Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the S side of a crossroad in Aghagower village, immediately outside the wall of a graveyard (MA088-063002-), which encloses a medieval church (MA088-063001-) and round tower (MA088-063003-). The graveyard wall kinks around the well.
The well is named ‘Tobernandeochaun’ on the 1838 and 1929 OS 6-inch maps. On the 1929 edition it is annotated as ‘Site of’, indicating that it was no longer extant or in use by that date. The current structure is a modern reconstruction, and consists of a roughly square sunken area (1m by 1m; D 1m) defined by mortared stone walls, with steps at N leading down to the base of the well.
This well and an adjacent holy well (MA088-063005-) named ‘Dabhach Patrick’ were visited as part of the traditional ‘pattern’ or ritual round of devotions undertaken by pilgrims at Aghagower. John O’Donovan described this well in the 1838 OS Letters as ‘an enclosure called Tobar na nDeochaun, i.e. the well of the drinks, so called because the pilgrims drank of it when performing the Turas, but at present it contains no water.’ (O’Flanagan, 457 (225)).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 11 December 2020

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (ed.) 1927 Ordnance Survey name books Co. Mayo. No. 100: from Kilcommon to Kilgeever. Unpublished typescript in Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, ref D14.