Over 100 holy wells in Tipperary

A survey of Holy Wells in Tipperary has been underway since the beginning of October.

There has been two strands to the survey: research into historical references, information and practices on the holy wells in the county and a survey of questions for members of the local community to fill in about their local wells.

Both strands have been yielding some great information and so we have decided to extend the closing date of the survey form until November 19 to allow members of the public more time to submit information on their local well.

One example found in the research was of the pattern at Ladyswell in Thurles (also known by the townland name of Mullauns, or sometimes Turtulla) in the Tipperary Star from 1955 (April 9). It records a lecture given on the holy well by Rev John O’Neill of Saint Patrick’s College in Thurles.

He says that the earliest written reference (based on a “strong presumption”) to the pattern at the well dates back to the 1400s and a letter by the Earl of Ormonde. In the letter he extends safe conduct “to all pilgrims who wish to visit Thurles on the feast of the BVM, next, following for three days before and after the feast”.

The article goes on to detail a cure at the well, and also a story about a boy who took money from the well and ended up with sores on his lips!

FANTASTIC RESPONSES

We have also received a number of fantastic responses to our survey from the local community. One example is about St Augh’s Well in Terryglass, which has a reputation for a cure for eye complaints. The correspondent refers to some of the rounding rituals at the well that they remembered as a child:

“My earliest childhood memories are of the visits to the eyewell during the month of May each year. The tradition was to make the pilgrimage on three Saturdays within the month, however many people attended on all Saturdays within the month. The ritual consisted of beginning on the flag stone facing the rising sun and continued around the well on the remaining four flag stones saying the creed followed by five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys repeated on all the flag stones. After this you bathed your eyes with the water three times; this was believed to aid poor vision, retain/restore sight and heal sore eyes. Quite often you would bring an empty glass bottle to take home some of the ‘holy water’ to have in the house should any issues occur with eyes during the year. This tradition was carried out by the entire local Christian community as well as others from surrounding areas who knew of the well and its history. Traditionally entire families made the pilgrimage every year whilst living in the area. I would attend with my parents and four sisters up until adulthood and immigration. My earliest memories are from the mid-’60s upwards until the early 2000s when mostly the older members of the community were still continuing with the tradition.”

The main record of holy wells across Ireland are the Sites & Monuments Record (SMR) and the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP). These we have used as the baseline for which holy wells are recorded or not.

In total, there are 107 holy wells recorded in the County Tipperary. To date the research has uncovered references to at least 15 unrecorded holy wells whose locations we can pinpoint.

Here are a number of previously unrecorded holy wells in north Tipperary to give the reader an idea of what may still be out there and unrecorded.

CLONAMUCKOGE MORE

Saint Cronan’s Well at Clonamuckoge More, near Loughmore, is not included in the SMR or RMP. It was recorded in the Schools Manuscripts of the Irish Folklore Commission from the 1930s as follows “…its waters are supposed to cure sore ears. Those living near still remember people coming and even taking bottles of this water away to cure others. They usually left some offering at the well.” It is still visited by locals today.

BALLINCURRA WELL, TEMPLEDERRY

This well, not far from the village of Templederry, was recorded in the Schools Manuscripts on duchas.ie as being a holy well: “There is a holy well in Patrick Lee’s field in Ballincara and there is a sgeach bush growing overhead it. This well sprung from a rock and there is a small stream flowing out of it. Sometimes people go there to pray and do rounds and they go to get a cure for sore eyes and several other things. If a person had sore eyes it is said they would be cured if they bathed them three times in the Holy Well, but it is not specially recommended for the cure of any particular disease. When people are leaving the well they generally leave something near it, such as medals or money.”

A local correspondent has confirmed this well is still in existence and we hope to speak to local people in due course about any other information they have about it.

SAINT KIERAN’S WELL, TEMPLEMORE

This well is recorded in the SMR as a well, but not as a holy well. However, folklore in the Schools Manuscripts and a local correspondent have confirmed that it is a holy well.

In the Schools Manuscripts from the 1930’s it is recorded thus: “Tobar Ciarain, about a mile outside this town on the road to Templemore there is a holy well. It is said that the water from this well will cure sore eyes. You must bathe your eyes with the water three times before you are cured. A few years ago this owner of the field tried to change the course of the stream that flows from the well but the well went dry and when he let the stream back on its old course it started to flow again. Anyone who is cured must put some money or a medal in the well. Rags maybe seen on the hawthorn over the well and coins and medals are laying at the bottom of the water.”

It was also recorded in the Irish Tourism Board report on the area in the 1940s saying : “it has a reputation for the cure of various eye troubles. The cure is effected by bathing the eyes with the water and praying at the well.”

There are also a large number of possible holy wells that we have references to, but no exact locations. We look some of those below.

GOOD WOMAN’S SON

The well of the “Good Woman’s Son” is given as being located in an area called Boola, which may be in the townlands of either Ballynahow or Ballycahill. The Heritage of Holy Cross page 105-106 says “the ‘Good Woman's Well’ or the ‘Holy Well’ is not given on the 1840 map but is reputed to be the surface well in Hayes’s farm at Boola, which is close to the little river known locally as the Soolivane. Up to a generation ago people came to the well out of devotion; it is reputed to have special powers for the healing of ailments associated with the eyes or the head in particular.”

CLOUGHJORDAN WELLS

There are references to at least two holy wells near Cloughjordan in the Schools Manuscripts, but very little locational information. “There is a well below Cloughjordan. It was said that a saint came to it in olden times to get water. It was about a hundred years ago. It was said that if anyone who had ringworm went to the well three times they would be cured. They had to drink the water. Anyone who had sore eyes used to go to it three mornings and wash their eyes. They would be cured. There was a man and his name was Mr. Maher. He hurt his knee. He was told about this well. If he fasted for three days and went the third day to the well and took some water from the holy well he would be cured. He washed his knee with the water and in a few days he was better.”

“There was a well near Cloughjordan. It was a Saint’s well. The Saint’s name was St Catherine. It was said that if anyone who had sore eyes would go to the well three mornings and washed their eyes with the water they would be cured.”

There may also be a possible holy well near Borrisoleigh that may have been dedicated to St Bridget.

If you know of any holy wells in your area, please join this community project by emailing your information, stories and photos to the project TipperaryHolyWells@tipperarycoco.ie or submitting through the project portal here, https://consultations.tipperarycoco.ie/consultations/tipperary-holy-well-survey

FURTHER DETAILS

For further information please contact: TipperaryHolyWells@tipperarycoco.ie.

Derek Ryan, Heritage Consultant, email derekryanbawn@gmail.com or phone 087 9873712.

Roisin O’Grady, Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council - email roisin.ogrady@tipperarycoco.ie or phone 087 9031827.