Tobercrone — An Tearmann

Described by the Donegal Survey in September 1980 as, 'the holy well is located about 150m west of Templecrone church (DG048-008001-), graveyard (DG048-008003-) and a pentiential station (DG048-008002-) in rocky terrain. The well consists of an opening in the rock about 0.4m across. The well is dry. Some coins and medals and other items have been placed beside it. Stones have been piled about the well' (SMR File 1980). In 1976 it was recorded that 'the other well other well in proximity to the 'cave' and church (Dg048-008001-) was only a cleft in the rock that collected water, and around it was a horseshoe-shaped cairn' (Kelly 2002, 26). A second holy well marked Toberfinan (DG048-006----) is located 220m to the W. The two holy wells 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. According to local information a third holy well (DG048-005----) on the island of Illancrone located 2.1km to the W, also formed part of the turas to Templecrone (pers. comm. 21/1/2011). 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, 222). Described by Ó Muirgheasa in 1936 as 'There is a Holy Well at Tarmon, in Maghery, south of Dungloe, and a turus is still made there. Some say there are three Holy Wells (DG048-005---/007----) there. There was once a monastery at Maghery, and eleven bishops are buried there according to local tradition. For the method of making the turus' (Ó Muirgheasa 1936, 152) (Ó Muirgheasa No. 43) Kelly, E. P. (2002) 'Antiquities from Irish Holy Wells and Their Wider Context', Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 24-28. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: : 04 November 2011