Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

On N side of public road. Rectangular area in grass (12m N-S; 16m E-W) enclosed by hedging on W, N, and E sides by low wall with railing on S side. Well is located midway along S wall. Well is enclosed by 2m high circular stone wall (diam. c. 2.8m); access to well via segmental arched opening on S side of wall with steps down to well head. Well head enclosed by elliptical plastered wall (1.5m N-S; 2m E-W; 1m deep) with shrines on ledge on N side of well. According to local tradition parish church of Rathcahill (LI044-133---) was located across the road from the well. O'Donovan in 1840 (OSL vol. 2, 10) noted the circular stone wall and said that pattern was held here on 15th August, which was 'still partly continued'; according to Ó Danachair (1955, 211-2) well reputed to cure sore eyes and had a rag tree.

See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke

Compiled by: Denis Power

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

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.