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At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
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 scrub on a steep E-facing slope immediately W of the Kilshanny-Smithstown Road, on the northern outskirts of Kilshanny village, c. 150m W of the Cooleen River. Indicated and named ‘Toberinneenboy’ on the 1840 and 1916 eds. OS 6-inch maps.
Full archaeological record 161 words
In scrub on a steep E-facing slope immediately W of the Kilshanny-Smithstown Road, on the northern outskirts of Kilshanny village, c. 150m W of the Cooleen River. Indicated and named ‘Toberinneenboy’ on the 1840 and 1916 eds. OS 6-inch maps. Noted in the OS Letters (Comber 1997, 99) as ‘dedicated to Inghean-Bhaoith, Patroness of Kilnaboy’. While the well was ‘seldom frequented’ in the 1830s, its water was still reputed to ‘be good for the cure of sore eyes’ (ibid.). Lenihan (1997, 56) found no memory of its dedication to ‘Iníne Baoith’ or evidence for devotion at the site, although it was still known as ‘the blessed well’. He reported that the well was used to water cattle in dry weather. On inspection in 1998 a spring emerging from the base of a rocky outcrop was noted. The water gushes from the rock into a small pool (diam. c. 0.55m), from where it is piped to a stone and a concrete trough.
References
- Lenihan, E. 1997, The holy wells of Kilshanny Parish. The Other Clare 21, 55–6.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell · Updated 28 June 2023. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
While the well was ‘seldom frequented’ in the 1830s, its water was still reputed to ‘be good for the cure of sore eyes’ (ibid.).
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Around Toberinneenboy
Other heritage nearby
- Kilshanny AbbeyAbbey or friary · 1.0 km
- Ennistymon FallsWaterfall · 4.9 km
- Kilcarragh ChurchAncient church · 5.0 km
- Kilfenora monastic siteMonastic site · 5.4 km
- South Cross, KilfenoraHigh cross · 5.5 km
- Doorty's Cross, KilfenoraHigh cross · 5.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 57 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 waterfallArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 42.7 km · nearest point 1.2 km
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 2Road Cycling Trail · 37.5 km · nearest point 3.7 km
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 1Road Cycling Trail · 18.3 km · nearest point 4.6 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Gragan's WoodForests · 11 km
- LahinchBeaches · 6.6 km · Good Quality (2025)
- FanoreBeaches · 15 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballyteigue Nature ReserveNature reserves · 5.2 km
- Inchiquin HouseHistoric stays · 16 km
Other attractions nearby
- Fiadh Irish WolfhoundsWalking · 5.2 km
- Clare Kayak HireNature and Wildlife · 6.3 km
- North Clare Sea KayakingNature and Wildlife · 6.4 km
- Doolin Cliff Walk Guided TourWalking · 7.1 km

