Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the base of a gentle E-facing slope with good views in all directions and nearby church and graveyard (TN005-005001-/003-) 95m to the W. The holy stone known as St. Dima's Stone (TN005-007002-) is located a few metres to the E of the holy well. No visible trace of the holy well which according to local information was filled up with rubble several years ago.
In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded that ‘there was a well called Tobar Dioma/St. Dioma’s Well, a short distance Eastwards of Palace Church. It is now dried up. At the place, are some whitethorn bushes growing and here also is shown a stone on which may be seen the impression of the Saint’s finger’s, representing a cross. The stone is about 1½ foot [0.45m] long and 1 foot [0.3m] broad’ (O’Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 30; OSL Dorrha Parish RIA MS 14/F/20/4/(v)).

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 12 October 2020

References

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.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. Bray.