Holy well in Gortacrossane

Situation and Description: This was a small pool of clear water in an open field. Trees formerly surrounded the well (Ó Danachair 1958, 161). No surface trace of this well can be seen today. Rounds/Offerings: The water cured sore eyes and rags were left as offerings. Legend: The well moved when clothes were washed in it. Folklore collected from Drommurrin School recorded the following tradition about this well known locally as Tobair na Giolláin; ‘There is a well situated in Mrs. David Dillons farm at this day the well goes by the name of Tobair na Giolláin the people say the English of it is the well of the flies. At first the well was situated near a hedge in the field but one morning a woman rinched [rinsed] clothes in it and when the people came to the well it was dried up but it sprang up about four perches from the place. The people are still taking water out of it but the old people always said it was a blessed well’ (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0401, Pages 426-7; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4666579/4663630). A second story collected from the same school recorded the following folklore; 'There is a well situated in the townland of Gortacrissane in the farm of a man named Patrick Dillon. It was supposed to remove to its present location in by gone days. At one time it was a holy well where people came long distances to pay rounds for sore eyes. My father told me previous to its removal a woman from Dromerin named Mary O'Donnell washed clothes in the well and on the following morning the well had disappeared from its farmer to its present position. This is about five hundred yds. To my fathers memory he witnessed a woman paying rounds for intention mentioned. He also had had seen the trees that surrounded it with relics left behind by those who patronised it. About seventy or eighty yards from this well is a Fort or Lios [KE010-053---] what it represents he do not know. Though I have often heard that the fairy wind directs its course even across fields in the direction of this Fort' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0401, Pages 429-30;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4666579/4663633). Folklore collected from Listowel School recorded the following tradition; 'Situated near the gate in the Clover Field Gortacussane. People were in the habit of paying visits and making rounds to this well. A woman came early one morning and washed clothes in it. On coming the following morning to draw water, she was amazed to find that the well had removed mysteriously to the other end of the field, a short distance from the fort. It may be seen there to this day' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0405, Page 380; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613714/4611562/4658522?ChapterID=4613714). The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 901. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 17 May 2022