Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Ritual site - holy well
Rathanny, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Rathanny
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Tobergobbun
- Latest-edition OS map
- Tobergobban (1927)
- Coordinates
- 52.46302, -8.47121
- SMR number
- LI040-017----
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
Ó Danachair (1955, 216-7) recorded the following details about this holy well; 'Tobergobbun on 1840 map. "Tobar Ghobain, St Gobban's Well". OSNB. A shallow well, four feet in diameter, with a moderate spring. "This well is remarkable for the curing of many diseases, there is a treasure supposed to be hidden here which is guarded by a serpent". OSNB. No devotions now, but known to have been a holy well. Rounds were made for the cure of eye ailments. A wooden piggin was left at the well for the use of pilgrims'.
See attached photos taken in 1954 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.21.00453 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31010; F025.21.00454 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/17080 and F025.21.00452 accessible online at www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/17080.
Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of revised upload: 3 October 2020
References
OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.
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
- Burial groundunder 1 mi
- Earthworkunder 1 mi
- Barrow - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
- Earthworkunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.