What is recorded here

Toberbaun is a holy well in County Cork, Ireland. People visited the three-walled drystone structure on Easter Sunday, Palm Sunday and Whit Sunday, believing the water could cure infirm children. They tied mementoes to an ash tree, set cups beside the opening and deposited white pebbles called Hail Mary stones. The Lee Valley Hydro-electric Scheme later flooded the area, but the stone wheel-house still stands.

Known locally as 'Tobar an Ratha Bhain' (Hartnett 1947, 17). Identified as wheel-house of horizontal wheeled mill (9309) and excavated by Fahy (1956a,13-57), prior to flooding by Lee Valley Hydro-electric Scheme. He described well as having been 'three-walled, drystone structure (H 5ft; 2ft x 7ft) open to W but enclosed in a mound on the other three sides'; religious objects and personal mementoes were affixed to ash tree on W side; cups and containers in front. Believed to have cured infirm children; visited Easter Sunday, Palm Sunday and Whit Sunday. White pebbles found around well during excavation were identified by workmen as 'Hail Mary stones' (ibid.) deposited by pilgrims. Stone wheel-house survives. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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