Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

Holy well or natural spring dedicated to St. Deborah that is annotated 'Tobergal' on the 1838 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Situated in area of scrub in upland area immediately E of a stream which marks townland boundary with Scrageen. Ringfort (TN037-032001-) with bullaun stone (TN037-032002-) 180m to NE. Depicted on the OS maps as a circular-shaped well with stream flowing out of W wide and into stream to SW.
Folklore collected between 1937-8 from Lackamore National School recorded the following tradition about this well; 'Tradition has little to say on this Holy Well. Old folks would tell you that it is a "twin well" with Cragg. Now as twins are born of the one parent, it is evident that it has the same roundness as Cragg. Fr. Lee's sketch history of the parish gives all that is know about her. "Tobar Geal" was a "pattern" well for the cure of sore eyes. Many instances may be recorded, but people are reluctant to permit their names to be made public. A neighbour told me how his sister had promised to make "rounds" in Cragg. She died rather suddenly before she had done so. but she asked him on her deathbed to fulfill the promise. He got the idea somehow that it would be alright to do the "rounds" at Tobar Geal. He was returning home later from Newport one night when his deceased sister met him at the approach to "Tobar Geal". She explained to him that as the "rounds" were promised to Cragg there they should be made and to return to make them for her. He did so. When he arrived back at "Tobar Geal" some hours later his sister appeared again to him and thanked him. I have this story from the man himself.' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0540, Page 034; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922160/4857131).
A second story collected by Lizzie Caplis of Tooreenbrien Upper and a pupil of Lackamore National School recalled the following details; 'In the parish of Newport there are two holy wells, "Tobar Geal and Cragg Well". Tobar Geal is situated two Miles East of Newport and two miles West of Lackamore School in the townsland of Derrygreen. "Cragg Well" is situated in the townsland of Cragg; it is about three miles outside Newport. The Saint of "Tobar Geal" is St. Deborah and her sister St. Commat [Commaneth] founded "Cragg Well". At all seasons of the year people visit "Tobar Geal"; a visit consist of "Five Rounds". "By a round" is meant to go "round" the well. Each person leaves something as an offering when he is leaving such as a beads, a picture, a statue, a coin, a fancy drinking vessel, a piece of ribbon, a medal, but food is never left there. People suffering from teethaches, sore eyes, headaches, stomach troubles and bone disease visit "Tobar Geal". People give "rounds" for invalids and take home some of the water and the sick will rub it to the affected part or else drink it. No trout has been seen in "Tobar Geal". The well is surrounded by whitethorns and evergreen bushes.'(The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0540, Page 022; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922160/4857119)

See attached photos provided courtesy of Derek Ryan

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 May 2020