Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeRitual site - holy well
- Condition (as surveyed)Ruined
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
In rough pasture, on the E side of a road, on a W-facing slope of the Ox mountains. A well (D 0.6m from roof slab) with a rectangular drystone slab surround (0.8m E-W; 0.8m N-S; T 0.38m) with an opening (Wth 0.3m) at N. Two lintel slabs cover the S half which is partially collapsed.
Full archaeological record 193 words
In rough pasture, on the E side of a road, on a W-facing slope of the Ox mountains. A well (D 0.6m from roof slab) with a rectangular drystone slab surround (0.8m E-W; 0.8m N-S; T 0.38m) with an opening (Wth 0.3m) at N. Two lintel slabs cover the S half which is partially collapsed.
There is no indication that this is a holy well. However, this may be the holy well referred to by O'Rorke (1878, 277) as being a little to the east of the cruckawn, called Tubbermurro, 'where stations used to be performed by the people of the neighbourhood. The well lay in a hollow between two bushes and the devotees made a circuit on their knees round the bushes, attaching to one or other of them, at the close of the exercise, a small strip of scrap of cloth, in token, probably, of willingness to make a more valuable offering if circumstances permitted or required. Either by accident or by design the water supply was cut off and the well dried, about thirty years ago, by persons quarrying close to Tubbermurro.' A footnote states that Tubbermurro signifies 'Mary's Well'.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Archaeological Survey Unit, UCC with revisions by Patrick F. O'Donovan and Paul Walsh · Updated 20 June 2011. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
The well lay in a hollow between two bushes and the devotees made a circuit on their knees round the bushes, attaching to one or other of them, at the close of the exercise, a small strip of scrap of cloth, in token, probably, of willingness to make a more valuable offering if circumstances permitted or required.
More holy wells nearby
Toberbride
Ritual site - holy well · Toberbride · Sligo · 4.9 km away
St Brigid's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Dromard · Sligo · 7.3 km away
St Bridget's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Scardan Beg · Sligo · 8.3 km away

Tobernalt Well
Ritual site - holy well · Aghamore Near · Sligo · 8.3 km away
Lady's Well
Ritual site - holy well · Ballynakill · Sligo · 13 km away
Tober Bride
Ritual site - holy well · Abbeyville Or Ardlaherty · Sligo · 16 km away
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Around Tobermurro
Other heritage nearby
- Kildalough ChurchAncient church · 1.6 km
- Saint Fechin's ChurchAncient church · 2.9 km
- ListoghilMegalithic tomb · 5.9 km
- Carrowmore Megalithic CemeteryMegalithic tomb · 6.1 km
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- CarrowmoreRingfort · 6.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 147 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 promontory fortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Union Wood - Oakwood TrailWalking Trail · 5.1 km · nearest point 3.7 km
- Union Wood - Union Rock TrailWalking Trail · 3.1 km · nearest point 4.1 km
- Union Wood - Mountain Access RouteWalking Trail · 3.0 km · nearest point 5.3 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Coolaney MTB TrailsForests · 5.0 km
- Union WoodForests · 5.2 km
- Rosses Point BeachBeaches · 12 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Dunmoran BeachBeaches · 14 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballygilgan, Lissadell Nature ReserveNature reserves · 16 km
- Easkey Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 17 km
- SligoWalled towns · 9.5 km
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Other attractions nearby
- High Hopes Hiking - Benbulben and the Wild Atlantic WayWalking · 6.0 km
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What's on nearby
- Broadway and Beyond2026-11-11 · 9.1 km
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Excavations nearby
- 03E1414 Area 1G Tonafortes, County SligoRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 6.7 km
- 03E0535 Area 1A Tonafortes, County SligoRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 6.7 km

