Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
What to look for
- Rag tree
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
History and description
On the valley bottom, a few meters S of stream. The OS Letters (1839) refer to this well as, 'Tobar na Súl', that is the 'Well of the Eyes, at the distance of a quarter of a mile east of the Church [of Rathlogan KK008-082001-].
Full archaeological record 123 words
On the valley bottom, a few meters S of stream. The OS Letters (1839) refer to this well as, 'Tobar na Súl', that is the 'Well of the Eyes, at the distance of a quarter of a mile east of the Church [of Rathlogan KK008-082001-]. This well, as may be inferred from the name, was in great repute formerly for the cure of sore eyes, but now it is little frequented' (O'Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1, 156 (51)). When visited in 1987 this well was still renowned for curing eye ailments and there were rags tied to the adjacent bushes and small crosses and flowers arranged around the well. Another holy well (KK008-133----) lies across the townland boundary c. 150m to the WSW.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 23 January 2018. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
This well, as may be inferred from the name, was in great repute formerly for the cure of sore eyes, but now it is little frequented' (O'Flanagan ed. 1930, vol. 1, 156 (51)).
When visited in 1987 this well was still renowned for curing eye ailments and there were rags tied to the adjacent bushes and small crosses and flowers arranged around the well.
More holy wells nearby
Saint Elakan's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Gorteennamuck · Kilkenny · 0.1 km away
St. Monchin’s Well
Ritual site - holy well · Coolcashin · Kilkenny · 2.4 km away
Our Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clomantagh Lower · Kilkenny · 6.2 km away
St John's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Toberboe Or Killenny More · Laois · 6.7 km away
Hermit's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clontubbrid · Kilkenny · 6.8 km away
Toberpatrick
Ritual site - holy well · Borrismore · Kilkenny · 6.9 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Coolcashin CastleCastle - unclassified · Coolcashin · 2.4 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Tobar na súl
Other heritage nearby
- Rathlogan RingfortRingfort · 0.5 km
- Rathlogan ChurchAncient church · 0.9 km
- Glashare ChurchAncient church · 1.8 km
- Glashare CastleCastle · 1.9 km
- Coolcashin ChurchAncient church · 2.4 km
- GrangefertaghMonastic site · 3.0 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 52 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 12 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Gathabawn Short LoopWalking Trail · 4.1 km · nearest point 1.9 km
- Gathabawn LoopWalking Trail · 11.3 km · nearest point 1.9 km
- Cullahill - Heathy Way Loop WalkWalking Trail · 6.4 km · nearest point 3.3 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- CapponellanForests · 8.7 km
- Dunmore WoodForests · 12 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 10.0 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 5.6 km
Other attractions nearby
- Gardens at Castle DurrowHistoric Houses and Castle · 10 km
- River NoreNature and Wildlife · 12 km
Excavations nearby
- E2394 Glashare AR 55-57, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.2 km
- E2393 Rathlogan AR 51-2, County KilkennyRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 2.4 km