Tobershenane — Kilshenane

This is marked on the 1841-42 and 1914-16 OS maps as 'Tobershenane' (St Senan's Well). Situation and Description: This well is situated 250 yards from Kilshenane graveyard. It is a clear rapid spring with a rivulet. It is embellished with statues of Our Lady, St Brigid and St Joseph. Rounds/Offerings: Nine rounds of the well are made, during which three rosaries are recited. Each rosary begins and ends kneeling at the well. Special days are 8 March, and Saturdays before May Day, 24 June and 29 September. Legends: (a) The well sprang up on the prayer of the saint, (b) The water will not boil, (c) A white fish is seen by those cured, (d) A stone called the saint's 'bed' is near the well, as well as another called his 'pillow', with the imprint of his head. Ó Danachair (1958, 158) recorded the following details about this well; 'two hundred and fifty yards from Kilshenane grave yard is a small enclosure fenced with earthen banks, measuring about fifteen yards square, enclosing the well which is a clear rapid spring in a clump of sally and blackthorn bushes. Now embellished with a triple arcade of concrete which holds statues of Our Lady, Saint Brighid and Saint Joseph. Still visited, especially on the 8th of March which was formerly the pattern day on which great crowds came to the well. Other days of devotion are the Saturdays before May Day, Midsummer and Michaelmas. Rounds consist of nine circuits of the well during which three rosaries are recited. Each rosary is begun and ended kneeling before the well. The water cures ailments of the eyes and sores. Water for bathing afflicted members is taken from the stream which flows from the well. Most pilgrims bathe face and hands in the stream. Small religious objects and flowers are left as offerings and there is a collection box for the upkeep of the well. Legends: The well sprang up when Saint Senan prayed for water. A stone near the well is the Saint's pillow; the imprint of his head is on it. The water will not boil. A white fish is seen by those about to be cured or granted favours. A blind girl was cured there, she omitted to thank God and became blind again'. Folklore collected from Dromclogh School recorded the following tradition about this well; ‘St Seanan's well is situated in Kilshinane. St Senan was a great Saint. There is a Holy well in John O'Connors field where St. Senan spend the last days of his life, and it is called St. Senan's well. There are special days for going to the holy well - the 8th of March, the Saturday before the 1st of May and the Saturday before St. John's day, the 24th of June and the Saturday before Michaelmas. There is a white thorn three growing at the side of the well and there was never a thorn seen on that tree. There is a little stream which flows from the holy well, and everyone who visits the well should always wash their hands and faces in the little stream. Those who visit the well should leave some small token such as rosary beads, or pictures or medals. St. Seanan spelt on a bed of stones beside the well, and the print of his face is to be seen on one side of the stones yet. St Seanan's well is very well kept, and a beautiful railing surrounds it' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0408, Page 005;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4644827/4612866/4644848?ChapterID=4644827). Another story collected from Dromclogh School recorded the following tradition about St Senan's Well; 'St. Senan's Well is in John O'Connor's land in the townland of Kilshinane. The old people say St. Senan was running from the priest-hunter looking for safety, and came to where the well now is, and stayed there a long Winter. There was a green stone which was his pillow, and he left the print of his face on it. When Summer came he was afraid to leave his hiding place to get even a drink of water. He sat up on that stone, and prayed to God to send him one drink. It was not long after his prayers when he heard the ripple of a little stream close by where he sat. He stooped down and drank enough. That is the well and the stream flowing from it, which is there still. It was not long until the news spread, and people who had any affliction came to pay "rounds". The well is especially for sore eyes. Anyone who is to be cured will see a white trout swim on top of the water. The people kept St. Senan's day on the 8th March, and a pattern was held long ago on that feast. Old people say that when the well was discovered the first pattern was held, - there were tents and camps, and fruit and sweet sold, and the people danced and made merry. Hurling and foot-ball matches were played that day too. The stream grew bigger and no body took any care of it, till a very pious teacher, Miss O'Connell, (died 1934) got a nice railing erected around it, and put statues into a Mount with glass outside. She brought pious objects. The priest-hunters came and found St. Senan and killed him. There is also a white thorn tree which produces no thorns, and anyone who eats a leaf of it, is supposed to be cured of his affliction. People leave money on the feast days to help to repair the well. The burying ground (Kilshinane) is quite near it, about a hundred yards away. St. Senan was the first to be buried there. When the priest-hunters found St. Senan they killed him and made four quarters of him, and hung him off a white thorn tree. White flowers always grew on that tree, but ever since red flowers grow on it. It is a very old tree but it will never be cut down. When the neighbours found St. Senan they gathered and got a long box of which they made a coffin. They buried him under the stone where he lay down for his pillow. After a short while the churchyard was built and consecrated, the neighbours raised St. Senan's coffin, and buried him in it, they carried the flag and put it as a headstone' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0409, Pages 003-008; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613725/4613051). Folklore collected from Dromclogh School recorded the following tradition about 'The Blessed Well in Kilshenane'; 'Saint Senan was a great Kilshinane Saint. His well is situated in Kilshinane in John O'Connor's farm. Many people pray for sore eyes or for any sore they have. If they are to be cured they will see a white trout in the water. It is thought to be a very good well as people come from far and near to pray rounds there. We may pray rounds there any day, but there are four special days for doing so - Saint Senan's day, the 8th March, the Saturday before the 1st of May the Saturday before Saint John's day, and the 24th June, and the Saturday before Michalemas the 29th of September. Saint Senan's well is surrounded by an iron railing. There are three statues over the well placed there by one who may yet be canonized - the late Miss O'Connell, Principal teacher of Dromclough Girls' National School. One of these is of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the Sacred Heart, another of the Mary of the Gael Saint Brigid. It is thought that the well sprang up suddenly one one night because of Saint Senan's prayer. In olden times a pattern as held there on Saint Senan's day 8th of March Whenever there is a funeral at Kilshinane cemetery crowds of strangers go to see the well. It is thought that long ago some person took home some of the well-water to boil as an experiment but if it was down since it would not warm not alone to boil. When people go there they bring home a bottle of the well water with hem, some people leave money there to repair the well. Miss O'Connell R.I.P. The Principal Teacher of Dromclough Girls national school get it repaired first, and got the statues over the well and the iron railing round it also' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0409, Pages 199-202; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4613726/4613247) See attached colour photographs courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employ