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Ritual site - holy well

Tobermurry

Holy well in Cill Chartaigh, County Donegal, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • DateNot stated
  • FolkloreNone recorded
  • PhotoWanted
Cill Charthaigh, Co. Donegal54.63309, -8.59766
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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

  • Bullaun stone

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
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History and description

Located to c. 40m NE of Kilcar church (DG096-010005-) and graveyard (DG096-010007-), and named ‘Tobermurry’ on the OS 6-inch map, this monument functioned as a holy well, although there is no well or spring per se. It consists of a bullaun (DG096-010003-) or rock-basin surrounded by a cairn (DG096-010004-) 6m x 8.8m.

Full archaeological record 181 words

Located to c. 40m NE of Kilcar church (DG096-010005-) and graveyard (DG096-010007-), and named ‘Tobermurry’ on the OS 6-inch map, this monument functioned as a holy well, although there is no well or spring per se. It consists of a bullaun (DG096-010003-) or rock-basin surrounded by a cairn (DG096-010004-) 6m x 8.8m. Two depressions, (i) .34m x .4m and 0.23m deep and (ii). 2m in diameter and 0.05m deep, and a channel which feeds water to the first depression are carved on the top of the bullaun stone. (Ó Muirgheasa No. 22).

Described by Ó Muirgheasa in 1936 as 'Kilcar there are three Holy Wells: (1) Tobar Charthach, or St. Carthach's Well (DG096-013001-) (2) Tobar Chonaill (DG096-010001-), or St. Conall Caol's Well (3) Tobar Mhuire, or the Blessed Virgin's Well (DG096-010008-)...Crowds of pilgrims still make the station or turus. It begins in the old ruined church of St. Carthach, after which the pilgrim makes three circuits of each of the three wells, and then finishes up at "the altar" in the old church.' (Ó Muirgheasa 1936, 147-8). (Ó Muirgheasa No. 22)

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Caimin O'Brien · Updated 03 November 2011. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

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      Around Tobermurry

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