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At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Date or period mentioned19th-century
What to look for
- Stone surround
- Cross or cross-slab
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
In low-lying poorly drained pasture, on the W bank of a stream. A U-shaped hollow (1.6m NW-SE; 2m NE-SW), choked with grass and rushes, cut into the SE perimeter of a stepped barrow (SL038-120001-).
Full archaeological record 315 words
In low-lying poorly drained pasture, on the W bank of a stream. A U-shaped hollow (1.6m NW-SE; 2m NE-SW), choked with grass and rushes, cut into the SE perimeter of a stepped barrow (SL038-120001-). The hollow no longer holds water though its base is damp. A few stones protruding randomly from the edge of the hollow may be remnants of stone lining. At SE a short channel, now engulfed with irises, links the well with the adjacent stream. Mentioned as 'the well of St. Attracta' by Wood-Martin (1892, 371) who also noted that 'the "patron" held on the 11th of August at the well was abolished about the year 1776' following a faction fight at which a man was killed. He also noted that being on the borders of the county it was largely attended by Mayo and Roscommon people (ibid.). In 1942-4 it was noted that 'pilgrimages to this well have ceased and it is not now visited by anyone' (ITA) though according to local information, Mass was said here in 1990. In addition to 'stations' being performed at the well, they were also performed around a circle of hawthorn trees that grew around the adjacent barrow (Anon. 1998, no. 26). Arranged around the perimeter of the well are the following items:
(a) on the N side, a millstone (SL038-120005-)
(b) to the E of the millstone, a rectangular slab (Wth 0.42m; H 0.63m; T 0.12m) on which is carved, in relief, a cross with splayed ends. According to Wood-Martin (1892, 371), this was said to have been 'erected at the close of the last century by ''Bishop Phillips'' '.
(c) at SW, a cross-slab (SL038-120003-)
(d) at W, a 19th-century cut limestone slab (Wth 0.61m; H 0.81m; T 0.1m) which according to its inscription was erected in 1821 by John Ormsby Cooke Esq. to commemorate 'the coming of his grandfather to reside here'.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 18 January 2008 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
According to Wood-Martin (1892, 371), this was said to have been 'erected at the close of the last century by ''Bishop Phillips'' '.
More holy wells nearby
Tober Bride
Ritual site - holy well · Abbeyville Or Ardlaherty · Sligo · 7.9 km away

Saint Attracta's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Clogher · Sligo · 12 km away
Toberarraght
Ritual site - holy well · Lurga Lower · Mayo · 16 km away
Tober Bride
Ritual site - holy well · Cloghoge Upper · Sligo · 16 km away
Tober Murry
Ritual site - holy well · Cloghoge Upper · Sligo · 16 km away
Toberbride
Ritual site - holy well · Toberbride · Sligo · 18 km away
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Around Toberaraght
Other heritage nearby
- Cloonameehan FriaryAbbey or friary · 3.8 km
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Recorded within 5 km
- 91 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
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Walks and trails
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What's on nearby
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