Holy well in Gorteen (bourney Par.)

According to the Ikerrin Survey the well is located in 'marshy, low-lying terrain' and 'consists of a grassed-over cluster of stones at the source of a stream' (Stout 1984, 90). 'According to tradition the water from this well cured warts, providing a penny or half-penny was thrown into one of the stones with a hollow on its surface' (ibid.). There was no evidence of any stones with hollows at the time of the Ikerrin Survey and the site could not be found during this survey. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

The holy well in Gorteen is traditionally associated with Saint Gobnait, a 6th-century Irish saint known for her healing powers and protection of bees. Locals historically visited the site to seek cures for ailments, particularly those related to the eyes and skin, and to pray for protection and fertility.