundred years ago two nice girls from Cooliska came to the well on the pattern day. One girl was Eily Hartnett and the other was Eily Moore. They were first cousins and were supposed to be the nicest girls in three parishes. While they were praying a whirl wind came and whirled Eily Hartnett up in the air. The people tried to catch her but failed to do so. They could only watch and pray. After a while she disappeared. The priest said masses for her the following week. About a week after the pattern day the Hartnett family heard a cry in the field adjoining the well. It was in the middle of the night. They ran out to see what was wrong. They saw their own child Eily and she was going up in the air again. This time she was saying "good-bye" to her people. Any time a Moore or Hartnett dies the cry is heard. She is called the Banshee.
Here is another legend:- About forty years ago there was a blind child by the name of Flanagan. Her mother was Hayes and her Grandmother was Griffin. They lived in Ballinoe. The Grandmother carried the Flanagan child to the holy well and said three rosaries. Suddenly the child said, "Grandma! look at the trout," and her sight was restored. It is said that there are three trout in the well. Anyone who has bad sight if he sees anyone of the trout he will be cured' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0489, Pages 128-9; accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921967/4914149)

See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00088 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/30970 and F025.21.00090 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/30972.

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 1 October 2020

References

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