Holy well in Oileán Cróna

OS 48:15:1 (Precise location not discovered) 24. Described by Ó Muirgheasa in 1936 as 'There is a Holy Well in Oilean Croin, the small island off the coast of Templecrone parish. Croine Beg or Little Croine, Virgin, was descended from Conall Gulban; her festival day is July 7th' (Ó Muirgheasa 1936, 152). (Ó Muirgheasa No. 44) A holy well marked Toberfinan (DG048-006----) located 2.1km to the E on the mainland in Maghery Glebe and a second holy well (DG048-007----) along with the holy stone or penitential station (DG048-008002-) and the church (DG048-008001-) and graveyard (DG048-008003-) are all associated with the turas to Templecrone. The Turas consisted of a visit to the holy wells (DG048-006----) and to the holy stone (DG048-008002-) at Templecrone on the 7th of July which is the feastday of St Chróine, the patron saint of Templecrone church (DG048-008001-). The route and ceremony of the turas is described in the History of the Diocese of Rahpoe as, ‘The turas is performed by saying seven Our Fathers and seven Hail Marys at the Holy Well (DG048-007----), repeating the same prayers at the pile of stones (DG048-008002-) near the churchyard (DG048-008003-), and reciting the Rosary continuously while the circuit is being traversed. A portable stone (DG048-008002-), with fingermarks, as it were, impressed pretty deeply, is frequently taken away by some representative of a family among whom sickness has broken out, and, in all cases, restored after one night to the exact position in which it was found. Both the turas and St. Crone’s healing stone possess numerous clients down to the present day’ (Maguire 1920, vol.2, 222). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 02 November 2011

associated with the well, believed to be a local saint or holy figure. The well was traditionally visited for healing purposes, particularly for ailments of the eyes and skin, and was likely linked to pre-Christian ritual practices that were later Christianized.