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
- Offerings left
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
Marked on the 1840-41 and 1914 OS maps as 'Tobereleesh' (Tobar Eilís - well of Eilís), this well is known locally as Knoppoge well, St Brigid's well and Tobar an Leighis (well of the healing).
Full archaeological record 281 words
Marked on the 1840-41 and 1914 OS maps as 'Tobereleesh' (Tobar Eilís - well of Eilís), this well is known locally as Knoppoge well, St Brigid's well and Tobar an Leighis (well of the healing).
Situation and Description: This well is situated beside an enclosure (1044). The rounds path includes both well and fort. Just across from the well a modern shrine has been erected.
Rounds: This well is still visited and rounds usually consist of three cycles, during each of which the rosary is recited. Water cures mental problems and bodily ailments.
Legends: (a) St Brigid visited this well on her way through Kerry, (b) A golden fish is seen by the people about to be cured.
Folklore collected from Ballyduff School recorded the following tradition about this well; ‘There is a well about a half a mile from my house and is called "Tobar a leighis". It is situated a few hundred yards from the public road. This well is called after St. Brigid. A lot of people go there paying rounds, and some people are cured. People pay rounds at the well on Friday evening and more on Saturday. People go on Friday for the health and Saturday for the head. It is said that persons who are cured see a gold fish in the well. The people that pay rounds leave a medal or picture or a bead near it. This well is opened to the public. There is a mound of earth near the well and it is circular in shape. Round this the people walk when they are paying the round. They say three rosaries for every round' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0415, Page 261;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4666610/4666528/4682787?ChapterID=4666610).
References
- Date of revised upload: 19 May 2022
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O’Brien · Based on the C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
Marked on the 1840-41 and 1914 OS maps as 'Tobereleesh' (Tobar Eilís - well of Eilís), this well is known locally as Knoppoge well, St Brigid's well and Tobar an Leighis (well of the healing).
Water cures mental problems and bodily ailments.
Legends: (a) St Brigid visited this well on her way through Kerry, (b) A golden fish is seen by the people about to be cured.
Folklore collected from Ballyduff School recorded the following tradition about this well; ‘There is a well about a half a mile from my house and is called "Tobar a leighis".
A lot of people go there paying rounds, and some people are cured.
It is said that persons who are cured see a gold fish in the well.
More holy wells nearby
Tobernasool
Ritual site - holy well · Glandahalin East · Kerry · 14 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Dirtane · Kerry · 14 km away
St Macadaw's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Glenderry · Kerry · 19 km away
Tobermurry
Ritual site - holy well · Duagh (Clanmaurice By.) · Kerry · 21 km away
Tobermurry
Ritual site - holy well · Templeathea West · Limerick · 27 km away
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Around Tobereleesh
Other heritage nearby
- Derryco ChurchAncient church · 1.8 km
- Kilmore ChurchAncient church · 2.1 km
- Ballybunion CastleCastle · 3.9 km
- Rattoo Round TowerRound tower · 4.1 km
- Rattoo ChurchAncient church · 4.1 km
- Rattoo Early Medieval Ecclesiastical SiteMonastic site · 4.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 81 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 promontory fortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Ballybunion Loops - Beach WalkWalking Trail · 7.2 km · nearest point 1.3 km
- Ballybunion Loops - Lahardane Hill WalkWalking Trail · 8.3 km · nearest point 3.3 km
- Shannon WayWalking Trail · 39.4 km · nearest point 3.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Ballybunnion SouthBeaches · 3.8 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballybunnion NorthBeaches · 4.1 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Loop Head Lightkeeper's HouseHistoric stays · 20 km
Other attractions nearby
- Fitzmaurice CastleHistoric Houses and Castle · 3.9 km
- Ballybunion BeachHistoric Houses and Castle · 4.0 km
- Ballybunion NorthBeach · 4.0 km
- Ballybunion SouthBeach · 4.0 km
What's on nearby
- Listowel Food Fair 20262026-11-05 · 13 km
- Listowel Food Fair 20262026-11-09 · 13 km
- Ballylongford Annual Christmas Craft Fair2026-11-15 · 15 km · free