Penitential station in Termon

Located at a rock face within a walled area that also encloses a holy well ‘Tobar Chronáin’ (CL010-021005-), 96m S of Temple Chronáin (CL010-021002-). The penitential station comprises a circular stony mound (H 0.9m; diam. 5.5m E-W) with a natural stone, broken and cemented together in two places, erected on top (H 1.17m). It is in an enclosed area (c. 7m E-W; 9m N-S) defined at N by a steep rock face at the foot of which lies the holy well and by a stone wall (H 0.8-0.9m; Wth 0.6-0.85m) that curves around from NE to NW. A small path (Wth 0.6-1m) leads around the mound inside the wall. A stile at NW provides access to the penitential station and the holy well. According to the Ordnance Survey Letters (O’Flanagan 1928, vol. 1, 36) ‘stations’ were performed at Tobar Chronáin but no distinct pattern day was remembered. The following images have been uploaded: CL010-021013-_01.jpg View from N. Penitential station in walled area. CL010-021013-_02.jpg View from NW. Holy well and penitential station. CL010-021013-_02.jpg View from SE of penitential station. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 19 February 2019

This penitential station is associated with the nearby holy well "Tobar Chronáin" and may be linked to Saint Cronan, a 6th-century Irish saint known for founding monastic sites in County Clare and elsewhere. Traditionally, such stations were used by pilgrims for acts of penance, often involving prayer and physical exertion.