Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
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 the village of Balla, located immediately to W of a building (MA090-024003-), known locally as the 'Rest House', and c. 50m E of a graveyard (MA090-024005-) and a round tower (MA090-024004-).
Full archaeological record 188 words
In the village of Balla, located immediately to W of a building (MA090-024003-), known locally as the 'Rest House', and c. 50m E of a graveyard (MA090-024005-) and a round tower (MA090-024004-).
This well is named ‘Tobermurray’ on the 1838 and 1929 OS 6-inch maps. It consists of a circular, stone-lined depression (diam. 1.3m) linked to a narrow drain or gully (Wth 0.4m; D 0.55m), which extends to WSW beneath a property/boundary wall. A small modern shrine to the Blessed Virgin stands at the point where the gully extends beneath the wall. The well is dry and infilled with rubble. The OS Letters (1838) record that that a station was traditionally performed at the well on 15th August, and that an inscribed stone (MA090-024007-) and two penitential stations (MA090-024002-; MA090-024006-) were associated with the well. A modern spring-fed well, located 6m to NNW has superseded the traditional well. It is enclosed in a semi-circular curve at SW–N by a modern stone wall, incorporated into the line of a property wall, and by iron railings on the E side, and is approached from E by a slopping cobbled path.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jane O'Shaughnessy · Updated 25 June 2018. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
The OS Letters (1838) record that that a station was traditionally performed at the well on 15th August, and that an inscribed stone (MA090-024007-) and two penitential stations (MA090-024002-; MA090-024006-) were associated with the well.
More holy wells nearby
Toberbride
Ritual site - holy well · Kilbride (Gallen By.) · Mayo · 19 km away
Tobermurry
Ritual site - holy well · Ballinrobe Demesne,Cavanquarter · Mayo · 22 km away
St. Bridget's Wells
Ritual site - holy well · Kildarra · Mayo · 23 km away
Toberarraght
Ritual site - holy well · Lurga Lower · Mayo · 27 km away
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Around Tobermurry
Other heritage nearby
- Balla Round TowerRound tower · 0.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 42 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 stone circleArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Croagh Patrick Heritage TrailLong Distance Waymarked Way · 60.5 km · nearest point 0.1 km
- Crucspullagadaun Loop WalkWalking Trail · 7.4 km · nearest point 2.8 km
- Clogher Holy Well LoopWalking Trail · 5.3 km · nearest point 6.4 km
Other attractions nearby
- Belcarra Eviction CottageMuseums and Attraction · 5.8 km
- Clogher Heritage ComplexMuseums and Attraction · 8.8 km
- Barry's Guided ToursWalking · 11 km
- Ballintubber AbbeyHistoric Houses and Castle · 11 km
What's on nearby
- The Pale Blue Dot - Voyager Golden Record Reimagined2026-11-05 · 12 km
- Choral Concert - Fauré and Stanford2026-11-22 · 11 km
- Travelling Banner Exhibition | Strangers to Citizens2027-01-13 · 13 km · free

