Toberagh — Crooksling

Holy well annotated 'Toberagh' on the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map and as site of on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. Also known locally as Tobar na cCluas, this well is situated in the townland of Crooksling in the parish of Saggart, to the E of a river valley and the N81. The site of this well is along the entranceway to an Eastern Health Board Nursing Home. Holy well site described by Ua Broin (1957, 45) as follows; ' 'Toberagh (site of' is on Ordnance maps inside the Sanatorium entrance. Map 6 shows a pond on each side of the by-road there. A pump-house now stands at the site of one, and that of the other is now filled, planted ground. To the west of the latter there was a holy well, and perhaps others, as would seem from the likely derivation of the name toibreacha (wells). Tobrachs, a plural form of the anglicised name, is now in use. Tobar na cCluas, the holy well just mentioned, is described in OSL as " a small crevice in rock through which a little stream of very good water issues. It is never dry and cures the headache and earache by drinking of its waters and saying some prayers, hence Tobar na cCluas, the Ear-Well'. Enquiries as to memory of old holy well practices here were fruitful only to the extent of ascertaining that up to sixty years ago or thereabouts it was a custom with school children to leave pieces of rag or buttons, etc., at the well if they drank from it. The rock from which the stream issued is shown on OSD, on which also a stone which looks like a tau-cross is shown. A block of stone, on which there was an incised cross about 4 ins. by 3 ins., is remembered as being near the well. It was probably the broken-off horizontal part of this cross, and its disappearance, also that of the well, may be attributable to ground disturbance when the site was being cleared for the Sanatorium buildings. By one of those who remember the place as it was many years ago the site of the well was pointed out as quite near the mortuary, where, it is of interest to learn, the patients have resorted as a place of prayer during the last twenty years or so. An improvised kneeling board marks the place, also pious pictures, medals, etc., placed in joints of rough dry masonry sheltered by laurels. Random adoption of the place as one for prayer was unlikely, so it may be taken that selection was influenced by local tradition'. These have been removed and the area planted (Herity 2001, 29). Today there are no surface remains visible (Healy 1975, 1-19). Folklore collected from Brittas School recorded the following tradition about this well; 'The entrance into the Crooksling Sanatorium was formally called, the Tubberacks because there was a blessed well there once called Saint Ann's well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0794, Page 468; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428216/4386751/4456867). Firhouse School recorded the following details about this well; 'TOBAR na CLUAS On Tallaght Hill Cure for ear and head-aches' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0795, Page 024; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4428218/4386848/4456564). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout and Padraig Clancy Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 20 April 2023