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Ritual site - holy well

St. Mairead's well

Holy well in Toberdoney, County Louth, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • 1788In the record
  • Folklore1 quote
  • PhotoWanted
Toberdoney, Co. Louth53.85112, -6.46825
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Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

  • TypeRitual site - holy well
  • Date or period mentioned1788

What to look for

  • Stone surround

Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.

Can you visit?

  • No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
  • Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
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History and description

Indicated on the 1835 and the 1938 'OS 6-inch' maps. Known variously as St. Mairead's well, The Lord's well, Sunday well and Toberdoney.

Full archaeological record 86 words

Indicated on the 1835 and the 1938 'OS 6-inch' maps. Known variously as St. Mairead's well, The Lord's well, Sunday well and Toberdoney. Located in swampy ground in a field known as 'the Srath' (Coyle 1956, 201-4). It is an oval pool, with dry stone lining and has a large flat stone with the date 1788 near the mouth. There is also said to be another stone with 'writing' on it (ibid 203). Believed to have cured sore eyes (Irish Folklore Commission Schools' Manuscripts 669, 2).

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Claire Breen · Updated 20 June 2012. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

Believed to have cured sore eyes (Irish Folklore Commission Schools' Manuscripts 669, 2).
As recorded by the Archaeological Survey · a tradition, not a fact
Beliefs and sayingsHealing wells and curesLocal traditions

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Also recorded nearby

Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.

  • Tober MuireRitual site - holy well · Hammondstown (Ardee By; Mosstown Par.) · 4.8 km · official record

    Situated in a field known as 'Tobar Muire' and indicated but not named on 1865 OS map (revision) (Coyle 1956, 204-5). When inspected by ASI in 1967 it was closed up.

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      Around St. Mairead's well

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