Holy Well — Dirtane

This is marked on the 1842 map as 'Holy Well' and the 1916 map as 'Lady's Well'. Situation and Description: A small well now enclosed in a rectangular space, with a statue of Our Lady, a kneeler, ornamental shrubs and electric lamps for floodlighting. Rounds/Offerings: It is still visited, especially on the 8th of September when there are public devotions. Stations consist of three rounds of the well, during each of which one rosary is recited. The last decade is usually said kneeling at the well. Coins are now placed in a box for the upkeep of the well, but rags etc. were originally left as offerings. It is said to relieve all pains. Legends: (a) A trout lies in the well, (b) A treasure is buried near the well, (c) Treasure-hunters are frightened away by animal roars. The following folklore collected from Rathmorrel School about St Mary's Well recorded that ; 'The history of this well is obscure, even the oldest inhabitants of this parish know very little about it. It is stated that a church formerly stood where the well now is. The well itself is situated on the side of the public road about a hundred yards north of the village of Ballyheigue. It is called after our Blessed Lady. Four years ago the parish priest erected a Grotto near the Well and in this Grotto is a statue of our Blessed Lady. September the 8th is kept in honor of our Lady and on that day Mass is said at the well and the parishioners attend this Mass. During the day crowds visit the well to pay rounds. Long ago people used to leave medals, rosary-beads, hairpins, pennies and tassels of shawls but its money they leave there now. To pay a “round” a person starts at the well by saying an Our Father and three Hail Marys, then a rosary whilst going once round the well, then two other rosaries one for each circuit round the well. The final decade being recited whilst kneeling before the well' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417, Pages 025-6; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4678376/4673434). See attached photographs of Our Lady's Well, Ballyheige, courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00059/60/61 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/16789; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31296; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/31297. See attached colour photographs of holy well courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 905. 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: 14 April 2022