Ritual site - holy well

The National Monuments Service's description

The precise location of the holy well in the townland of Lisdossan has not been identified. In 1937-8 the following folklore about this holy well was recorded from Tang National School; 'Holy wells were visited by a great number of people to obtain relief from their ailments. Whatever their ailments were they could obtain relief from them at holy wells. There was one at Lisdoughan [Lissdossan] in Matt Murray's land about one mile east of the Pigeons Post Office. The person afflicted with any disease left a pin or a button or any such article by the well side. When they left the button behind by the well this was supposed to leave their disease behind by the well side. People seeking to be cured at the holy wells did what was known as stations. The well at Lisdoughan was inclosed by a round wall and surmounted on the wall were cut stone crosses. Four of them. The people afflicted went round in their bare feet reciting an Our Father and three Hail Mary's before each cross. Water was taken from the holy well at Lisdoughan by one of the Murray girls. If she put it into a furnace it could not boil. The diseases generally cured were Rheumatism, teeth-aches' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0746, Page 544-5; www.duchas.ie).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 10 September 2018